Say what you will about RuneScape, it’s gotten people’s attention. Jagex’s free-to-play title recently reached a hefty new milestone with more than 200 million registered players. Along with the milestone, Jagex released some other statistics for RuneScape that notes that players have clocked more than 7 billion hours of game time.

To celebrate the new milestone, Jagex has launched a new RuneScape microsite featuring an interactive timeline of the game’s evolution over the last decade along with community testimonial videos and infographic statistics.



Additionally, players will find a new in-game event as part of the celebration over the next three days in the form of a new demon that can only be defeated with a unique weapon developed for the celebration, and by the way, it also has 200 million hitpoints...be sure to bring friends. Those that manage to slay the demon will be rewarded by a unique item.

Join the crowd and become one of the 200 million+ via the RuneScape website.

200 million RuneScape accounts, over 7 billion hours of gaming, 1 epic adventure

Thursday 19th July 2012, Cambridge, UK – RuneScape, the hugely popular and multi-award winning free-to-play massively multiplayer online adventure game, today made video games history once again by announcing that it now has over 200 million registered player accounts.

RuneScape has experienced a meteoritic level of success since it was first released in 2001. The game was one of the original pioneers of online multiplayer gaming and has continued to innovate and evolve over the years, ensuring RuneScape’s pole position at the forefront of free-to-play gaming today. Accessible directly from any browser and set in a distinct, richly-detailed, medieval fantasy world, RuneScape offers a truly contemporary, innovative and original gaming experience for millions of players across the world every day. The game content evolves weekly and is as fresh and entertaining today as it was when it first launched.

During the last 10 years, RuneScape’s virtual world has welcomed 200 million adventurers from more than 150 countries around the world. If RuneScape were a country it would be the 5th largest population in the world, and the game’s over 200 million inhabitants have clocked up in excess of 443 billion minutes of game time so far.

Speaking of breaking the 200 million player milestone, Jagex CEO Mark Gerhard commented, “Although RuneScape has achieved so much over the past decade, smashing 200 million accounts is a huge accomplishment for the dedicated development team and is thanks to our awesome community. When the game was first released, nobody could ever have expected it would reach such high levels of popularity largely by community word of mouth. It has been an incredible journey to get to where we are today, and by continuing our tradition of constantly innovating, evolving   and lovingly crafting RuneScape we are certain to continue to break records by creating an online adventure like no other. We’ve witnessed a really strong resurgence in the game’s popularity over the past two years and are seeing strong player growth year on year.” 

By registering more than 200 million player accounts, RuneScape.com further cements its position as the most popular free-to-play MMO in the World.

To mark this record-breaking achievement, Jagex, makers of RuneScape, have designed a suitably epic in-game celebration for all. Additionally, a 200 million celebration microsite has been launched, featuring an interactive timeline detailing the game’s evolution over the past decade, a host of community testimonial videos, and an eye-catching Infographic revealing a plethora of mind-blowing statistics mapping out the sheer size, success and popularity of the game. Visit the RuneScape 200 million website for more details and to download the Infographic: www.runescape.com/200million. 

All residents of the RuneScape world are welcome to take part in the in-game celebrations that will be taking place over the next three days. A brand new demon has been discovered, with the health of 200 million hit points! This epic demon can only be defeated with a unique weapon developed specifically for this landmark celebration, and successful demon slayers will be rewarded with a unique item.

With 200 million residents already staking their claim in RuneScape, there has never been a better time to stake yours and join. Simply visit www.RuneScape.com to create your free account today.

-Ends-

About RuneScape

RuneScape is the world’s most popular free-to-play massively multiplayer online adventure game (as recognised by Guinness World Records), from multiple award-winning independent British development studio Jagex. Set in a richly detailed, medieval fantasy world, RuneScape’s traditional storytelling proudly draws its inspiration from classic role-playing games. RuneScape delivers a contemporary, innovative and original experience for millions of players across the globe every day. RuneScape offers a fully featured free-to-play game, with a popular subscription option of even greater scale and ambition, both running directly within almost any computer’s browser.

Thanks to its character-class-free skill system and elective gameplay, there are no limits to the hero players can become, no quest you cannot complete and no requirement to collaborate with others or face them in player-versus-player combat unless you so choose.  RuneScape’s distinctive role-playing style rewards players who think strategically and play smartly. Its witty, intelligent tone, finely balanced gameplay, epic questing and myriad in-world diversions combine to create a game that has earned its place as the most popular free-to-play massively multiplayer online game of all time and continues to push the boundaries of online role-playing games.

About Jagex

Jagex is a multi-award winning online games developer based in Cambridge, England. Jagex specialises in the development of high quality browser-based games with supporting platform and technology. Jagex is also the largest independent games developer and publisher in the UK.

Jagex has a long-standing reputation for creating the world's best online games and for developing hugely popular, high quality, accessible, free-to-play games and for providing an unbeatable community experience for millions of players around the world. Jagex has developed and self-published over 40 online titles, including the world's most popular free multiplayer online game, RuneScape.com.