The continuing coronavirus pandemic has been tremendously disruptive to the amusement industry. According to a poll set out by Runescape Developers Conference before its digital-only summer conference next month, one third of developers said COVID-19 led to RS gold delays. One recent high-profile delay has been Fine's Psychonauts 2, that was given a new release window. In the middle of this environment, Jagex is expecting to offer its players something to keep themselves amused with RuneScape's Desperate Measures update.

Measures is the most recent part of RuneScape's Elder Gods questline, which is in development since 2014. The total story has existed for some time, but every individual piece must have its layout greenlit by stakeholders prior to start development in order that high-level lore could be disseminated in"available and interesting" ways. Game Rant talked with Jagex Lead Designer David Osborne, Senior Games Designer Tim Fletcher, and Lead Content Developer James Crowther how RuneScape is pushed by lovers, and work on Measures has been affected by world events.

This Desperate Measures update, which received its official trailer today, was being discussed throughout the design process for its own predecessor Desperate Times. That supposed Jagex underwent the new pursuit's development once the pandemic was in full swing, which was"less than ideal." "Creating content is an art, which type of creativity actually benefits from having people around you to bounce ideas off of," Crowther said. "Whilst Zoom is perfectly operational, you do not get the same relationship with people which makes it more difficult to communicate ideas."

The strain of working via a global pandemic, while tackling responsibilities has led to development issues based on Crowther. There were"hiccups" as a result of some advice not translating because of colleagues not being in precisely the exact same room, similarly clarified by Jason Canam for Finish Line Games' Skully as that team completed its polish and bug-testing stage over Discord. However, the Jagex developers are pleased with what they have managed to accomplish thanks to a"adaptable" staff, and there is a strategy set up to do a lot more.

Instead, Jagex's present release model would be to put out content every month so gamers may frequent the site. The content won't necessarily be a massive story quest, it may only feature a few new objectives with"kickass rewards." However, Osborne said even these events will build momentum in the narrative.

That focus on RuneScape's fans even through a worldwide pandemic is reflected in how new quests are designed on a case-by-case basis too. Fletcher, who coordinates the groups stated the developers are active on social media. Fan response varies, Crowther stated, and while not every player likes every part of content, the team hopes their continuing questline allure to the group that has been"crying out" for the continuation of this narrative. "I sit in the evenings chatting together about content and pursuit design and cheap OSRS gold get a great deal of strong opinions," Fletcher explained. "I discuss my opinions too, and we go back and forth a lot discussing compromises and the way things are done, may be done, and should be accomplished."