Major Overhaul Planned for RuneScape 3
RuneScape 3 will undergo sweeping changes to its microtransaction system, Jagex has announced. However, exactly what this overhaul will entail is something that not even the RuneScape 3 developer knows—though a plan is in place to figure that out.
Recent months have seen significant changes within Jagex and its long-running fantasy MMORPG. In March 2025, the company appointed a new CEO, with Jon Bellamy succeeding Phil Mansell, who led the firm since 2017. Bellamy’s initial period as CEO began controversially when he canceled RuneScape 3’s Pride event, eliciting substantial backlash from the community.
The CEO now appears determined to start afresh by addressing one of the most controversial aspects of RuneScape 3 that has received widespread criticism: microtransactions. In a video released in late June 2025, Bellamy described the current state of RuneScape 3’s monetization as a ‘tainted’ era, pledging to put an end to it. “When our work is done, we want every single player to feel the same ownership that we fostered so well in our approach to Old School [RuneScape],” he asserted.
Monetization Experiments Coming to RuneScape 3 This Summer
The complete scope of this overhaul remains to be seen. However, the RuneScape developer has a plan: throughout summer 2025, Jagex will conduct a series of ‘experiments’ aimed at evaluating alternative monetization methods. The first of these experiments will begin in July, during which the studio plans to disable the problematic Treasure Hunter loot box system. Following that, an August event will offer double XP while excluding all premium items—a trial aimed at potentially removing them altogether. Additionally, a third test in September will make certain cosmetics previously exclusive to Treasure Hunter available for purchase in the in-game store.
The upcoming changes are expected to last only a couple of weeks, as lead game designer Mod Mohawk mentioned in the same June 26 YouTube announcement. Formally, Jagex regards these tests as a chance for the RuneScape 3 community to provide actionable feedback based on real gameplay changes. Informally, they are predicted to gauge the implications of more player-friendly microtransactions on RuneScape 3 revenue.
While not every experiment may yield lasting alterations, some changes are undoubtedly on the horizon. “Our MTX approach is harming RuneScape, and it’s time we took action,” Bellamy stated emphatically during his recent address. “If we want to transition from our current state, where our population isn’t growing, to enjoying decades of a flourishing community, we must make substantial moves, even when they are challenging,” he concluded. Jagex has yet to release a comprehensive plan for its monetization reform after the summer experiments.
