RuneScape’s Biggest Blunders: When Jagex Angered Players and What Happened Next

RuneScape's Biggest Blunders: When Jagex Angered Players and What Happened Next

RuneScape and Old School RuneScape (OSRS) owe their 20-plus-year legacy to a fiercely dedicated community that doesn't hesitate to riot in Falador Park or flood Reddit when Jagex drops a controversial update. From pay-to-win schemes to combat overhauls, Jagex has sparked plenty of player uprisings, sometimes reversing course under pressure and other times digging in. In this deep dive, we explore nine major updates that sent Gielinor into chaos, split into those Jagex scrapped and those they kept despite the outcry. Grab your rune scimitar, and let's revisit the moments that had the RuneScape community in an uproar!

When Jagex Backed Down: Updates Reversed After Player Outcry

When the community unites-through in-game protests, social media storms, or membership cancellations-Jagex sometimes listens. Here are four times Jagex messed up, faced player wrath, and reversed their changes.

1. Free Trade and Wilderness PvP Ban (2007)

What Happened? In December 2007, Jagex removed free player-to-player trading and Wilderness PvP to combat real-world trading (RWT). Trade limits crippled the economy, and the Wilderness, a beloved PvP zone, turned into a ghost town.

Community Reaction: Players erupted, staging massive in-game riots in Falador, flooding forums, and quitting in droves. The community saw free trade and the Wilderness as RuneScape's heart, and the changes felt like a betrayal.

Jagex's Response: After years of protests, Jagex held a 2011 referendum, with over 1.2 million votes demanding restoration. In February 2011, free trade and Wilderness PvP returned, with Jagex admitting the RWT crackdown sacrificed too much gameplay.

The Fallout: The reversal restored RuneScape's classic feel, though some argue the Wilderness never regained its peak vibrancy. It proved the community's power to shape the game.

2. Hero Pass Fiasco (2023)

What Happened? In September 2023, Jagex launched Hero Pass for RuneScape 3, a battle pass loaded with microtransactions, nudging players to spend real money for rewards.

Community Reaction: The backlash was swift and fierce. Players labeled it pay-to-win, staging in-game riots and blasting Jagex on Reddit and YouTube. Many quit or switched to OSRS, arguing it undermined RuneScape's grind-based core.

Jagex's Response: Jagex pulled Hero Pass within weeks, conceding it clashed with player values. They folded its rewards into free content updates and apologized.

The Fallout: The quick reversal stemmed some player loss, but lingering distrust in Jagex's monetization tactics remains a sore point.

3. RuneLite HD Shutdown (2021)

What Happened? In September 2021, Jagex halted RuneLite HD, a fan-made mod by "117" that revamped OSRS's visuals after 2,000 hours of work. Jagex cited their own HD project and plans to limit third-party visual mods.

Community Reaction: Players revolted, staging protests in Falador Park and rallying on Reddit and Twitter to back "117." The shutdown was seen as stifling community creativity, threatening RuneLite's vital role in OSRS. Cancellation threats surged.

Jagex's Response: Within days, Jagex reversed course, allowing RuneLite HD to proceed after talks with "117." They updated modding rules to permit visual enhancements, admitting they misjudged the mod's importance.

The Fallout: RuneLite HD thrived alongside Jagex's later HD update, preserving modding culture and restoring trust. It was a major community victory.

4. Farming NPC Behavior Change (2025)

What Happened? In early 2025, Jagex tweaked OSRS's Farming skill, fixing NPCs near farming patches to stop wandering, pitched as a quality-of-life improvement for easier access.

Community Reaction: A viral Reddit post sparked outrage, arguing the change stripped OSRS's quirky charm for sterile efficiency. Players swarmed forums and social media, slamming Jagex for eroding the game's nostalgic identity.

Jagex's Response: Jagex quickly reverted the NPC behavior, citing the Reddit post and player feedback. They prioritized preserving OSRS's original vibe.

The Fallout: The rollback highlighted Jagex's responsiveness but raised questions about their update vetting. Players cheered the return of OSRS's unique flavor.

When Jagex Held Firm: Updates Kept Despite Player Rage

Not every protest changes Jagex's mind. In these five cases, the community roared, but Jagex stuck to their guns, offering tweaks or concessions without fully reversing the changes. These moments reshaped RuneScape's trajectory.

1. Evolution of Combat (EoC) Overhaul (2012)

What Happened? In November 2012, Jagex overhauled RuneScape's combat with EoC, introducing abilities, dual-wielding, and action-based mechanics, replacing the simple click-and-wait system.

Community Reaction: The community exploded, staging riots, cancelling subscriptions, and flooding forums. EoC was accused of turning RuneScape into a World of Warcraft clone, with its complexity alienating casual players. The lack of a legacy option intensified the backlash.

Jagex's Response: Jagex stood by EoC, viewing it as a modernizing step. They launched Old School RuneScape in 2013 after a poll, offering a 2007-based server, and added Legacy Mode to RuneScape 3 in 2014 for simpler combat. EoC remained the default.

The Fallout: OSRS surged in popularity, often outshining RuneScape 3. EoC split the player base, with some embracing it and others flocking to OSRS, leaving a lasting divide.

2. Squeal of Fortune Microtransactions (2012)

What Happened? In February 2012, Jagex debuted Squeal of Fortune, a loot box system letting players buy spins for randomized rewards, marking RuneScape's first major microtransaction push.

Community Reaction: Players revolted, calling it pay-to-win and a betrayal of the game's grind-based ethos. In-game riots and forum posts soared, with the goblin NPC Yelps becoming a hated figure. Many cancelled memberships.

Jagex's Response: Jagex kept microtransactions, swapping Squeal for Treasure Hunter in 2014, a refined system. They let players kill Yelps in the 2014 Mighty Fall quest as a symbolic gesture, but monetization stayed.

The Fallout: Microtransactions became a staple in RuneScape 3, pushing some players to OSRS, which avoided such systems. Monetization remains a contentious issue.

3. Pride Month Event (2017)

What Happened? In June 2017, Jagex introduced a small Pride Month event for RuneScape 3, featuring a rainbow scarf quest to celebrate LGBTQ+ inclusion.

Community Reaction: A segment of players protested, rioting in Lumbridge and posting on forums and social media. They argued the event didn't fit RuneScape's fantasy setting, though supporters backed its inclusive message.

Jagex's Response: Jagex proceeded with the event, emphasizing their commitment to diversity. They addressed disruptive behavior to ensure the event ran smoothly, with no reversal.

The Fallout: The event's completion affirmed Jagex's stance on inclusion, but the controversy highlighted player divisions. Later Pride events were managed more quietly to reduce friction.

4. Legacy and EoC Simultaneous Release (2014)

What Happened? In July 2014, Jagex released Legacy Mode (simplified combat) and new EoC updates for RuneScape 3 simultaneously, aiming to balance both combat styles.

Community Reaction: Players criticized the rushed release, which caused balancing issues like overpowered EoC abilities and a weak Legacy Mode. In-game protests and forum complaints branded it a "half-baked" EoC fix.

Jagex's Response: Jagex maintained both systems, releasing patches over months to address balancing rather than reverting the updates. Legacy Mode was refined to coexist with EoC.

The Fallout: Patches eased some complaints, but the incident underscored Jagex's inconsistent update quality. Legacy Mode remains, though EoC dominates high-level play.

5. Membership Price Hike Survey (2025)

What Happened? In early 2025, Jagex sent a survey proposing membership price increases for RuneScape and OSRS, citing rising costs and suggesting tiered pricing.

Community Reaction: Players lashed out, calling it greedy amid existing monetization like Treasure Hunter. Reddit and social media buzzed with cancellation threats and demands for cost transparency.

Jagex's Response: Jagex clarified the survey was exploratory, with no price hike enacted. They promised further consultation but didn't retract the survey or rule out future increases.

The Fallout: The lack of a price hike calmed tensions, but the controversy deepened distrust. Players stay wary of future monetization pushes.

Wrapping Up: Lessons from Gielinor's Uprisings

RuneScape's community is a powerhouse, using riots, Reddit campaigns, and OSRS's 75% polling threshold to steer the game's direction. The four reversed updates-Free Trade/Wilderness, Hero Pass, RuneLite HD, and Farming NPC-show Jagex's willingness to backtrack when players defend the game's core. Yet, the five non-reversed changes-EoC, Squeal of Fortune, Pride Month, Legacy/EoC, and the Price Hike Survey-reveal Jagex's resolve to pursue long-term goals, even at the risk of dividing players or eroding trust.

These nine controversies highlight a recurring issue: Jagex often misreads what makes RuneScape special, whether it's the grind-based ethos, nostalgic charm, or community creativity. Reversals like RuneLite HD mend fences, but non-reversed moves like EoC and microtransactions have split the community, with OSRS thriving as a purist haven. As Jagex pushes forward with projects like RuneScape: Dragonwilds (launched April 15, 2025), they'll need to tread carefully to avoid igniting the next Falador riot.

What's your take? Have you joined a RuneScape protest, or do you think Jagex's changes were worth the fight? For more RuneScape drama, stay tuned for updates on Jagex's next moves.