Jagex has launched Hardcore Worlds in Old School RuneScape, a permanent game mode where every character gets a single life and no respawns. It went live on November 4th on PC, Steam, iOS and Android.
According to a release, Hardcore Worlds run separately from the main game but otherwise work the same way. Players can still trade and use the Grand Exchange, and XP gain and drop rates match the main game. The mode has its own economy, so items bought and sold there stay there.
Death is where it changes. When a character dies, the Reaper offers a choice: reset all progress and start over, or be banished to the main game. Banished characters keep their progress and gear but lose any item outside the ‘Items kept on Death’ category.
Joining takes a brand-new character that hasn't finished Tutorial Island yet. Players sign up with a new NPC called Death's Delegate, who stands near the Iron Tutor on the island, according to the official Old School RuneScape news post. The worlds opened at 11:00 UTC.
“The Reaper has been waiting a long time for this, and in a game mode where death is forever, every decision counts! Hardcore Worlds gives our most fearless players a way to take on the full game with everything on the line. Whether you're a veteran looking for a fresh challenge or someone who just likes living on the edge, we'll see you out there. Try not to die,” said Kieren Charles, Creative Director for Old School RuneScape at Jagex.
Real prizes from the Reaper
The Reaper's Raffle and World First rewards also started on November 4th. Players complete tasks set by Death (the NPC) to earn raffle entries. Prizes run from skilling pins and skateboard decks to a Starforge PC bundle, a God Wars replica collection and an exclusive Death NPC trophy.
A launch-day gold exploit
The first day didn't go perfectly. In an update to its news post, Jagex said one player found a way to leave Tutorial Island as a Hardcore Worlds character before the mode opened. That character built up wealth on the normal worlds and carried it into Hardcore Worlds at launch.
Jagex banned the character and its alt accounts about an hour and a half after launch. By its count, around 115.6 million gold entered the new economy this way, and it removed about 103.2 million before it spread. Jagex said it has added safety measures and will keep tracking down the rest.
Old School RuneScape is available on PC, Steam, iOS and Android with cross-platform progression. Jagex, based in Cambridge in the UK, says RuneScape has passed 300 million player accounts as the series marks its 25th year in 2026.
The following was sent as a press release to Inven Global.
