Old School RuneScape is so popular now that it has broken nearly every record that Jagex has

Classic games are on the comeback, and Old School RuneScape in particular is seeing tons of interest.

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2000s computer lab-era classic Old School RuneScape is apparently quite prosperous despite being a decades-old game. In a recent interview with The Games Business, Jagex CEO Jon Bellamy says that the Monty Python-esque RPG has now broken almost all of the milestones and metrics that Jagex uses to measure the game's success.

"For Old School RuneScape, I think we've broken just about every record we've ever had--every major metric in the last 12 months, multiple times. It's an unbelievable heater. We've been really happy with how that game performed," Bellamy said.

One of the more interesting tidbits from the interview was how new players are actively choosing to play OSRS instead of the modernized RuneScape. This could indicate that today's gamers are actively looking to the past for new and creative experiences. But with this game it's more than that--RuneScape has a storied history that's been well-chronicled on the internet throughout the decades simply because the game never really faded out of the public eye (at least not like something like EverQuest).

"If you look at the numbers now, about half of the active members for Old School RuneScape have joined OSRS as their first RuneScape game," Bellamy said.

"They've chosen to play the 2007 version of a classic game as their first RuneScape experience."

"Before that game, they'd obviously never experienced RuneScape before--I think most people assume that this is something for the old timers that's always been here. It's not true, it's not true--it stands alone as its own game and performs under its own weight despite having the retro moniker."

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Question #1

What specific records and metrics did Jagex say Old School RuneScape broke in the last 12 months?

Jagex said that Old School RuneScape "has broken just about every record we've ever had" and "every major metric in the last 12 months, multiple times," and that about half of active OSRS members joined it as their first RuneScape game. Additionally, a related article notes Old School RuneScape reached over 200,000 concurrent players (Related 1 , Old School RuneScape hits 200,000+ online after World of Warcraft hemorrhages players).

Answered

Question #2

How many current OSRS active members joined Old School RuneScape as their first RuneScape game?

About half of active Old School RuneScape members joined OSRS as their first RuneScape game, according to Jagex CEO Jon Bellamy.

Answered

Question #3

Did Jagex's CEO indicate whether new players prefer OSRS over the modern RuneScape client, and what reason was given?

Yes. Jagex CEO Jon Bellamy said about half of active Old School RuneScape members joined OSRS as their first RuneScape game. He explained new players have chosen the 2007 version as their first RuneScape experience and that OSRS "stands alone" and performs under its own weight despite the retro moniker, countering the assumption it is only for old timers.

Answered

Question #4

Is Old School RuneScape being treated by Jagex as a standalone game rather than just a retro version?

Yes. Jagex CEO Jon Bellamy said Old School RuneScape "stands alone as its own game and performs under its own weight despite having the retro moniker," noting many players choose OSRS as their first RuneScape experience and that the game has broken almost every metric Jagex uses to measure success.

Answered

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Jagex's third RuneScape game, Dragonwilds, is currently in early access with a release planned for September 15.