Develop Awards: Gowers crowned Industry Legends

The Jagex founders and brothers Andrew and Paul Gower were tonight recognised for their incredible success in the games industry, after being presented with the Industry Legend prize at the Develop Awards.

The pair, who created the influential and critically acclaimed MMO RuneScape, took to the stage as their role in conceiving the Cambridge studio that currently stands as the UK’s largest developer was recognised.

Initially established in 1999 and officially founded in 2001 by the Gowers, Jagex remains fiercely independent. Famed for its unique approach to proprietary tech, the company has moved to tackle external publishing as well as internal development, and has also met with great success through its FunOrb gaming portal.



Only today the studio, which the Gowers still have a huge creative and practical involvment with, announced its latest new release, sci-fi MMO Stellar Dawn.



The award will mean a great deal to the Gowers, who began their careers after a life long interest in making games, when Andrew started making Atari ST games in 1995.



The Gowers continue to feature in the famed Times Rich List.