Why RuneScape Is Making A Surprising Comeback

Remember logging on while the kettle boiled and the internet screeched to life? That nostalgia is now bringing an army of players back to RuneScape — and in bigger numbers than the game's makers expected. In 2025 the 2001 MMO saw paid memberships climb to well over a million, a jump of about 30% since the start of the year. Millions more play for free, and the game recorded a new high for simultaneous users: roughly 240,000 players online at once — the largest peak in its 25‑year run. Even outside that spike, concurrent numbers sit near 175,000, putting RuneScape among the most-played titles on Steam at the moment. There are now two versions of the world of Gielinor. One is the modernised RuneScape (often called RS3), and the other is Old School RuneScape, which began as a faithful snapshot of the 2007 game and has been expanded with new areas and content while keeping the original feel. Jagex, the studio behind the game, says the resurgence owes a lot to community spirit. Staff describe a particular tone of British humour and a social, communal experience that keeps people returning. The studio’s chief executive, a long-time player who took the helm in March, has leaned into that relationship with fans. Changes under the new leadership have been practical and eyebrow‑raising. The company has been fighting cheating and automated “bot” accounts, revamped quality-of-life features like the interface and combat, and addressed systems that made players feel obliged to log in every day. Most controversially, players were allowed to vote on removing many in‑game purchases — a move they backed decisively. Management admits this will hit short-term revenue but argues it’s a strategic choice for the next decade or more. Those moves have generated goodwill. Streamers and content creators point to a two‑way conversation between developers and users as a key reason for renewed enthusiasm. For many players the draw is the friendships and milestones formed in the virtual world — relationships, long-term friendships and even marriages trace back to the game for some fans. That loyalty may explain the curious truth of RuneScape’s revival: an ageing game can still grow if it treats its community as partners, not just customers. As one developer put it, the game is built to be there when you return — people don’t quit so much as take a break, and the world waits for them. --- Managing your business finances? TaxAce provides smart online accountancy services for UK businesses with flexible monthly plans. Image and reporting: https://www.bbc.co.uk | Read original article