Old School RuneScape is experiencing unprecedented popularity following a recent surge that brought its player count to an impressive all-time high on Steam. Originally launched in 2013, Old School RuneScape was designed to cater primarily to fans of the classic version, diverging from its successor, RuneScape 3.

Developer Jagex has shown dedication to both versions of the game by continuously releasing new updates. For instance, the recent launch of the Sailing skill on March 20 was warmly received, as was the concluding chapter of the Twilight Emissaries series, which was introduced with Varlamore: The Final Dawn on July 23. In parallel, RuneScape 3 introduced a formidable new boss, Amascut, Goddess of Destruction.

The growth of Old School RuneScape over the past ten years comprises a remarkable achievement, particularly highlighted by the staggering player count record of 231,000 concurrent users in December 2024. This achievement was recently eclipsed when the game recorded an astounding 240,756 concurrent players on August 3, as reported by misplaceditems, with Jagex celebrating this milestone on social media while expressing gratitude to its dedicated community.

Continuous Growth in Player Engagement

The consistent increase in Old School RuneScape’s player base is largely attributed to Jagex’s aggressive content rollout strategy. The previous release of Varlamore: The Final Dawn coincided with the peak player milestone, while the community is also actively engaged in generating whimsical content—illustrated by a humorous video featuring celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay in Lumbridge Castle.

Jagex’s commitment to maintaining communication with players is evident, even during incidents of community backlash, such as in response to a survey that solicited payment preferences for optional features. Following this, Jagex received feedback more cautiously, emphasizing its dedication to player satisfaction, as reflected by a solid 82% positive Steam rating, with a further 70% of recent reviews in the last month rated positively.