After nearly a decade of waiting, Jagex has released Runescape 3. Now running fully on HTML5 and WebGL, as well as a new audio engine, the 10+ year old MMORPG has upgraded with the times.
Originally released in 2001, Runescape is a free browser based MMO, recognized by Guinness as the largest and most updated of its kind, with a community of 200 million users. It has a fantasy theme and eschews linear storylines to allow players to create their own experiences.
The HTML5 client allows Jagex to raise visual quality and performance. The game better depicts lighting, draw distance and color, and can now load in your browser in a matter of moments. Of course, using HTML5 also means there will no longer be a need for plug-ins or Java to make it run.
Runescape 3 also boasts of a New Interface System or NIS, which allows you to modify your user interface any time you'd like. You also get new features, such as a resizable minimap and key binding. Aside from this, the game gets a better camera, a new community site, and a new skillset, Divination.
Runescape 3's story involves the Dawn of the Sixth age, as you interact with the gods as they return to the world, and The Battle for Lumbridge, a single event that will shake up the game world to its core.
Runescape is a fairly modest success as MMOs come and go, and this upgrade takes it a few steps forward towards coming to tablets and smartphones, where it can find new life yet.
Source: Runescape
