This will certainly be no easy task. He has hinted that we will get a glimpse of their plans sometime in October.
Jon Bellamy, the CEO of Jagex, the developer of RuneScape, has stated that his goal is for the game to eventually become the world’s number one MMO, surpassing World of Warcraft. In an interview with The Game Business, Bellamy was asked about the company’s claim that RuneScape is the second-largest MMO after Blizzard’s game. Bellamy replied that he plans to continue developing RuneScape, which celebrated its 25th anniversary this year, until it surpasses World of Warcraft and becomes the undisputed leader in the MMO space.
One of the first steps Jagex took to achieve this goal was discontinuing the Treasure Hunter microtransaction last year. This service allowed players to boost their XP and gold, generating a lot of revenue for Jagex. However, it was unpopular among players. Bellamy said that, as a result of this decision, the game’s revenue dropped significantly. However, he emphasized that this was part of the plan. He added that, for the first time in four years, the number of members had stabilized instead of declining. Bellamy explained that changing the revenue model alone is not enough; the studio must provide content that will lure players back. He also hinted that the next phase of the plan will take place in October, when Jagex will announce an initiative aimed at bringing former players back to RuneScape.
“Our dream is to be the number one MMO brand in the world, not number two. There’s a big gap between us and the top spot, but we know we can make headway if we get it right. It’s lofty and ambitious, but if you’re going to set lofty and ambitious goals, why not aim for the top? So that’s our number one goal. Setting the table for growth is not the same as expecting growth just because you set the table. You need to offer something to bring people in. We’ve set the table. We’ve spent the last year not only removing the monetization layer but also overhauling much of the clunkiness and pain within the game.
The guy who runs our RuneScape studio has been here for 13 years. He’s been a RuneScape player for 20 years. The person calling the shots on how to bring the game back to life was a player during its golden age. He’s done a great job of getting the game into a healthy position. So, fewer daily obligations, less FOMO, and less nonsense. I’ve been told very clearly not to give anything away, but on October 3 at RuneFest, we’ll be announcing our equivalent of putting a feast on the table to actively win people back. That’ll be happening much sooner than many people expect,” Bellamy said.
It’s a noble goal, but let’s see if he can make it happen.
Source: VGC, The Game Business
