MMOs and private servers go together like peanut butter and legally questionable jelly, and few MMOs can match RuneScape, now the resurrected and modernized Old School RuneScape, for the sheer volume and variety of unofficial fan-created variants. These “private servers” were usually reduced to a a lot a faster way to get rare items and high levels compared to the actual game, but they came in all shapes and sizes, from unbalanced PvP wastelands that had economies worse than those of the 1930s, to serious RPGs and quest hubs that were legitimately and thoughtfully designed.
The most iconic private server in RuneScape may be Moparscape, with its 2000s-tinged black-and-white home screen etched into the minds of countless OSRS players. If I close my eyes, I can still see the carBut we may see a new server claim the throne in the coming years, because OSRS developer Jagex has just revealed official “community servers” under the Project Zanaris banner, which would give the MMO's player base “full control” over the game's rules.
The Summer Summit announcement further hints at ways to “find and play different experiences” and “recreate favorite game modes or invent your own.” It also reiterates that “you make the rules,” suggesting a hands-on approach to iteration and creation.
The full scope of these community servers remains to be seen. Project Zanaris still seems fairly formative, with a rough timeline seemingly positioning it as a late 2025 (or perhaps even 2026) release. On top of that, OSRS updates typically change significantly during development based on player feedback and surveys. But on the face of it, given the success of official variants of the game like Leagues and Deadman Mode—not to mention player-run tournaments and contests that can draw a large audience—the idea of Jagex-sanctioned private servers is a tempting one. OSRS is still thriving in large part thanks to player creativity, so these servers could become an incredible platform.
The main game is also getting some major updates. Speaking of Leagues and Deadman Mode, Leagues 5: Raging Echoes promises “a new system that gives you greater control of your battle upgrades,” as well as improved superbosses with new mechanics and better loot, all set to arrive in late November. A hint of Deadman Mode is also creeping into the main game: inspired by the “rifts” of the last Deadman, the “Wrathmaw” world boss is coming to Wilderness in November.
OSRS is preparing more regional updates to Varlamore for this month and Spring 2025, new “upper mid-game” bosses for Spring 2025, and an early 2025 game jam that’s eyeing features like harvest logging and player-owned housing. More broadly, Navigation, the first new skill coming to the game, is on the way, and a ground-up graphical and API update to lighting, water, weather, and community plugins is also on the schedule. OSRS is currently riding high after the recent release of (this is going to sound crazy) another spider boss, and it shows no signs of slowing down.
After 6 years living as a monk and a total of 19 years later, the MMO player returns to Old School RuneScape and proves the classic phrase: you don't quit, you take breaks..