When Players Voted for the Past
On February 22, 2013, Jagex launched Old School RuneScape (OSRS), a 2007 backup of their MMO after players voted overwhelmingly (450K+ votes, 76% approval) for a legacy version. The move acknowledged that RuneScape’s evolution into RuneScape 3 had alienated the core audience. A decade later, OSRS has more players than the “main” game, validating player preference for older design.
The Evolution of Evils
RuneScape evolved dramatically from 2007 to 2013. The 2012 Evolution of Combat update replaced the simple click-to-attack system with ability bars and hotkeys, fundamentally changing the game. The 2012 Squeal of Fortune added pay-to-win loot boxes. Many veteran players hated the changes, feeling the game abandoned its identity.
Players begged Jagex to bring back “old RuneScape.” Jagex initially resisted, arguing it was impossible and that nostalgia goggles clouded judgment (similar to Blizzard’s “you think you do, but you don’t”).
The Community Vote
In February 2013, facing player exodus and financial pressure, Jagex held a poll: if 50K+ votes supported an old-school server, they’d launch one. If 250K+ voted, there would be no membership cost and dedicated development team.
The vote exceeded expectations: 450,000+ votes, 76% approval. Jagex found a 2007 backup and launched Old School RuneScape on February 22, 2013.
The Democratic Development Model
OSRS adopted unprecedented community governance: all game updates required 75% player approval via polls. This protected the game from unpopular changes and gave players direct control over development direction.
The system worked. OSRS grew steadily, adding new content that felt “old school” in spirit while expanding beyond 2007’s boundaries. Polls rejected microtransactions and pay-to-win mechanics multiple times, keeping OSRS grind-based and skill-focused.
Surpassing RuneScape 3
By 2016, OSRS had more concurrent players than RuneScape 3. By 2023, OSRS regularly had 2-3x the playerbase. The legacy version became the main game. Jagex admitted the 2007 backup became their flagship product.
OSRS’s success influenced WoW Classic, Jagex’s corporate valuation, and broader gaming discussions about preserving older versions of live-service games. The game proved that sometimes players really do know what they want better than developers.
Cultural Impact
OSRS became Twitch staple, with streamers like B0aty, Asmongold, and Faux building careers on it. The 2013-2023 period created new memes (connection lost, sit kid, Swampletics) while preserving classics (buying gf, wave2:flash2:). OSRS embodied gaming preservation done right.
Source: OSRS polling data, Jagex announcements, player count tracking sites