Updates

Updates are changes that Jagex have made to Old School RuneScape. Updates occur every week on Wednesdays at around 11:30am UTC. When a large update occurs, a yellow message appears above the chat box warning players that there is a limited time, regularly 45 minutes, until all players are booted from the game as the system upgrades. To continue playing after the update, players must reload the client, or they will be provided with the message: "RuneScape has been updated! Please reload this page."

Newsposts are posts published by the development team in the Old School website talking about various game topics, including but not limited to game updates.

Some changes (called hotfixes) can be made without needing to reload the client, and there is no update timer.

Update terminology

The following terms are frequently used when discussing game/software updates^[1]^[2]^[3]:

Hotfix - a critical repair or logical correction performed on the production (live) version of the game to the server-side. Often to fix critical bugs/unbalanced gameplay that can cause game breaking issues. Usually game servers are not restarted and client-side issues are not addressed. These are usually critical bugfixes and balancing changes for newly released content.
Coldfix - a urgent repair or logical correction that requires the production (live) version of the game to be restarted for a server-side fix. A client-side fix is not typically required. Typically bugfixes and balancing changes that are not as urgent as hotfixes or require the game servers to be restarted to take effect.
Patch - a planned collection of bug-fixes and minor changes to the system that require it to be restarted and patched on both server and client.
Update - a planned update may include patchwork but may also include new features. Requires server and client updating and restarting.

Newsposts classification

Newsposts are classified into various different groups:

Game-related:
- Game updates/newsposts
- Game Integrity updates
- Graphical updates
- Diversity & Inclusion updates
- Mobile updates
- System update
- Upcoming updates
Website categorisation:
Deprecated:

Hidden updates

Several changes are made to the game but never documented or mentioned in newsposts. These updates are usually minor changes that have no major impact on the game, but they may occasionally be notable and omitted for other reasons. The following examples are illustrative but not exhaustive, as many such changes happen with every update.

Game integrity/balance

c. December 2023: The skilling success rate formula was adjusted to no longer decrease at certain levels.
8 November 2018: At the end of Observatory Quest, players will no longer be assigned constellations that reward combat experience if they are level 1 in the corresponding skill.
10 September 2015: Players who do not interact with the client would stop retaliating in combat after 15 minutes, making splashing a much less effective idle training method.
12 June 2014: Players no longer need a chart, watch and sextant in their inventory to complete a coordinate clue.

Easter eggs

13 February 2019: A small fishing net spawn was added to a ruined house east of the docks in Morytania.
14 October 2017: The masked stranger has been removed.
13 October 2017: A masked stranger has been added to the game.

Controversy

20 August 2021: An NPC named Ian referencing the disgraced former Mod Ian was removed from Prifddinas.
19 April 2018: Jeremy Servil from the Fight Arena quest was renamed to Sammy Servil due to the similarity to disgraced British celebrity Jimmy Savile, who the character's name was a word play on.
8 May 2014: Erin was removed.
1 May 2014: A duck named Erin was added.

Graphical

20 March 2024: Shadows on normal trees and several other species were removed.
22 March 2006: Fred the Farmer, his farm, his furniture, and other nearby assets were redesigned along with all his sheep a few months later.

References

^ Patch vs Hotfix vs Coldfix vs Bugfix – What’s the Difference, What Do They Fix, and When to Apply Them 1 July 2022. Heimdal.
^ What is a Hotfix: Definition, Benefits, Challenges, and How is Hotfix Tested 5 January 2025, STM.
^ What is a "hotfix" vs a "coldfix" - Runescape reddit. 2016, Runescape Subreddit. Note: The RS3 working of game updates in 2016 is likely to be very similar to OSRS at the time.

[1] Patch vs Hotfix vs Coldfix vs Bugfix – What’s the Difference, What Do They Fix, and When to Apply Them 1 July 2022. Heimdal.

[2] What is a Hotfix: Definition, Benefits, Challenges, and How is Hotfix Tested 5 January 2025, STM.

[3] What is a "hotfix" vs a "coldfix" - Runescape reddit. 2016, Runescape Subreddit. Note: The RS3 working of game updates in 2016 is likely to be very similar to OSRS at the time.

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Upcoming updates