"What in the vibe-coded s*** is this" - RuneScape players revolt as gen-AI copycat game appears and eventually attracts the eye of Jagex
A clone of Old School RuneScape that appeared on the internet this week, and stoked the ire of the RuneScape community, has quickly been shut down. Read more
A RuneScape clone, created by an OpenAI employee named Rohan Varma, has sparked outrage among the community due to its uncanny resemblance to the original game. Titled Elderwood, the game was initially playable in a browser, featuring characters, quests, and duels that mirrored Old School RuneScape (OSRS). Users quickly took to X (formerly Twitter) to share their disappointment, with many criticizing the AI-generated game for its blatant copying and lack of originality.
One user even sarcastically remarked, "What in the vibe-coded s*** is this." As the community's criticism grew, Elderwood added more content, including new areas from OSRS, but ultimately, Jagex, the game's developer, intervened on the second day. The company received a notice from Jagex, prompting Elderwood to shut down immediately.
In a farewell message, the developers thanked their players for their support and acknowledged the community's contributions. Despite this setback, RuneScape players remain optimistic, with Jagex recently releasing two new quests to OSRS for those still seeking adventure.
Written by urgent.news from Eurogamer's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
