Old School RuneScape is getting a new skill. Not a small update. Not a mini expansion. This is Sailing, the first new skill for OSRS in nearly two decades, and it arrives on November 19, 2025. If you have played this game since the early days or if you are returning after a long break, this launch is one of the rare moments that reshapes the game world and how players plan their goals. In this article I will explain what Sailing is, how it plays, what we know about the skillcape and pet, and what the community leaks and alpha tests tell us about XP rates. I will also give practical early training routes, tips for ironmen and PvPers, and a look at how Sailing will change the economy and the meta.

All facts that could have changed since the alpha or community testing are clearly sourced. Official launch details come from Jagex, and community-sourced numbers come from alpha and beta playtests and public discussion threads. Where the data is not official I label it clearly.

Why Sailing matters

Sailing is not just another skill. It opens the ocean as playable space, expands the in-game map dramatically, and introduces new activities that cross over with multiple existing skills. Jagex describes Sailing as an expansion that unlocks owning and upgrading boats, exploring previously unreachable islands, salvaging shipwrecks and encountering new NPCs and quests. The dev team has positioned Sailing as a community-shaped feature, with major design questions decided by polls during development. That collaborative process shows in how the skill is structured and in the reward choices players will see at launch. Jagex+1

Most importantly for timing and planning, Jagex has confirmed the release date as November 19, 2025. This gives players a date to prepare bank tabs, spreadsheets and group plans. The announcement also notes the map expands by roughly 190 percent when the seas open up, which is a huge change in available content and potential places to farm experience and items. RuneScape+1

How Sailing works – core gameplay loop

Sailing blends exploration, skilling and light PvE into one skill loop. The