A Historic Voyage: Old School RuneScape to Launch ‘Sailing’ as First New Skill Since 2013 Relaunch

The Old School RuneScape (OSRS) community is on the cusp of a truly historic moment. For the first time since the game’s official relaunch in 2013, the iconic MMORPG is set to introduce a brand-new skill: Sailing. This massive MMORPG Expansion Content update, which required years of community consultation and rigorous design, will officially launch on November 19, 2025.

The introduction of Sailing marks a monumental shift for the game, breaking a nearly two-decade-long drought of new skills in the “Old School” version of Gielinor (the last skill, Hunter, was released in the pre-2007 era of RuneScape). This update is not merely an addition to the skill list; it represents a fundamental expansion of the game world, potentially transforming the player experience forever.

Sailing: Exploring Gielinor’s Uncharted Seas

The OSRS New Skill Sailing is designed as a utility skill centered around adventure and discovery, opening up the vast, largely unexplored oceans of Gielinor. It passed multiple, rigorous community polls, underscoring the player base’s desire for fresh, impactful content.

Key Features of the Sailing Skill:

• Ship Ownership and Customization: Players will own and upgrade their very own boat, customizing components to tackle increasingly hazardous waters.
• Massive Map Expansion: The update is touted to expand the OSRS map by almost 190 percent, introducing new islands, ports, and a central hub known as The Pandemonium.
• Skill Integration: Sailing will integrate seamlessly with existing skills, allowing players to:
  • Use Woodcutting and Smithing to repair and upgrade their vessel.
  • Combine Fishing and Cooking for new, deep-sea resources.
  • Utilize Herblore to craft powerful new potions and remedies from coral nurseries.
• Maritime Activities: Gameplay will involve sea charting, salvaging shipwrecks for valuable parts, hunting for long-lost treasures, completing courier tasks, and engaging in naval combat against new foes like krakens, sharks, and the new Gryphon Pet drop.

The core philosophy behind Sailing is to provide an entirely new dimension of exploration and progression that respects the spirit of the classic game.

The Race for the Sailing Skill Cape

The launch of the First New OSRS Skill since the game’s inception will ignite the intense race to max level among the game’s dedicated community. This race is a high-profile event within the MMORPG sphere, driving massive player engagement and viewership.

• Exclusive Reward: The first players to achieve Level 99 in Sailing will be rewarded with the exclusive new Sailing Skill Cape, a highly prestigious and visible in-game item that signifies mastery.
• New NPCs and Questline: The skill introduces the new Troubled Tortugans questline, expanding the lore of the world and introducing players to a new race of characters.
• Future Content: The developers have already hinted at future expansions for Sailing, including potential player-versus-player (PvP) naval battles, colossal ships, and further exploration into the uncharted waters in 2026.

This update is a strategic move by Jagex to future-proof OSRS by adding fresh, engaging, and deeply integrated content, ensuring its continued prominence in the global MMORPG market.

Source: Official Jagex/RuneScape Announcements and Press Releases (October 2025)