Runescape players decrying cash-hungry Fresh Start update look at Old School in envy

gamesradar.com:

Runescape players are in near unanimous agreement that the upcoming Fresh Start Worlds update is a little too cash-hungry, and they're all looking at Old School Runescape's version of the update with envy.

In case you missed the initial announcement, the whole Fresh Start Worlds initiative is purportedly designed to entice new and "lapsed" players by giving them an even playing field. Starting September 12, Runescape players will have access to Fresh Start Worlds servers which will offer boosted XP and drop rates, rare and unique rewards – and the usual suite of microtransactions offering demonstrable power advantages. Existing Runescape subscribers will also need to shell out for an additional membership to access most of those benefits, some of which can be traded back to the main game.

That sounds a lot like pay-to-win shenanigans to many in the community (opens in new tab). While it seems like a decent enough deal to new players looking to get up to speed efficiently, it's essentially a separate, paywalled mode to existing players who might be incentivized by exclusive items. Redditor Aviarn drew up a list of their biggest sticking points (opens in new tab) with the update, and needless to say, many folks aren't happy with Fresh Start Worlds the way it's currently billed.

As for Old School Runescape, Fresh Start Worlds isn't exactly a hit (opens in new tab) with players, but there are some noteworthy differences compared to the main Runescape version. You'll still need a new account with its own subscription to access everything in the game, but OSRS does have a free version, plus its Fresh Start Worlds don't offer any XP or drop rate boosts, nor do they have exclusive items like the modern Runescape version. OSRS