{
  "id": 1044650,
  "title": "How 2004 RuneScape fit a multiplayer RPG into 56k dial-up",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/15/how-2004-runescape-fit-a-multiplayer-rpg-into-56k-dial-up",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-15T04:45:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Lobsters",
    "slug": "lobsters",
    "url": "https://jkm.dev/posts/how-2004-runescape-fit-a-multiplayer-rpg-into-56k-dialup/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In 2004, Jagex, the creators of RuneScape, managed to fit a multiplayer RPG into a system running on 56k dial-up connections. A single step of navigating to a neighboring tile was dissected to reveal how the game managed to do so on such a slow connection. The key to this feat was a meticulous approach to not wasting bytes. Upon clicking a tile, a breadth-first search path was created, with only the deltas (directions) between waypoints being sent, rather than the absolute coordinates, cutting down on bytes. The packet also included a byte indicating whether the Ctrl key was held down, which could either force a run or invert the movement mode. This method of communication allowed the game to function smoothly even on a slow 56k connection.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}