Summary of "Say Goodbye to Treasure Hunter"
Summary of “Say Goodbye to Treasure Hunter”
Storyline & Context
Jagex announced that Treasure Hunter, RuneScape’s controversial microtransaction (MTX) system, will be permanently removed starting January 19th, 2026. This decision marks the beginning of a new era focused on integrity, player experience, and long-term growth for RuneScape.
The change was driven by community feedback, with over 100,000 votes in a poll supporting the removal of Treasure Hunter.
Key Gameplay and MTX Changes
- Removal of purchasable gameplay-impacting MTX items such as Direct XP, lamps, proteans, dummies, and more.
- Significant reduction of gameplay-impacting microtransactions overall.
- Introduction of cosmetic toggle options allowing players to control which cosmetics they see in-game.
Integrity Roadmap (2026 Focus)
A year-long series of updates aimed at addressing core issues and improving the foundational experience of RuneScape. The main areas of focus include:
Visual Identity
- Unifying and refreshing the art style of Gielinor to create a consistent, grounded, and immersive world.
- Revisiting older areas, starting with Lumbridge.
- Improving lighting, atmosphere, environmental design, and outfit designs for armor, skilling gear, and cosmetics.
World Decluttering
- Cleaning up cluttered or disconnected areas caused by layered content and events over the years.
- Tidying places like Lumbridge beach and Burthorpe to improve cohesion and flow.
User Interface (UI)
- Refreshing the UI to reduce complexity and improve readability and navigation, especially for new and returning players.
- Updates will be iterative, enhancing default layouts and edit modes while maintaining flexibility for veteran players.
Dailyscape
- Rethinking daily gameplay to make logging in feel rewarding and respectful of player time, whether they play for minutes or hours.
Skill Improvements
- Addressing pacing issues and lack of AFK training methods.
- Making certain skills more enjoyable to reduce reliance on MTX items.
Combat Overhaul
- Enhancing combat to make all four combat styles (melee, ranged, magic, and necromancy) more dynamic, consistent, and rewarding.
- Improvements include:
- Better ability flow and readability.
- Clearer identity and purpose for each combat style.
- Reviewing adrenaline, threshold abilities, and combat scaling.
- Introducing beta worlds for player feedback before finalizing changes.
Early Steps
- Before the January 19th launch of the roadmap, new players will start their adventure in a refreshed Lumbridge.
- Lumbridge will also undergo decluttering to improve player experience.
Overall Vision
The changes aim to bring RuneScape back to its roots while modernizing and refreshing the game. The focus is on:
- Integrity
- Value
- Respect for player time and experience
The roadmap is designed to build a stronger foundation for RuneScape to thrive for decades to come.
Key Points & Strategies
- Treasure Hunter and gameplay-impacting MTX will be fully removed by January 19, 2026.
- The Integrity Roadmap focuses on:
- Visual and UI refreshes.
- Decluttering and world cohesion.
- Skill pacing and enjoyment improvements.
- Combat system overhaul with player feedback.
- Cosmetic toggles introduced for better player control.
- New players start in a refreshed Lumbridge as a symbolic fresh start.
- Beta testing of combat changes to ensure quality and incorporate player input.
Sources / Featured
- Jagex development team (RuneScape official announcements and roadmap presentation)
Category
Gaming
