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Jagex planning to make adventuring on the go a possibility with RuneScape for tablets

Browser-based MMO heading into the future

Jagex planning to make adventuring on the go a possibility with RuneScape for tablets
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| RuneScape

It looks like one of the old guard of the MMORPG movement is set to embrace technological change.

Much like one of those shocking twists in one of your favourite fantasy novels, Jagex's grizzled old RuneScape is going to accept the new order and make the move onto tablets.

This MMO, which curiously enough holds the Guinness World Record for Most Updated Game, currently has around 10 million active accounts, and has been online in one form or another for more than ten years.

In a post on the game's official blog, Jagex CEO Mark Gerhard had the following to say: "I'm happy to report that we also have a dedicated Future Tech team working on bringing the game to your favourite tablets, platforms and even smart TVs in due course."

Java version of RuneScape on top. HTML5 version of RuneScape on bottom.

As some of you will undoubtedly know, Java is the programming language in which RuneScape's game engine is mostly written in. Well, change 'is' to 'was'. Twice.

Jagex already has RuneScape up and running using the alternative HTML5 language, you see. This means the game can now be more easily ported to iPads (which hate Java and love HTML5) and Android devices (which actively dislike Java and have no issues with HTML5). All make sense?

It also means that RuneScape is getting a bit of a graphical overhaul, as you can tell from the screenshot comparison above.

Gerhard went on to say that Jagex will be holding Q&A sessions in the coming weeks to give more information about the move towards a portable experience, but no set date for when tablet owners can get their hands on the game is available yet.

Eurogamer
Harry Slater
Harry Slater
Harry used to be really good at Snake on the Nokia 5110. Apparently though, digital snake wrangling isn't a proper job, so now he writes words about games instead.