The future of RuneScape’s technology is the primary topic of the latest developer blog, which provided affirmation of the nearing end of mobile development, detailed work on several new prototypes including changes to movement, and confirmed the end of support for Java users.
The post pointed to the Android early access build of the game with both a sense of pride and relief, particularly in relation to getting cross-play working properly and getting the mobile version of the MMORPG done properly. “Desktop remains our primary development platform, but getting RuneScape right on mobile has been a major priority for the team over the last couple of years. Now the end is in sight,” reads the post. Of course, that doesn’t mean the iOS version is suddenly shelved; work on that still presses on and the devs promise some news in the new year.
On the subject of prototypes, the devs are now fast-tracking several features that were shown off at RuneFest like loading improvements, new rendering systems, new stencilling and silhouette tech, and “big changes” to movement on account of the extremely positive reception they received when they were revealed. Expect smoother movement features in the coming weeks, while further improvements are due in 2020.
Finally, the post announces the impending end of support for Java users. According to the post, this is just simple math: Fewer than 4% of RuneScape players use the Java client in lieu of the NXT client, and problems with the NXT client back in 2016 should no longer be an issue. A date for this change is yet to be determined, but players should expect that by at least the end of this year.
In other RuneScape news, Old School RuneScape has reintroduced the Bounty Hunter minigame after a rework and some testing. OSRS fans can get all the details by heading to the game’s site.
