Old School RuneScape began when a dev ‘found the 2007 server in their desk drawer:’ 13 years later, it’s setting subscriber records for the long-lived MMO
Old School RuneScape (OSRS) continues to thrive as a major success story within the MMO landscape. The game, which launched in 2013 as a separate server offering a 2007 version of RuneScape, has recently achieved multiple milestones that highlight its sustained popularity and growth.
In June, Jagex held Deadman All Stars, a large-scale PvP tournament that marked the studio’s first live event held outside the UK and the largest to date. The tournament showcased the competitive community around OSRS and demonstrated the franchise’s ability to draw global interest.
According to OSRS Creative Director Kieren Charles, the game has continued to expand significantly. Charles noted that “the game’s bigger now than it was in 2007,” referring to the period that serves as the basis for Old School’s gameplay and content. Notably, OSRS—at 13 years old—is now older than the original RuneScape was when the Old School fork began in 2013.
The game’s momentum has been reflected in player numbers. Last August, OSRS reached an all-time player count record, surpassing any previous era in the game’s history. This achievement underscores the ongoing appeal of the 25-year-old RuneScape franchise and the viability of preserving legacy versions of live-service games.