There's been considerable excitement and concern in the RuneScape Private Server (RSPS) community with the recent unveiling of Project Zanaris. Server owners and developers are watching closely to understand what this new initiative means for the future of custom servers and the OSRS ecosystem. A recent update from Kris, a highly skilled developer, sheds light on the situation, clearing up misconceptions about what Project Zanaris truly entails. Should RSPS owners be worried about the future? Let’s explore Kris’s insights and the new developments from Jagex.

Project Zanaris: What’s Really Happening?

While the hype surrounding Project Zanaris has been significant, Kris outlines that its initial release, slated for 2025, will be far more simplistic than anticipated. The first version of these community servers will allow players to rent servers with pre-defined settings and configurations. However, according to Kris, the flexibility and freedom will be quite limited. Players will only be able to tweak certain variables, such as XP rates and boss spawn availability, through configuration files. There won’t be options for maps or quests at launch, and players won’t be able to create or modify core content, which remains a central draw for private servers.

Additionally, Jagex confirmed that these servers will be hosted internally, with no option for self-hosting. This means RSPS owners, who currently benefit from independent hosting, won’t face any direct competition in terms of server control. Monetization also remains tightly regulated, with pay-to-win features being strictly prohibited, including unfair advantages through items or boosted XP rates. This further solidifies that RSPS communities still hold a unique edge in terms of monetization and custom content.

Closed Beta and Open Beta Timeline

For those curious about when Project Zanaris will start impacting the community, the closed beta is expected to roll out by the end of this year, with an open beta coming next year. However, even during the open beta, the features will remain limited to tweaking parameters, not providing the deeper customization that RSPS servers are known for. This means that for at least the next year, private servers will remain the go-to option for players seeking a fully customized RuneScape experience.

Should RSPS Owners Be Worried?

Based on Kris’s analysis and further confirmation from the community, RSPS owners don’t have much to fear. Kris describes Project Zanaris as a tiered system, with five possible levels of server access, ranging from basic configurations to full control of the RuneScape engine. But for now, only the first level has been confirmed.

Here are the key takeaways:

• Stage 1 Offers Minimal Threat: The initial release allows for basic game adjustments—XP rates, disabling bosses, etc.—which pale in comparison to what RSPS communities currently offer. This level of control won’t lure players away from custom servers that provide rich, unique experiences.

• Future Stages Still Pose Little Threat: Even if Jagex decides to move ahead and expand to limited custom content, such as unique items or maps (Stage 2), it still wouldn’t offer the complexity or depth of what RSPS servers have built over the years. Advanced content creation, unique game modes, and custom designs—key draws of the RSPS scene—are unlikely to be mirrored by Project Zanaris anytime soon, if ever.

Concurrent Gameplay between Main and Private Servers

One of the pluses for RSPS to continue thriving is that the gameplay between the official OSRS servers and private servers will remain largely distinct and concurrent. Players can enjoy both experiences without having to choose, which means that RSPS will continue to attract those who want something different from the official game, whether that’s faster XP, unique items, or entirely custom content that official servers can’t offer.

Long-Term Outlook for RSPS

Kris suggests that RSPS owners shouldn’t be overly concerned about the long-term trajectory of Project Zanaris. Granting access to RuneScape’s codebase and data files is an incredibly complex task, one that Jagex is unlikely to undertake lightly. Kris estimates that the chance of reaching a point where RSPS-level customization is possible on Project Zanaris is slim. Even in the best-case scenario for Jagex, allowing full custom control could take many years and would involve substantial legal, technical, and operational hurdles.

Should You Consider Turning Off Your Server?

For those RSPS owners wondering if they should pause development or even shut down their servers, the answer remains the same: not anytime soon. Based on Kris’s breakdown, there is no immediate threat from Project Zanaris in its current form, and there's no need to make any drastic changes to your operations.

Now is an ideal time to continue expanding your RSPS. With Project Zanaris still in its infancy and limited in scope, private servers will remain a dominant force in offering customized RuneScape experiences for the foreseeable future. In fact, doubling down on custom content and unique gameplay features that Jagex can’t replicate will help solidify your server’s position in the community.

RSPS Still Safe from Project Zanaris

While Project Zanaris has generated excitement and speculation, the facts presented by Kris and the broader community show that it poses little immediate threat to the RSPS ecosystem. The first stage, releasing in 2025, will allow only basic configurations, and the chances of Jagex introducing higher levels of customization seem remote. For now, RSPS owners can continue to thrive by focusing on what they do best—offering unique, custom content that Jagex’s servers can’t match.

There’s no need to turn off your servers or make radical changes based on this announcement. Instead, take this time to refine your offerings and continue to give players the rich, creative experiences they love. The RSPS community remains a vital part of the RuneScape ecosystem, and Project Zanaris, as it stands, won’t change that anytime soon.