I never thought Jagex would kill RuneScape’s Treasure Hunter — now it’s actually happening in 2026

Goodbye, pay-to-win: RuneScape is finally ditching Treasure Hunter

This is the change RuneScape players have begged for since 2012: Jagex is removing Treasure Hunter and 225 direct XP/skilling items on January 19, 2026. That means the biggest pay-to-win shortcut in modern RuneScape (RS3) is getting sunsetted, and leveling progress will stop being tied to your wallet. After a player poll crossed 120,000 votes, Jagex says it’ll back that mandate with an “Integrity Roadmap” focused on UI/UX fixes, less monetization friction, and a meaty content plan. In other words, it’s not just one system going away-it’s a pivot back toward trust.

Key takeaways

• Treasure Hunter and 225 direct XP/skilling items are set to be removed January 19, 2026.
• This follows a community vote surpassing 120,000 players and a summer test disabling MTX.
• Jagex promises an “Integrity Roadmap” tackling UI, UX, “Dailyscape,” and visual identity.
• Revenue risk is real-expect a rethink of cosmetics, memberships, and event passes, but watch for sneaky replacements.

Why this matters now

I’ll be honest: I bounced off RS3 after Evolution of Combat and found my way back through Old School RuneScape (OSRS) like a lot of lapsed veterans. The real wedge wasn’t just combat-it was the monetization creep. Squeal of Fortune in 2012, Treasure Hunter in 2014, and years of “keys” that could buy you progress. OSRS flourished with a cleaner value proposition and player polling; RS3 languished with a reputation for pay-to-win. It’s not a surprise OSRS now pulls stronger concurrents while RS3 often struggles—new players can smell a stacked deck.

That’s why this move is huge. It isn’t a cosmetic tweak; it’s RS3’s biggest philosophical U-turn since EoC. Earlier this year, CEO John Bellamy straight-up admitted the monetization was “harming RuneScape” and promised material change. And in a statement announcing the removal, he doubled down: “January 19th is the start of a new era for RuneScape, powered by a shared desire to see this game grow for decades to come… The removal of Treasure Hunter is just one part of a wider transformation across Jagex.” That’s the kind of language you only use when you know you’ve burned trust and you’re ready to rebuild it.

Breaking down what’s actually changing

Treasure Hunter going away means no more buying keys for direct XP, lamps, stars, or skilling boosts. Jagex says 225 direct XP/skilling items will go too, closing the loopholes that turned the grind into a checkout lane. The daily drip of “free” keys (and the constant FOMO pop-ups) has been one of the most demoralizing parts of RS3’s loop—remove it, and the pressure to log in for chores rather than adventures immediately eases.

What stays? Memberships and Bonds aren’t going anywhere, and I’m fine with that. I’d rather players buy time directly from Jagex than sketchy gold sellers. Cosmetics should stick around too—charge me for fashion, not stat boosts. The big question is what replaces Treasure Hunter revenue. Jagex has leaned on Yak Track-style events in the past; if those return, they need to be genuinely cosmetic and not backdoor XP boosts. The studio says this is about “greater fairness” and “long-term improvements,” so the fine print will matter.

The Integrity Roadmap: less “Dailyscape,” more RuneScape

Jagex is promising a year-long Integrity Roadmap that tackles UI/UX, “Dailyscape,” and visual identity, alongside “one of the best content roadmaps in RuneScape’s history.” If you’ve played RS3 on mobile (or even just on a 1440p monitor), you know the UI can feel like digging through a filing cabinet. Clean interfaces, clearer tooltips, and reduced daily chores would immediately make the game less exhausting and more welcoming. The studio’s also teasing an “era-defining” RuneScape Ahead event on January 19—conveniently the game’s 25th anniversary—where we should get specifics.

Content-wise, RS3 has shown flashes of brilliance—Necromancy proved the team can still build modern systems that feel at home in Gielinor. If Jagex couples this monetization reset with big quests, skill updates, and meaningful progression (not login streak bait), lapsed players like me will take a serious look. The best-case scenario is a virtuous cycle: more trust, more players, more subs, better updates.

The gamer’s perspective: excited, but eyes wide open

This caught my attention because it addresses the exact reason many of us left: fairness. RuneScape’s best moments aren’t bought—they’re earned in the weird, wildly specific grind only this MMO can deliver. Killing Treasure Hunter brings RS3 back in line with that spirit. But I’m not naive: ripping out your golden goose leaves a revenue hole. If Jagex tries to backfill it with “premium convenience,” XP-adjacent boosters, or FOMO-laden passes, players will spot it instantly. Cosmetics? Sure. Expansions? Even better. Pay-to-skip? Hard pass.

Still, this feels like real change. The poll mandate, the July MTX-off test, the 2026 date tied to a big roadmap—it’s not a token gesture. If the January event lays out clear timelines, shows Dailyscape reductions, and commits to cosmetics-only monetization, RS3 could finally step out of OSRS’s shadow. And yeah, after I finish maxing Sailing in OSRS, I’d gladly give a fair RS3 another shot.

TL;DR

Jagex is removing Treasure Hunter and 225 direct XP items on January 19, 2026 after 120k+ player votes. That’s a massive win for fairness and a hard reset on RS3’s reputation. The next year will be all about delivering on the Integrity Roadmap and proving monetization can stay cosmetic-only. If Jagex sticks the landing, this could be RS3’s true reboot moment.