Treasure Hunter system is being removed from RuneScape

As is well known, not all decisions made by MMORPG developers are warmly welcomed by fans, even when it comes to venerable classics. In the case of Jagex, the standoff between the public and the game’s authors has dragged on for more than a decade. The Treasure Hunter mechanic was introduced back in February 2014. Its essence boiled down to people using various keys, including purchased ones, to open prize chests every day. Needless to say, the TH «spins» became available only with a premium RuneScape account, and the items obtained from the chests were not always mere cosmetics. Soon the situation with the controversial gameplay will change dramatically.

To gauge the community’s mood one hundred percent, the developers launched an online vote, where the required 100 000 votes against the notorious mechanic were cast even before the deadline. Therefore, Treasure Hunter will be removed from the game — this will happen alongside the implementation of the recently presented year-ahead plans. Meanwhile, Jagex staff have answered pressing questions about the upcoming changes. Although the vote has not yet ended, its outcome is easy to predict — the majority are against TH. So players are advised to start preparing now for the removal of items tied to this system. Everything will not happen in a single day; the process will stretch until 1 January 2027 — anyone who has a key for a rare item will be using their loot for a long time. But these objects will disappear from sale before the end of 2025.

The developers say they currently have no plans to replace the removed items. Ordinary gamers will influence the game’s further development, just as they did with the vote. At the same time, contrary to the majority’s wish to leave some artifacts untouched (for example, gnome tools), they too will be removed because they «do not fit the integrity of RuneScape» as the Jagex team sees it. The annulment also threatens TH currency. However, double-experience events will remain — you’ll be able to take part in them next year.