The Poll System in OSRS is Changing: For Better or Worse?

 Since its official release in 2013, Old School RuneScape (OSRS) has been lauded not only for its nostalgic gameplay but also for its uniquely democratic development model. One of the game’s most defining features has been its poll system, which allows players to vote on proposed updates, changes, and new content. With a 75% approval threshold, the system has long been a cornerstone of OSRS gold development and player trust.

However, in 2025, Jagex has announced that the poll system is undergoing significant changes—potentially one of the most impactful shifts in the game’s history. Reactions have been mixed, with some players hopeful that the change will lead to innovation and smoother updates, while others fear it may dilute the community's voice and change the game’s fundamental identity.

So, is this evolution of the polling system a necessary modernization—or the beginning of the end for the community-led game we know and love? This article takes a deep dive into the reasons behind the change, what’s being proposed, and how it could affect the future of OSRS.

A Brief History of the OSRS Poll System

From the beginning, Jagex committed to a radical idea: players would vote on every significant game change. If a new boss, skill, or mechanic was introduced, it would only be implemented if 75% or more of voters approved.

This system served multiple purposes:

Trust and transparency: Players knew that unpopular changes wouldn’t be forced into the game.

Community focus: Updates reflected the desires of active players, not just corporate goals.

Balance preservation: Power creep, PvP imbalance, and game integrity were subject to community review.

The system hasn’t been perfect. Critics have long noted that some of the best content ideas—such as Warding or Sailing—failed polls, not necessarily because players disliked them, but because of confusion, incomplete proposals, or overly ambitious mechanics.

Still, the polling system has been a defining feature of OSRS and one of the few examples of democratic game design in the industry.

Why Is the Poll System Changing?

According to Jagex, the poll system in its current form has become increasingly restrictive and inefficient. Here are the major reasons behind the rework:

1. 75% Threshold Is Too High for Innovation

Many updates that were largely supported (hovering in the 70-74% range) were scrapped entirely. This included content that would have improved the game but failed to reach the high threshold. Jagex argues that this discourages bold or creative ideas.

2. Poll Fatigue and Voter Apathy

Over time, fewer players have been participating in polls. Many only vote on questions they understand well, leading to skewed or misinformed outcomes. Some updates fail not because players disapprove, but because they don’t fully grasp the implications.

3. Fractured Community Opinions

The OSRS community is not monolithic. PvMers, PvPers, skillers, and ironmen often have conflicting interests. A single unified vote may not represent these diverse playstyles adequately.

4. Developer Frustration

Jagex developers have sometimes expressed frustration over having to abandon well-designed content simply because of a few percentage points. When time, money, and effort go into content that is scrapped, it can be demoralizing and wasteful.

What Is Changing in the Poll System?

Jagex’s new vision for the polling system includes a range of structural changes aimed at modernizing the process while still maintaining player input:

1. Lowering the Approval Threshold

While details are still being finalized, Jagex has proposed reducing the threshold from 75% to 70% or potentially lower for certain types of updates. This is intended to allow more content to pass while still requiring significant community support.

2. Selective Polling

Not all content will be polled anymore. Instead, only major gameplay changes, new skills, and key balance decisions will be put to a vote. Cosmetic updates, bug fixes, and quality-of-life changes will be implemented without polling.

3. Improved Communication and Transparency

Jagex is aiming to provide more detailed dev blogs, in-game demos, and community consultation before updates are polled. This should help players make more informed decisions and increase poll participation.

4. Targeted Polls

Polls may be targeted to relevant players. For example, a PvP-related poll might only be shown to players with PvP experience, or a high-level boss poll might be directed at maxed players. This could prevent uninformed voting on niche content.

Community Reaction: Divided But Passionate

The OSRS community has had a strong and often emotional reaction to the poll changes. Here’s a look at the primary arguments for and against the new direction.

Arguments in Favor of the Change

1. Enables Progress and Creativity:

With the 75% threshold gone, developers will be able to take more risks and introduce fresh content that pushes the game forward. This could revitalize stale metas and attract new players.

2. Saves Developer Resources:

Jagex can avoid wasting months developing updates that end up failing by slim margins. This efficiency could lead to more consistent, high-quality updates.

3. Reduces Misinformed Veto Power:

In the past, important updates have failed because of low participation or misunderstandings. A more curated and educated voting system could solve this issue.

4. Mirrors Other Successful Games:

No other live-service game relies this heavily on player polling. Games like Final Fantasy XIV or WoW evolve through developer leadership with community feedback—not a public referendum for every decision.

Arguments Against the Change

1. Threatens OSRS Identity:

For many players, the poll system is what makes OSRS OSRS. Removing or weakening it feels like stripping away one of the game’s core values: community governance.

2. Slippery Slope Toward Developer Control:

There is concern that if Jagex starts bypassing polls for “minor” updates, they may gradually start doing so for more significant ones. This opens the door to unwanted or pay-to-win content.

3. Distrust in Jagex’s Intentions:

Some players are skeptical about Jagex’s motivations. Is the poll rework about game health, or is it about giving the dev team more control to push monetization or RuneScape 3-style updates?

4. Polarization Between Player Groups:

Targeted polling could alienate players who feel excluded. There’s also fear that the system will be gamed by small but vocal groups pushing through changes that hurt the broader community.

What Could the Future Look Like?

The upcoming poll changes could lead OSRS into a new golden age of content, or cause it to lose the community-driven magic that made it successful. The outcome will depend heavily on how Jagex implements the changes—and how transparently they engage with the player base.

To keep the spirit of OSRS alive, Jagex will need to:

Clearly define what gets polled and what doesn’t

Maintain open lines of communication with players

Avoid monetization changes without broad community support

Regularly reassess the impact of poll reforms

Conclusion: Better or Worse? The Jury’s Still Out

The OSRS poll system is changing, and whether it's for better or worse depends on your perspective. For some, it's a welcome evolution that removes outdated bureaucracy and paves the way for bold, exciting content. For others, it’s a dangerous shift away from what made Old School RuneScape special in the first place.

What’s undeniable is that the stakes are high. If Jagex can strike the right balance—modernizing their approach without betraying the core values of the OSRS gold buy—then the game could continue to thrive for years to come.

But if the changes alienate the very players who kept the game alive? Then we may be witnessing not progress, but a slow erosion of trust.