RUNESCAPE'S NEW MEMBERSHIP TIERS - LET THEM EAT MICROTRANSACTIONS
Ever wondered what would happen if a beloved MMO decided to lock basic security features behind a paywall? Well, RuneScape just answered that question with their new membership structure, and it's about as popular as a poison chalice at a king's feast.
SECURITY AS A SERVICE
In what might be 2025's most audacious gaming move yet, Jagex has decided that account security features should be a premium perk (OH SORRY, DID YOU WANT TO PROTECT YOUR 20-YEAR-OLD ACCOUNT? THAT'LL BE $19.99 PLEASE). The new tiered system shows "Additional Account Security Features" locked behind their pricier membership options, because apparently keeping your account safe is now a luxury rather than a basic right.
THE PRICE OF NOSTALGIA
Let's break down these tiers, shall we? We've got everything from basic $12.49/month packages to a whopping $32.49/month premium tier that includes such revolutionary features as "Character Name Reservations" and "Pre-Verified Account Recovery." You know, the kind of stuff that used to be standard in MMOs since... forever?
SETTING A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT
This isn't just about RuneScape anymore. If this monetization strategy succeeds, you can bet your last gold piece that other publishers are taking notes. Imagine EA charging extra for two-factor authentication, or Activision making password resets a "premium feature." The slippery slope just got covered in butter.
WHAT'S NEXT?
At this rate, we're probably just a few months away from games charging us for the privilege of using the logout button. Maybe they'll start selling "premium oxygen" for our virtual characters next? The gaming industry's race to the bottom just found a new shortcut.