Runescape Update at E3

Jagex’s new project, ‘Runescape High Detail‘ will be shown for the first time at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles this week, and will feature much improved graphics. Now, if you’re thinking that you’ve never heard of the game, or no one you know plays it, so surely this isn’t a big deal, then take a look at the figures; more people play Runescape than World of Warcraft in the English speaking world with 6 million active monthly users, compared to WoW’s 4 million.

Below is a graph showing the number of Google searches for the terms “Runescape”, “World of Warcraft” and “Age of Conan”, which displays the game’s trend:Runescape’s popularity is undisputed, but it’s free to play, right? That’s partly true. You can play for free, but you can only explore 40% of the world unless you pay up, which costs you the princely sum of $5 a month. Currently 1 million people subscribe, which isn’t to be sniffed at.

Runescape is java based, and is played through your internet browser, so no installation is necessary. The new graphics that we will see in ‘Runescape High Detail’ aren’t ground breaking and won’t amaze anyone who’s played a computer game in the last 5 years, but they are a significant improvement from the previous display.