How Jagex kept Runescape alive after 20 years

Dec-13-2021 categories: runescape Tag: runescape gold, osrs gold



Runescape is one of the most famous video games on the planet. It was started by RuneScape Gold three brothers in the garage on January 4, 2001. Now, in 2021, it is a 20-year-old MMORPG with millions of people playing around the world.


Although technically it exists as a free MMORPG with an optional "premium" subscription service, the developers believe that Runescape is primarily a subscription-based game. Longevity and continued success are very significant.


Personally, I have many memories of Runescape. In the process of growing up (probably around 2003), I have never been exposed to a good Internet, let alone a not-so-good computer, so games like EverQuest are impossible. But Runescape is a game that my computer can handle, and I am completely fascinated. Now, it is still so popular even on Steam.


To help commemorate the 20th anniversary, I had the opportunity to contact and exchange emails with many members of the development team. They all had some wonderful insights and feedback on how Jagex kept Runescape alive for so long.


David Jagneaux: For MMO, twenty years is a very, very long time. It seems that only games like EverQuest can meet this standard, so RuneScape is a very limited company. If you can attribute it to one main reason, why do you think people keep playing?


Chief designer Dave Osborne: I think this is the relationship formed between the player and his character. There are very few reasons to create a second account, because RuneScape does not provide different player categories, so every choice you make and every progress increment is stacked on top of the character. Your avatar will be the trophy for everything you do in RuneScape. Players may come to RuneScape because of the humorous tone, the lower specifications required for the game, or because it is on a mobile device, but I believe it is the connection with the player character that has made people play crazy for 20 years.


Product Director Matt Casey: RuneScape is a living game. In 7,306 days (millions), this game is dynamic and evolving, bringing a constantly changing world, and always providing our players with new experiences and adventures. We use opinion polls, social channels, surveys, and recent collaborative design meetings with Zoom under lock-in conditions to enable our players to express their opinions on the future of the game. The game uses a wonderful evergreen design that OSRS Gold For Sale encourages players to be friendly to each other and to build meaningful social relationships with the community and build true friendships, many of which last as long as the game itself.