In 1998, Andrew Gower created DeviousMUD, a basic multiplayer online role-playing game, which was the original form of RuneScape series. RuneScape Classic was launched in 2001, RuneScape 2 in 2004, and RuneScape 3 in 2013, and in 2016, Old School RuneScape was introduced as a retroversion.

Since then, both the original and retro versions have been constantly adjusted and upgraded. The multiple updates of both versions have led to some controversy, which sometimes caused the player community to split and affected the economic balance of the game.

4. Evolution Of Combat

According to ancient Mayan prophecies, 2012 would be the end of the world. However, the real world did not suffer a major disaster that year, but the realm of Gielinor in RuneScape did undergo a huge change. Evolution of Combat update shocked many players by transforming the game’s classic point-and-click combat into a World of WarCraft-style dynamic skill and hotkey operation.

The new combat mechanics led to riots in major cities, complaints on social media, and numerous players opting out. Evolution of Combat update was meant to revolutionize the way players kill monsters, but the result was almost to destroy the entire game.

3. Hero Pass

The 2023 Hero Pass update caused unprecedented controversy and influence, causing many players to leave the game and switch to Old School version. Although the original intention of Hero Pass was to reward players for their time in the game, the large number of micro-transactions involved made players feel that it was a waste of their real-world cash.

As a result, players expressed strong dissatisfaction and prompted Jagex to change its original plan. Shortly after the release of Hero Pass, the development team announced that it would cancel the feature. Although the crisis was eventually resolved, players’ trust in Jagex had been severely damaged.

2. Trade Restrictions

In RuneScape, while some players prefer to explore alone and avoid trading with other players, most players actively participate in buying and selling. For many players, trading is an important part of the gaming experience, and they closely follow market dynamics to make profits.

However, this trading mechanism also has the risk of abuse, and some players use illegal means to convert Runescape Gold and game items into real money. In response to this problem, Jagex made an update in 2008 to limit the possibility of large transactions between players. Although this measure effectively curbed fraud and real-world transactions, it also brought inconvenience to players who abide by the rules.

1. Squeal Of Fortune

The most worrying thing for Gielinor’s adventurers is the existence of micro-transactions in RuneScape. Many players believe that micro-transactions ruin the gaming experience of RuneScape. As a result, Squeal of Fortune, a game that involves investing real money to obtain in-game items, was launched in 2012, was widely criticized, and was removed in 2014.

While the removal of Squeal of Fortune didn’t completely eliminate micro-transactions from RuneScape 3, developer Jagex did make concessions. The quest The Mighty Fall, released in 2014, allowed players to unleash their frustrations by defeating Squeal of Fortune’s goblin boss, Yelps, though pay-to-win functionality still exists in other forms.

These updates and controversies reflect the mixed reactions the RuneScape community has had to changes to the game. While some players welcome innovation and change, others insist it’s more important to maintain the game’s original spirit and balance.