Quote:Publisher Jagex announced earlier this year that RuneScape would come out of early access on mobile sometime this summer. Starting today, anyone can dive into the long-running MMORPG on iOS and Android.

RuneScape is free-to-play, though subscribers get access to more quests, skills and other extras. You can check out the membership for free with a seven-day trial. The mobile versions support cross-play and cross-progression with PC, so you can hop between platforms and continue where you left off.

Quote:RuneScape developer Jagex has been bought again.

This time it's US private equity giant Carlyle Group that's snapped up a majority stake in the Cambridge games studio.

The Carlyle Group did not disclose the terms of the transaction, but The Daily Telegraph reported the value of the deal is expected to be more than the $530m (£390m) paid for Jagex when it was acquired from its previous Chinese owners by a US holding company in 2020.

Quote:The fantasy MMO Runescape launched on January 4, 2001, which means that as of today it is 20 years old. That's absolutely ancient in videogame terms, and so developer Jagex is marking the big birthday with a "Grand Party" that will feature anniversary-themed content that will run throughout the year.

The fun begins at Lumbridge Crater—"the gigantic hole behind Lumbridge Castle," for those unfamiliar with the territory—where the Wise Old Man will be handing out an exclusive 20th Anniversary Outfit and Cape to everyone who asks nicely. Players will also be granted different buffs and rewards, and earn a ten percent XP bonus, while they're in the crater.

Week-long events will be held throughout January, beginning with the Celebration of Quests, which will challenge players with three mini-quests featuring "iconic characters from the Runescape roster." That too will be accessible via the Lumbridge Crater, and will offer special rewards including XP lamps and 20th anniversary cake. Even bigger, a four-part anniversary quest called Once Upon a Time will run throughout 2021 to celebrate Runescape's past and present, "and even provide a glimpse of its future."

Quote:We are pleased to inform you that, following legal proceedings, RSBot, and the Powerbot website, will be shut down, and permanently closed by midnight on 3rd October 2020.

We take a zero-tolerance approach, both in and out of game, with bot users, developers and gold sellers. Simply put, we will never tolerate cheating in our games.

Today’s success follows on from our removal of the Arcus & Bogla Gold selling sites in 2019.