Just shy of two months ago, Jagex made the bold move of getting rid of RuneScape's microtransactions. It was a decision celebrated throughout the community. Now, the developer's revealed that premier subscriptions for the long-running MMO are going up, and fans are considerably less enthused.
As of April 9, the cost of a monthly membership for current subscribers is rising from $13.99 to $14.99, while a yearly bulk sub jumps from $99.48 to $131.88, breaking down to $10.99 per month, an increase of $2.70. Those are noticeable jumps, and they come lass than two years since the last round of increases.
Those on the Grandfathered rate – monthly subs started before September 27, 2024 – will stay on that price, however, if you've since switched to the annual tier, then you can no longer access this legacy tier. "The ability for 12 Month Membership subscribers to switch between discounted-value 12 Month Membership and inactive Grandfather Rate memberships has also been discontinued," Jagex says in the announcement.
"We will continue to offer a 14-day grace period to protect your Grandfathered rate in the event of a billing issue."
Six-month memberships have been removed from sale, though existing ones will continue to rollover until canceled. Bonds are still useable against subs, but they're getting more expensive in lieu of the price changes.
These prices are in use as of now, March 10, for any new sign-ups. Players are unhappy, to say the least. "Way to show appreciation to your loyal players," says one commenter on Reddit. "I can understand them trying to remove Grandfathered rates, but forcing you onto the new rates underhandedly is going to double the cost of RS and people are going to actively make a financial decision," another adds.
A comparison between modern and Grandfathered rates shows a steep climb in pricing. "Thanks to Grandfathered rates, I currently pay 8 AUD per month," one Redditor states, "while the new 12 month price is 15.49 AUD per month. That right there is nearly double."
There's a throughline of frustration as players realize they can't access cheaper pricing any more. Jagex states this is to make further developments across RuneScape and its Old School sibling more feasible. "We're genuinely grateful you choose to spend your time in RuneScape," the developer says.
"Your long-term support is a big part of why we can invest in RuneScape's future, and our commitment is to keep delivering a membership that feels fair, rewarding, and built to last."
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