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Jagex's evergreen fantasy MMORPG Runescape has implemented cross-platform play for the first time in its 20-year history after launching on mobile platforms.

Chris Kerr, News Editor

June 18, 2021

1 Min Read

Jagex's evergreen fantasy MMORPG Runescape has implemented cross-platform play for the first time in its 20-year history after launching on mobile platforms. 

The free-to-play title was officially rolled out on iOS and Android devices yesterday, and that mobile expansion brought new features including full cross-platform play and progression -- allowing players to jump from PC to mobile in a snap without losing any progress. 

Jagex revealed Runescape amassed 1.8 million pre-registrations on mobile ahead of launch, with studio chief exec Phil Mansell claiming the move displays a commitment "to the continued growth of both [Runescape and Old School Runescape] as multi-platform living games."

Despite being over two decades old, Runescape continues to prosper. Back in 2019 the title hit an all-time high of 1.1 million paid subscriptions, while Old School Runescape set a new concurrent player record in November last year after over 157,000 players logged on during the Leagues II: TrailBlazer event

The mobile launch comes a few months after Jagex was acquired by global investment company The Carlyle Group for an undisclosed fee, with that deal marking the third time the UK developer has changed hands in the past five years.

About the Author(s)

Chris Kerr

News Editor, GameDeveloper.com

Game Developer news editor Chris Kerr is an award-winning journalist and reporter with over a decade of experience in the game industry. His byline has appeared in notable print and digital publications including Edge, Stuff, Wireframe, International Business Times, and PocketGamer.biz. Throughout his career, Chris has covered major industry events including GDC, PAX Australia, Gamescom, Paris Games Week, and Develop Brighton. He has featured on the judging panel at The Develop Star Awards on multiple occasions and appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live to discuss breaking news.

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