Old School RuneScape has set a new record of 240,000 concurrent players online, making it approximately 8 times larger than its sister MMO. If the game were not hindered by a technicality, it would rank as the fourth most popular on Steam.
In an unprecedented event on August 3, 2025, Old School RuneScape (OSRS) achieved a remarkable milestone by hosting a staggering 241,000 concurrent players[1][2][4][5]. This impressive figure places OSRS among the largest multiplayer online games (MMOs) in recent years, even surpassing some of the most popular games on Steam.
For comparison, Runescape 3, the modern version of RuneScape, typically peaks around 26,000 concurrent players during OSRS's record time[1][4]. OSRS's concurrent player count would rank it just below Counter-Strike 2 (~1.1 million concurrent players), Dota 2 (~600,000 concurrent players), and PUBG (~420,000 concurrent players) if all players were counted on Steam[4].
The surge in OSRS's popularity in 2025 can be attributed to a combination of quality updates, strong community engagement, and exposure from popular streamers. This contrasts with newer MMORPGs that have failed to achieve similar heights, such as Brighter Shores, which did not sustain a large player base[3][5].
The milestone was first observed on Reddit during a random Sunday, with a user named fUIMos commenting on the player flood, saying "Dude there's people everywhere." Other Reddit users, including Evil_Steven, AnnieFuchsia, Guzu, and Savix, expressed excitement and praise for OSRS, despite some being untrustworthy or previously involved with World of Warcraft[1].
Jagex, the developer of Old School RuneScape, acknowledged the new player record and thanked players for playing OSRS, mentioning the breaking of the peak player count in a social media post[2]. The concurrent player count of OSRS reached 200,000, marking a new milestone, and peaked at 240,851 concurrent players according to screenshots[1][2][4][5].
One Reddit user, Tasty_Abrocoma_5340, even referred to OSRS's current state as a "golden omega platinum age." The player increase was partly due to a migration from World of Warcraft, underscoring the enduring appeal of OSRS compared to newer MMORPGs[1].
OSRS's third-party clients, such as Runelite, offering useful plugins, have also contributed to its success[1]. As Old School RuneScape continues to thrive, it is clear that its unique combination of quality, community, and exposure has made it a standout in the world of MMOs.
[1] Reddit [2] Jagex [3] Polygon [4] SteamDB [5] MMORPG.com
- The incredible 241,000 concurrent players on Old School RuneScape (OSRS) surpass even the most popular games on Steam, placing it among the largest multiplayer online games (MMOs) in recent years.
- Despite some less-than-reputable Reddit users involved with World of Warcraft, there was widespread excitement and praise for OSRS among the platform's community, with some referring to its current state as a "golden omega platinum age."
- The surge in OSRS's popularity in 2025 can be attributed to various factors, including quality updates, strong community engagement, exposure from popular streamers, and a migration from World of Warcraft, underscoring its enduring appeal compared to newer MMORPGs.
- Old School RuneScape (OSRS) continues to thrive, with its third-party clients, such as Runelite, offering useful plugins, further contributing to its success, making it a standout in the world of MMOs.
