Can you believe it’s time to celebrate 25 years of RuneScape? I know we currently have some MMORPGs in their second decade. But when you consider all those who didn’t last even a fraction of that time, that’s a pretty big accomplishment.
Today, Jagex, the developer of the long-running game, announced not only the typical celebrations one would expect to mark an online game’s anniversary, but also plans to continue developing the game and taking it into the future. The “transformative program,” as they describe it, is intended to set the stage for “the most ambitious evolution in RuneScape history, with a strategy focused on greater integrity, more value and more RuneScape.” (I think that last part should go without saying, but players will probably be happy to hear it anyway.)
Of course, achieving these goals requires a lot of money, which is why Jagex also revealed that the project is “backed by its largest annual investment to date.” They want to use the money to focus on the things players care about, such as improving support systems and modernizing gaming infrastructure.” Some of the funds will also be used for live events in the UK and US.
In addition to the new strategy, Jagex also announced the return of RuneFest, which will take place at the Birmingham NEC on October 3-4. It will be twice the size of the last one and will accommodate 6,000 players. There will be two permanent stages for live reveals and developer sessions, as well as other activities.
Players can also look forward to live Deadman Mode competition in the US. The Deadman All-Stars event will take place on June 20th in Chicago and is a collaborative project with content creator Solomission. A Crator LAN event is also in the works.
To celebrate the anniversary, Jagex announced the RS25 Anniversary Merch Collection. These include a deluxe 5-CD vinyl box set, a Lumbridge Castle miniature brick set from Youtooz and an anniversary desk pad. You can find the merch store via the RuneScape website.
