RuneScape’s landscape might soon see a transformation as developer Jagex gives players the power to decide on the fate of certain in-game microtransactions. This surprising move allows the entire playerbase to cast their vote on whether or not to eliminate a controversial feature.
In a twist, the vote appears to be in favor of the community, aiming to uphold the game’s integrity.
The Controversial Treasure Hunter
The modern iteration of RuneScape, known as RuneScape 3, includes various microtransactions, with Treasure Hunter being a notable one. This system lets players acquire keys to open treasure chests for items of varying rarity. While players can obtain some keys without spending money, buying them offers a significant advantage. This has led to criticisms of Treasure Hunter as a pay-to-win mechanism, enabling players to quickly gain experience points by spending money, thus bypassing the traditional gameplay experience.
Over the years, Treasure Hunter and its predecessor, “Squeal of Fortune,” have faced backlash for allowing players to sidestep core gameplay. Jagex even experimented by disabling these microtransactions temporarily in July. A subsequent survey revealed that 65% of players responded positively or were neutral to this change.
The Power of the Playerbase
Jagex has now launched a community vote to determine the future of RuneScape’s microtransactions. The new web page allows players to vote for the removal of Treasure Hunter, along with over 220 associated items. These items, including those boosting experience points, have caused issues in the past. If the poll reaches 100,000 votes, Jagex will proceed with the removal of Treasure Hunter.
“This vote is one of the most important moments in RuneScape’s history,” stated Jagex CEO Jon Bellamy. He emphasized that monetization approaches had compromised the game’s integrity, urging a shift towards fair and lasting experiences.
It’s essential to note that the “poll” lacks a “no” option. It’s simply a button available for players to press if they support the removal. The language used on the page strongly encourages a “yes” vote, hinting that Jagex is already prepared for this outcome.
Community Reaction and Future Implications
Despite the unusual polling method, the RuneScape community seems thrilled. On the RuneScape subreddit, players have expressed overwhelming positivity. Skepticism remains about reaching the 100,000 vote threshold, but confidence is high, with suggestions that Old School RuneScape players might also support the initiative. Impressively, within just four hours of launching, the poll amassed 50,000 votes. For context, RuneScape has seen over 320 million accounts created, though active users are fewer (Old School RuneScape reached 240,000 players this August).
This change marks a significant and welcomed shift for the RuneScape community, though its presentation as a poll is somewhat misleading given the clear intent from both players and developers. With the poll open until November 12, players have the opportunity to voice their support for a more balanced game. While Treasure Hunter’s potential removal doesn’t eliminate all microtransactions, it signals a shift towards preserving the game’s core values. Cosmetics and certain bonus XP items with caps will remain to prevent exploitation.