Runescape monetization is changing as Jagex admits it has "lost players"

Runescape monetization is set to "materially change" as developer Jagex plans a fundamental redesign of its MMORPG's spending possibilities, admitting that players have been turned away over the years by its aggressive MTX strategy. Through a series of upcoming experiments, the Runescape team is testing several significant redesigns to the way experience boosts, the Treasure Hunter feature, and in-game cosmetics are handled, in what the company's CEO calls "a first, big step of many to come."

"Our MTX approach is harming Runescape, and it's time that we took action," Jagex CEO Jon Bellamy, known best as 'Mod North,' says in a new video. "Runescape 3 is 25 years old and we wholeheartedly believe that this game has many more years ahead of it." Indeed, it remains a stalwart of our best MMORPGS list, but Bellamy is eager for change. "If we want to go from where we are today where, bluntly, our population isn't really growing, to decades of a booming community, then it's time we take some big swings, even when they aren't easy or simple."

"It's no secret that MTX in Runescape currently represents a major part of how we fund the game," an accompanying blog post from the team writes, "but we can't put our head in the sand and keep things going the way they are. When we listen to the community or even look at stats from our MTX survey last year, the story is so clear - we have lost players to the way we approach microtransactions. This is not how we secure our next 25 years and more.

"So, we're going to change it. We will materially change the way microtransactions work in Runescape," the post continues, "and our ultimate ambition is to entirely redesign the way we approach monetization in Runescape. We are willing to take risks, to trust you to help us, and get rid of the taint of our current approach. This will be difficult, and it will take time. There's a lot involved in getting it right and doing it responsibly while making sure we sustain the game."

The first step in this process is a series of 'experiments' that will appear starting in July and run across approximately the next three months. The first of these will disable the Treasure Hunter feature used to unlock random daily rewards including skill XP boosts; it will be replaced by the ability to directly purchase bundles of Stars and Knowledge Bombs, with a cap of one bundle per day.

The second experiment will be a double-XP event that disables the use of skilling items earned through microtransactions, such as Proteans, Dummies, and Lamps. The third test is focused more on the cosmetic side, and will offer a 'mega drop' of past cosmetic overrides, including some previously only available through Treasure Hunter, for direct purchase all at once.

Responding to player frustrations that it's now difficult to tell accomplished characters from those that have simply spent money to look good in-game, Jagex is also planning to test 'cosmetic-free worlds' for those who want them. These are currently planned to release "no later than August" and will run through until the conclusion of this first round of experiments, to "help gauge demand for a more grounded visual look and/or cosmetics-free experiences."

Jagex says it will consider running additional experiments if necessary, depending on the results and feedback. It stresses that it "will not use this opportunity to be more aggressive in offering XP benefits outside the core game loop," will not make any final changes without clear communication and time to prepare, and will continue to be vocal about the topic after the changes. "The era of this being a taboo subject for us is over."

Jagex also stresses that these planned changes have "zero impact on our content development or roadmaps," stating, "No developers or resources have been moved to this project from existing content and it will stay that way. The roadmap is protected and remains our top priority, always." The team concludes by saying, "You are one of the most knowledgeable and considerate communities you can ask for in gaming. This is something we can figure out openly in ways other games could never even consider."

"RS3's success should be measured by the size, engagement, and satisfaction of the community," Bellamy adds in a closing statement. "Every player of this game deserves to feel the same ownership that we've fostered so well in our OSRS community, and that will lead us to the thriving community this game deserves. Today's experiments speak to how seriously we are taking this goal. Gone is the age of speaking and debate on how we could do this - it's now about action."

If you're preparing to delve in and give your thoughts on the changes, be sure to check in with the Runescape system requirements first. Alternatively, take a look through our pick of the best multiplayer games in 2025.

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