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Runescape gold farming reduced by 81% in a month

Runescape bonds

Since launching bonds last month, Jagex have reduced “the amount of wealth injected by illegal gold farmers” into Runescape by 81%. The bonds provide players a legitmate way to buy in-game gold, eliminating the need to turn to gold farmers. Like Eve’s PLEX system, bonds can be bought from Jagex for real cash and sold on Runescape’s market for in-game gold.

The bonds themselves can be redeemed for 14 days of Runescape membership.

“Dishonest gold farming has had a detrimental effect on the online gaming space since its inception, and Jagex has worked tirelessly to limit the scope and consequence this activity has had on RuneScape over many years,” said Riaan Hodgson, Chief Operations Officer at Jagex.

Hodgson told our intern Perez Releese, “While we anticipated that the launch of Bonds would impact the flow of illegal wealth into the game, we are thrilled the initiative has resulted in such a strong and immediate impact. This action lays the foundations for RuneScape to continue going from strength to strength in its second successful decade!”

Bonds can also be used to buy tickets to Jagex’s RuneFest event. Apparently, more than 10% of the RuneFest tickets sold have been bought with bonds.

“We’ve had a great response from the community since Bonds launched, and we are pleased to see the new features have had an immediate impact on the game,” said Phil Mansell, Executive Producer of RuneScape. “As well as seriously undermining gold farmers, Bonds open up exciting benefits for players, such as RuneScape membership, via ‘Pay-through-Play’.

“The passionate RuneScape community hasn’t wasted time in sharing with us how Bonds are helping them and their friends, whether through their selfless gifting of purchased Bonds to help others access premium membership content for the very first time, obtain in-game equipment or even gain admission to next month’s RuneFest 3 event.”

Bad luck, gold farmers.