Elderwood, a browser-based game created by OpenAI employee Rohan Varma using generative AI, has been shut down following a request from Jagex, the publisher of RuneScape. The game, which Varma described as a "multiplayer adventure inspired by RuneScape," was built using GPT-6 Astra and quickly drew the attention of the RuneScape community upon its appearance this week.
Early demonstrations of Elderwood showcased familiar RuneScape elements, including characters spawning near Lumbridge Castle, engaging in combat with low-level monsters, chopping trees, and equipping basic gear. While visually similar to Old School RuneScape, minor inconsistencies were present. As Varma shared progress and updates on X, formerly Twitter, the game's resemblance to RuneScape sparked criticism from players on platforms like Reddit's 2007scape community.
Players voiced their displeasure, with one user noting the "shameless" replication of art assets and another remarking on the "vibe coded shit" of the endeavor. Following community backlash and a spike in player interest, Elderwood was updated with additional content, including new areas like Varrock and Falador. However, the game's operation was ultimately short-lived.
"We received a notice from Jagex asking us to take down the website," a farewell message on Elderwood's site stated. "Following that notice, we are discontinuing Elderwood's operation, and the game is no longer available." The message expressed gratitude to players for their involvement, highlighting the shared world of exploration, skilling, quests, trading, and duels that had emerged in just a few days. The developers indicated that high scores would remain available as a record of player achievements.
The RuneScape community's reaction to the game's closure and the farewell message was mixed, with some players questioning the developer's framing of the project as a "glorious adventure." The existence of such AI-generated clones highlights ongoing concerns within the RuneScape player base regarding the potential impact of generative AI, particularly in exacerbating the long-standing issue of botting within the game.
Jagex recently added new content to Old School RuneScape, including two new quests. One quest involves interactions with crabs and organizing a musical number, while the other focuses on adopting stray dogs.