UPDATE: Old School RuneScape (OSRS) has just announced a significant crackdown on players involved in buying in-game gold from black market sellers. Effective immediately, the game will impose permanent bans and confiscate items from players caught participating in Real World Trading (RWT).
The announcement, made earlier today, highlights a major shift in Jagex’s approach to RWT, a practice that has plagued the game and frustrated its community. According to Jagex, the punishments for purchasing gold will no longer be lenient. “Buying gold off a real world trader is already very clearly against the rules,” the company stated in its post. “As part of our clamp-down on those gold-farming bots and the harm they do to Old School RuneScape, we’re now taking a harsher line against players caught buying gold from them.”
This decisive action comes as Jagex aims to eliminate the pervasive issue of botting and gold farming, which has significantly impacted the integrity of gameplay. Players who previously thought they could escape punishment by simply purchasing gold are now facing the harsh reality of immediate and severe consequences, including temporary or permanent bans for first offenses.
The response from the OSRS community has been overwhelmingly positive, with many players expressing their approval of the new measures. On the OSRS subreddit, one user exclaimed, “Amazing news! Thank you!” while another advocated for strict enforcement with, “Skip temporary. Perma ban all of them every time.”
However, there remains a sense of skepticism among some players. Concerns have been raised regarding Jagex’s previous promises to tackle RWT, as past attempts have failed to yield significant results. In 2021, Jagex announced it was expanding its team to better address buyers, yet little progress was seen. Similarly, a 2007 declaration reiterated that purchasing gold for real-world money would result in permanent bans, yet many continued to engage in the practice without repercussions.
With this latest announcement, Jagex’s commitment to enforcing stricter penalties is clear. Players will no longer be able to hide behind the excuse of minor infractions. Jagex’s agents will actively monitor and issue bans, making it imperative for players to cease such activities immediately.
As this situation develops, the community will be watching closely to see if Jagex follows through on its promise to eliminate RWT. The future of Old School RuneScape hangs in the balance, with players eager for a fairer and more enjoyable gaming experience.
Stay tuned for updates on this evolving story and join the discussion on social media as the OSRS community reacts to these sweeping changes.
