Jagex Announces Largest Price Hike in RuneScape History
Image Credit: Jagex
Jagex has announced yet another price hike for RuneScape, with the new monthly subscription fee set to rise to $13.99, an almost 30% increase from 2022 when the price was $10.99, marking one of the most significant and rapidly-adjusted price hikes in the game’s history. This decision comes hot on the heels of a recent survey that Jagex conducted among its player base, probing whether they would be willing to pay more if microtransactions (MTX) were toned down—a survey that now seems eerily prophetic, with Jagex increasing membership prices with no information on any sort of reduction in MTX coming in the future.
This interesting timing has brought forth yet another wave of concern among the players. The survey, which was intended to gauge players' tolerance for microtransactions, asked if they would be willing to accept a higher subscription cost in exchange for fewer microtransactions. The sudden price increase, announced shortly after this survey, has led to widespread belief from the community that Jagex may have used the survey results to gauge and analyze how much to increase the price, all while being intentionally misleading and giving little indication that the actual reduction in microtransactions, if any, will be significant.
Image Credit: Jagex
To put this price increase into perspective, it’s worth comparing RuneScape’s new subscription fee to that of other major MMORPGs. World of Warcraft (WoW), often regarded as the gold standard in the genre, currently charges $14.99 per month, and other MMOs like Final Fantasy 14, Star Wars the Old Republic, Elder Scrolls Online, and more being around the same. While WoW’s subscription fee is slightly higher, at least in the United States (this is not accounting for currency elsewhere in the world), it’s important to note that WoW offers a breadth of content, regular expansions, and a generally robust endgame experience that many players feel justifies the cost along with multiple accounts/characters, whereas players must pay extra for individual account subscriptions along with, at least in the case of RuneScape 3, other very basic things like RuneMetrics and even bank space.
RuneScape, by contrast, has long positioned itself as a more affordable alternative in the MMORPG space, starting out with a simple subscription of $5 per month. However, with the new price tag, that distinction is becoming blurred. Moreover, WoW’s monetization strategy is less aggressive in terms of microtransactions, relying primarily on cosmetic items and services rather than pay-to-win mechanics, which are still prevalent in RuneScape 3 (Old School RuneScape having, admittedly, very little if any outside of Bonds).
While this increase will be for both Old School RuneScape and RuneScape 3, even with this price increase, RuneScape 3 remains riddled with microtransactions. From Treasure Hunter keys to Solomon’s General Store and various other in-game purchases, players often find themselves incentivized to spend additional money on top of their subscription fee in order to avoid missing out on the plethora of promotions that Jagex injects into the game. This has led to growing concerns about the overall value that Jagex is offering to its player base, with scandal after scandal and updates with glaring issues (e.g. combat balance with the release of Necromancy, Hero Pass, and so forth).
Despite Jagex’s assurances that the increased subscription fee will lead to a better experience, many players are skeptical and for good reason. The lack of clarity on how much the microtransactions will be reduced, if at all, only fuels the belief that Jagex is merely shifting the cost burden onto the players without addressing the core issues. After all, Jagex does not have the best history when it comes to being transparent with their players, with RuneScape 3 players having waited many, many months into the year just to get a simple roadmap.
Image Credit: Jagex
To the surprise of nobody, the community’s reaction has been overwhelmingly negative. Social media platforms and online forums are full of criticism, with many long-time players expressing their frustration over what they see as yet another a cash grab by Jagex. The sentiment is that the company is attempting to double-dip—raising the subscription fee while continuing to push microtransactions aggressively.
This backlash highlights a growing dissatisfaction among the player base, which Jagex will need to address if it hopes to maintain its loyal community. Many players are now questioning whether their continued investment in RuneScape is worth it, given the increased costs alongside the persistence of incredibly aggressive microtransactions.
With all of that said, it is worth noting that Jagex’s decision to raise the price of RuneScape’s subscription comes at a crucial time for the game. While the company may argue that the increase is necessary to sustain and improve the game, the community’s response suggests that Jagex is at risk of alienating its player base. Old School RuneScape may be thriving, but it’s counterpart, RuneScape 3, is not, with a record-low player count. If RuneScape 3 bleeds players, will Jagex begin to look to implement MTX in Old School RuneScape, or further increase membership costs for the remaining few that hang around, having “invested too much time” to quit?
With the MMORPG market offering alternatives that are either more affordable or provide better value for money, RuneScape’s place in the hierarchy of online games is being reevaluated. Unless Jagex can deliver on its promise of a better experience and, in the case of RuneScape 3, fewer microtransactions, this price hike may be remembered as a crucial turning point—one where the balance between player satisfaction and corporate profit tilted a little too far in the wrong direction.
