Dev finds the 2007 server in their desk drawer the MMO that lasts 13 years

In June, Jagex marked a significant moment for its community by hosting the Deadman All Stars event, an outdoor live esports tournament for Old School RuneScape (OSRS) PvP. This event showcased the vibrant life of the game and the thoughtful approach taken by the studio to nurture one of gaming’s enduring classics.

At the heart of this narrative is the philosophy guiding the management of OSRS. Kieren Charles, the creative director at Jagex, shared his perspective on keeping this 13-year-old fork of the MMO alive and evolving amidst its massive growth. For Charles, running the game is not just about programming; it’s about honoring the spirit of what made RuneScape iconic.

The sheer scale of OSRS has been staggering. Last August alone, Old School RuneScape achieved an all-time player count record, demonstrating that its influence continues to expand far beyond its traditional boundaries. The game is now roughly eight times larger than its original counterpart and boasts an estimated one million active subscribers, cementing its status as a behemoth in the MMO landscape.

Charles himself embodies the unique relationship between nostalgia and modern development. Having been part of the original RuneScape phenomenon—playing during middle school and becoming one of the core millennial players who made the game ubiquitous—he understands deeply what it means to be a player looking back at a golden age. He explained that while the studio chose the 2007 iteration as a starting point, the decision was based on what players collectively deemed the nostalgic “golden age” of the game.

This focus on classic roots extends beyond simple nostalgia; it forms the foundation for OSRS’s unique model of community engagement. Old School RuneScape is arguably the first officially supported ‘classic’ server experience for an MMO, setting a precedent that fan-managed communities can thrive alongside official development.

The studio manages this delicate balance by empowering the community directly. When introducing new content, such as full-scale expansions like the 2024 Varlamore update, Jagex incorporates a crucial step: putting potential additions to a public vote. Features must achieve a minimum of 70% approval from the player base before implementation.

This approach ensures that development remains aligned with community desire rather than solely internal vision. As Charles puts it, the team acts more as caretakers, looking after the game and the community that loves it. They prioritize letting the community decide what they want, recognizing that waiting for consensus is better than developing something only to find it unpopular.

While other developers might pursue a singular artistic vision, Jagex demonstrates that great longevity often comes from listening. By embracing the collective wisdom of the player base, OSRS continues to evolve, proving that respecting the past while enthusiastically building the future is the most effective recipe for MMO success.