{
  "id": 906576,
  "title": "Old School RuneScape began when a dev 'found the 2007 server in their desk drawer:' 13 years later, it's setting subscriber records for the long-lived MMO",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/old-school-runescape-began-when-a-dev-found-the-2007-server-in-their",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-14T20:49:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "PC Gamer",
    "slug": "pc-gamer",
    "url": "https://www.pcgamer.com/games/mmo/old-school-runescape-began-when-a-dev-found-the-2007-server-in-their-desk-drawer-13-years-later-its-setting-subscriber-records-for-the-long-lived-mmo/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Old School RuneScape (OSRS) began in 2007 when a developer found the server in their desk drawer, sparking a resurgence for the 13-year-old game. Creative director Kieren Charles reflected on the decision to start OSRS with the 2007 iteration, stating it was a somewhat arbitrary choice based on what players considered the \"golden age.\" OSRS has since set subscriber records, with over a million active subscribers. The game's community-driven approach allows for regular content updates, such as the 2024 expansion \"Varlamore,\" which must align with OSRS's aesthetic. Players vote on potential additions, and if a feature doesn't receive a 70% approval, it's scrapped. The OSRS team, described by Charles as caretakers of the community, balances fan-driven content with the resources of a large development team.",
  "summary": "OSRS is a resounding MMO success story.",
  "key_points": [
    "Old School RuneScape (OSRS) launched in 2007 from a 2007 server found in a desk drawer",
    "Creative director Kieren Charles chose 2007 iteration as the \"golden age\" for OSRS",
    "OSRS set over a million active subscriber records in 2024, with community-driven content updates"
  ],
  "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."
}