In a fascinating turn of events, it has come to light that Jagex, the developers of RuneScape, have acquired control over the r/RSPS subreddit. This revelation is significant for the RSPS (RuneScape Private Server) community, as the subreddit has long been a hub for players, developers, and enthusiasts of private servers. However, what's even more intriguing is the backstory behind this acquisition.

The History of r/RSPS

For years, the r/RSPS subreddit operated as an independent platform for discussions, server promotions, and community building. The previous owner  was reportedly looking to sell the subreddit for a hefty price of $12,000. This high valuation underscores the subreddit’s perceived importance within the RSPS niche.

Fast forward to today, the subreddit’s moderation team now includes accounts linked to official Jagex staff, hinting at a strategic acquisition by the company.

Current Moderation Team

Here’s a breakdown of the moderators as of recent:

• u/ArbalistDev: Former owner, joined on May 11, 2023.
• u/wholesome_sween: Known to be part of Jagex’s OSRS team, joined on February 9, 2024.
• u/I_No_Speak_Good: Another Jagex-affiliated moderator, joined on February 10, 2024.
• u/dahlia-is-chilling: Joined in December 2024, with specific permissions for managing posts, mail, and comments.
• u/AutoModerator: The automated bot for subreddit management.

Interestingly, all these moderators, except the bot, are also moderators on the r/2007scape subreddit, the official subreddit for Old School RuneScape (OSRS). This strongly suggests Jagex's deliberate effort to oversee and possibly repurpose r/RSPS.

Why Does This Matter?

The acquisition of r/RSPS by Jagex raises several questions about the company's intentions:

1. Control Over Narrative: By managing the largest RSPS subreddit, Jagex can monitor discussions and potentially influence the narrative around private servers.
2. Legal Implications: As Jagex continues its crackdown on private servers through domain takedowns and legal actions, gaining control of r/RSPS may provide them with an additional platform to enforce policies or communicate their stance.
3. Community Reaction: The RSPS community has long thrived on independence from Jagex. The acquisition could alienate some users who value the subreddit as a free space for private server enthusiasts.

The Bigger Picture

This move fits into a broader strategy by Jagex to consolidate control over RSPS-related content and communities. From domain takedowns to targeting Discord servers, the acquisition of r/RSPS is another step in their efforts to curtail the influence of private servers and protect their intellectual property.

The acquisition of r/RSPS by Jagex is a bold and strategic move that underscores their commitment to addressing the RSPS scene. However, whether this will foster better relationships between Jagex and the RSPS community or further widen the divide remains to be seen.

For the RSPS community, this is a reminder of the shifting landscape and the growing influence of official channels. As always, rspstoplist.com remains committed to supporting the community with accurate news, secure server listings, and a platform for independent discussion.