Recent reports reveal that RuneScape developers, Jagex, have requested HDOS to remove their exclusive and custom Halloween quest, Witches’ Chronicles, from Old School RuneScape, leaving the fanbase deeply disappointed.
Why is Jagex removing Witches’ Chronicles from Old School RuneScape?
An announcement on the HDOS RuneScape Discord unveiled the end of Witches’ Chronicles. The statement disclosed that Jagex had requested the removal of this cherished Halloween event from the game. In a response on Twitter, a Jagex staff member mentioned that it had to be removed because it was added without their prior knowledge.
HDOS, or High-Detail Old School, serves as a third-party client for Old School RuneScape, emulating the aesthetic of 2009 RuneScape HD. It’s a free-to-use closed-source client and one of the three non-Jagex clients on the approved client list for players, alongside RuneLite and OSBuddy.
During Halloween 2023, HDOS introduced a full-fledged questline named Witches’ Chronicles, which was entirely exclusive to their client-server and not available in the original game.
Although Jagex provided an explanation for their decision to remove the content, some players and veteran fans believe that the developers took this action to prevent the server from outshining the official one.
Others argue that it was in poor taste for HDOS to release the questline in the first place, as they knew it would likely not gain long-term approval from Jagex. By making statements like “we’re glad it was received overall positively” and “made the months of hard work worth it,” they attempt to portray themselves as victims.
Ultimately, it is challenging to determine who is in the right in this conflict. While HDOS invested significant time and effort in issuing the Halloween update, adding custom content without informing the IP owners is a clear violation of guidelines, and Jagex has every right to request the removal of unannounced content from their game.
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Feature image source: RuneScape.com
Rituraj Halder
223 Posts
Rituraj is a Gaming Writer. With a deep passion for story-driven adventure RPGs, Rituraj has spent half his life crafting intriguing narratives inspired by them, making him a modern-day storyteller in his own right.
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