RuneScape and Old School RuneScape developer Jagex recently sent out a player survey floating a range of fairly extreme potential changes to premium membership, which unlocks the lion's share of content in both MMOs, such as an "ads included" tier and another "conjoint membership" tier that would cover both games, run $350 annually, and include "enhanced player support" and exclusive world (server) access.
Not everyone received the survey, or even the same survey, but various versions were quickly shared online. Jagex isn't saying this stuff is happening, only asking players how they feel about the idea.
Folks, they ain't feelin' good. The fact that the company, which has a history of intrusive microtransactions in RuneScape especially, even proposed these ideas was enough to trigger a storm of fire, brimstone, and canceled subscriptions in both communities.
Jagex has already responded to the outcry with a blog post explaining "why the survey exists" and insisting that "we include controversial or polarising topics in surveys" because they demonstrate "what players truly like, dislike, and feel strongly about." This reaffirms the hypothetical nature of these changes, and Jagex specifically said that "no final decisions have been made" and "we're listening," but this has done little to calm the storm. "Surveys like this allow us to gather feedback on ideas before they even come close to becoming reality," Jagex writes. "They act as an important safeguard, ensuring that anything unpopular or misaligned with the community’s values is identified early. "This approach reflects our commitment to transparency and collaboration.
We believe that asking hard questions - while sometimes difficult - helps us stay aligned with your expectations and build a stronger, more resilient relationship with the community.