25 years and 240,000 players later, Old School RuneScape refuses to die
25 years and 240,000 players later, Old School RuneScape refuses to die
25 years and 240,000 players later, Old School RuneScape refuses to die
"With enough work, we can make most things happen," says design director Kieren Charles.
The RuneScape franchise turns 25 this year. Old School RuneScape (OSRS), which launched in 2013 using the 2007-era source code from RuneScape, is at the height of its popularity right now, peaking at 240k concurrent players in 2025. Last year, OSRS got its first-ever new skill in the form of sailing, which brought waves of players (sorry not sorry for the pun) back to the game. Somehow, the team at Jagex implemented water-based movement into a game with a 25-year old foundation, where characters walk using a grid-based system. And it has been a roaring success with players.
Later this year, sailing will expand even further, with multiple quests, a Barracuda Trial, and activities around the Red Reef. At a recent press event to mark the big anniversary, I spoke to OSRS design director Kieren Charles about the ins and outs of sailing and how new skills and mechanics are introduced. For Charles, adding a new mechanic to a 25-year-old game was a formidable challenge, but also an enticing opportunity