An Open Letter to Jagex and CVC Capital Partners

[Ghost Sabre]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

 

 

Ghost Sabre
Leader of the Wilderness Guardians

discord.gg/wg - ghost.sabre

17 January 2025

 

Subject: Safeguarding RuneScape’s Legacy and Your Investment

 

To the stakeholders of Jagex, Runescape, and CVC Capital Partners,

 

I am writing to you as a long-standing member of the RuneScape community, an essential audience for the success of the game and, by extension, your investment. RuneScape’s enduring legacy as one of the most popular and long-lived MMORPGs is built upon its loyal player base and straightforward membership model. However, the proposed introduction of a convoluted pricing structure risks destabilizing this legacy, which could have far-reaching consequences for your recent IPO valuation.

 

As you are aware, CVC Capital Partners recently went public on the Euronext Amsterdam amid a boom in European IPOs. With shares rising from the initial offering price of €14 to nearly €22, the market has expressed confidence in your ability to grow assets like RuneScape. However, this confidence hinges on maintaining the integrity and sustainability of your portfolio investments. Missteps, such as alienating RuneScape’s core audience with a confusing pricing model, could erode player trust, tarnish the franchise's reputation, and negatively impact shareholder value.

 

RuneScape’s community is not just any player base; it is composed of highly invested individuals, many of whom—like my clanmates and friends—have been playing since RuneScape 1 launched in 2001. This group endured significant moral injury and cognitive dissonance during the release of the Evolution of Combat, a period that strained relationships between the company and its players. The healing that has occurred over the past decade, largely due to the success of Old School RuneScape (OSRS), demonstrates the importance of community trust. A pricing change perceived as exploitative could reopen old wounds and drive away the core players that give RuneScape its legitimacy.

 

Moreover, RuneScape’s competitive positioning is at risk. The gaming industry is saturated with free-to-play and subscription-based games offering transparent and fair value propositions. A shift to a multi-tiered, opaque pricing model would not only confuse existing subscribers but also weaken RuneScape’s ability to attract and retain players amidst fierce competition.

 

As stewards of this iconic franchise, you have a unique opportunity to safeguard its legacy and ensure sustainable growth. I urge you to advocate for a membership structure that prioritizes transparency, equity, and alignment with the community’s expectations. Doing so will not only protect RuneScape’s reputation but also reinforce the stability of your investment.

 

Thank you for considering this critical perspective. Together, we can ensure that RuneScape continues to thrive as a beloved and profitable game for years to come.

 

Sincerely,

 

Ghost Sabre