A clone of Old School RuneScape, swiftly igniting controversy within its community, has been shut down shortly after its emergence online this week.
This unauthorised version, known as Elderwood, was developed by OpenAI’s Rohan Varma using GPT-6 Astra, making it accessible through a web browser. A video circulating on social media platform X showcased gameplay featuring a character beginning their journey outside Lumbridge castle with inventory items like bread and basic tools. The gameplay, which included battling giant rats and equipping steel armour, bore a striking resemblance to Old School RuneScape, save for minor differences.
As Varma shared updates on X, attention from the Old School RuneScape community grew, leading to a wave of criticism on platforms like the 2007scape Reddit. Users openly expressed their disapproval. Comments ranged from critiques of the game’s likeness to RuneScape’s original assets to dismissive summaries, such as “tl;dr garbage.”
In response to heightened player interest following the Reddit discussions, Elderwood was updated with additional content, including new areas from RuneScape like Varrock and Falador. However, the game’s existence was short-lived. By the following night, Elderwood was taken offline after receiving a takedown notice from Jagex, RuneScape’s parent company.
The developers left a farewell message to players, explaining the shutdown due to the notice while expressing gratitude to the community for their participation in the brief Elderwood experience. They celebrated the shared moments and achievements, keeping the high scores available as a memento.
RuneScape aficionados, known for their protective stance over their beloved game, criticised the farewell post, with one popular comment sarcastically questioning the developers’ portrayal of their short-lived project as a momentous venture.
This backlash is not surprising, considering the generative AI challenges RuneScape players have faced for years, such as AI-driven bots exacerbating in-game issues. Despite such imitations, genuine fans can still enjoy the authentic RuneScape experience, enriched by Jagex’s recent additions, including quests involving whimsical tasks like conversing with crabs and adopting stray dogs—a testament to the enduring charm of the original.
Reporting based on coverage first published by eurogamer.net.