A player of the MMORPG Old School Runescape spent 2000 hours developing an HD mod for the classic. This was abruptly canceled just before the release by developer Jagex. The protests from the community were so loud that the studio is now backtracking.
What happened in Runescape? The player and fan 117Scape invested 2000 hours of his life to create a graphics enhancement for the MMORPG. The mod was called Runelite HD and was supposed to bring many visual improvements.
However, just before the release of the plugin, the player received an email from MMORPG developer Jagex, which abruptly halted the project and urged the fan not to release his modification (mod). The reason seems to be that Jagex itself is working on a similar overhaul that is still in its infancy.
Even the suggestion from 117Scape to remove his mod once the official improvement from the developer is available was immediately rejected by Jagex. What followed were loud protests in the community. A reddit thread on the topic has over 70,000 upvotes and more than 5,000 comments (via reddit.com). Even in the game itself, protests from the player base took place, with players standing in solidarity with 117Scape.
Just recently, the RuneScape community had a heated debate over another issue. This time it was about purchasable items that could bypass long grinds:
What’s new? After the protests from the community, the developer has now backtracked regarding the HD mod issue. Jagex’s statement says:
- They wanted to prohibit the plugin because they want the game to look the same for everyone
- They have heard the community’s feedback and are now actively working on a solution, together with 117Scape, to offer his mod as a temporary solution until their own version is finished
- Jagex apologizes for the previously made decision and admits mistakes: “We don’t always do everything right, we are only human and always appreciate your feedback, good or bad.”
- The developers also state that they need to make more effort to convey the vision they have for the game and make it understandable for the community
- Jagex promises regular updates on the subject and to work on a solution that satisfies everyone
In this tweet, there is a brief statement from the developers, along with a link to the full statement:
What happens now? The player base is more or less satisfied with the solution offered by Jagex. Many complain that the community had to be loud before such an action was taken.
Others want 117Scape’s mod not just as a temporary solution, but permanently. In general, it can be said that the mood among the fans has improved somewhat. However, many are still upset.
What do you think of third-party software? Would you use such a graphic mod? What do you think of Jagex’s decision? Feel free to leave us a comment.
Yet Old School Runescape is doing a lot right – because it is the highest-rated free-to-play MMO on Steam – What’s it about?
