Runescape Developer Jagex has put an end to Runelite HD, a fan-made HD mod for the popular free client called Old School Runescape, just as the project was preparing to launch on Monday. The move was announced at 11:11, with some Runescape fans decrying Jagex's decision . They've also said they'll go to other MMOs.
Runelite HD designer "117" posted on Reddit Tuesday, sharing the message he got from Jagex the company. The information was confirmed by Jagex on its own blog article. Runelite HD operates as a plugin that will provide an extensive visual overhaul to the basic Runescape as seen by 117's Twitter. Moderator 117 said they have spent approximately 2000 hours over the past two years developing Runelite HD.
"Yesterday we contacted the developers of well-known HD projects, and we asked the developers to stop developing their projects because this is an area we are directly investigating," Jagex stated. Jagex sent 117 an email stating that the company's efforts to develop an HD rendition of Old School Runescape was "still relatively early in the exploration phases" but "very advanced."
"Naturally, this means that any fan-led project which intends to change the way Old School RuneScape appears is in opposition to our ideas," Jagex wrote to 117. "We consider it essential that there be a consistent look in the way Old School appears as a result, so we'd like to be sure that our changes to the official version will be the only ones we have available.
I hope the news of Jagex together with Old School team are tackling this project seriously is something that you are excited about even though it might indicate that we have to be politely asking you to stop your own personal project."
117 claimed that they would offer Jagex an OSRS gold alternative by removing their application once Jagex had released theirs, as well as giving Jagex "collaborative influence" over the Runelite HD's visual design.
"They refused to participate," 117 said. "I am extremely unhappy and dissatisfied with Jagex, and I am so very sorry for this lengthy journey that I'm unable to present this project to you. 117's mod doesn't seem to go against Jagex's guidelines for third-party players, but the Runescape developer says it is amending the guidelines this week to include references to projects that could affect how the game appears.
Original Runelite developer Adam1210 shared his views on Reddit commenting that the ability to allow Runelite HD to continue would be beneficial to RuneScape gold future updates by Jagex.