Here is how to take part in it.
After a long period of waiting, several years to be exact, Old-School RuneScape fans can finally play the game on their Android devices. The open beta for OSRS Android was released on February 28, and everyone is invited to try it out. So far, the feedback has been positive, with players enjoying the mobile version of the game. You can enjoy all the nostalgic goodness of this classic MMORPG on your mobile device.
The open beta comes with many quality-of-life changes. I will be detailing some of these changes, as well as how to download the open beta client.
What Is Old School RuneScape?
Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is an MMORPG developed and published by Jagex. The game was released on 22 February 2013 and is a modified version of 2007’s RuneScape. It was however replaced with RuneScape 3. However, it was re-released and branded as OSRS, due to its popularity. The game has since gotten a lot of updates over the years. These updates are usually done by in-game polls and the playerbase. Players who want a more hardcore MMO experience usually flock to OSRS compared to RuneScape 3.
Also, maybe you are one of the people wondering if Old School RuneScape is still has an active playerbase. Well, the answer is yes. Old School RuneScape is still one of the most popular MMOs. As a matter of fact, Old School RuneScape has more players than RuneScape 3. Based on estimation by MMO Population, OSRS has over 1 million daily players. OSRS’s official website shows an average of 60,000 players are playing at any time of the day.
Considering that OSRS has fewer updates compared to Runescape 3 and is worked on by a smaller team, I would say this game is still going strong.
How To Download
Downloading the new open beta client is easy enough. However, be sure to check if your device can run it.
The minimum requirements for Old School RuneScape for Android:
Android 8.0 (Oreo)
2GB RAM
Considering OSRS is an old game, it doesn’t require much power. Most people should be able to run this game just fine.
Getting into the beta will require some extra steps but is simple and available to anyone. Before you begin the following steps, make sure you have the public version of Old School RuneScape downloaded. This is done just by finding it on the Play Store. Once you have that installed you can move on to the next steps.
To join the beta:
- Open the Play Store
- At the top right tap the profile icon
- Tap Manage apps and devices > Manage > Installed
- Locate and tap Old School RuneScape to open the app details page
- Under ‘Join the Beta’, tap Join > Join
Assuming you already have a RuneScape account, you should be able to log in and play the beta. It’s that simple.
Will Progress Carry Over?
While I don’t think the developers announced it or not, I believe that progress will carry over to the official release. All OSRS items and things that you have earned will stay with you. Your OSRS GP, gear, and progress will stay. It will probably work similarly to games like Fortnite or Smite. The client will just update into an official release while the players get to keep everything that was earned or bought.
You can check out more frequently asked questions on the official OSRS New Android Client Open Beta FAQ. <—Link URL Here:
https://support.runescape.com/hc/en-gb/articles/4425766567953-OSRS-New-Android-Client-Open-Beta-FAQ
Quality of Life Changes
There are plenty of changes being made on the technical side things to make sure the game runs much better and allows players to farm OSRS gold easier. If you were in the older beta, you will find some new changes when updating to the new client. For players that are just getting into it, then you will have a more stable game right off the bat.
The new Android Client Open Beta will bring some of the new client features to mobile for the first time, including (but not limited to):
- Buff Bars
- XP Tracker
- Minimap Zoom
- Fishing Spot Indicators
- HUD Improvements (NPC Information, Stat Boosts, Combat Styles, Health and Special Attack Regeneration timers)
- Agility and Slayer Helpers
- Chambers of Xeric Helper
- Woodcutting and Ore Respawn Timers
- Increased Draw Distance
- Navigation Tile Indicators
- Chat Improvements
- Entity Highlights for NPCs (new to mobile)
These are great changes that will help players understand the game more, as well as make features stand out. For example, woodcutting and ore respawn timers is a huge quality of life change. If you want to make OSRS gold, then knowing when these respawn will make farming and grinding much easier.
Conclusion
If you’re an Android user, the Old School RuneScape open beta is now available to you! This new client has a bunch of quality-of-life updates that should make the game experience smoother. If you downloaded it, be sure to sound off in the comments on your experience. And remember, this is still just a beta; there may be some bumps along the way.
