A Chinese mining company wants to buy RuneScape

In today's edition of Unexpected Developments in Decade-Old Browser Games, it turns out that Shandong Hongda Mining Co. Ltd., a Chinese mining firm, has made a deal to purchase RuneScape developer Jagex for $300 million. DealStreetAsia reports it as a done deal, while a post on the RuneScape forums describes it as a “potential” acquisition. Either way, the obvious question in my mind is, why?

Even so, a ferrous metal mining firm in Shanghai buying up a UK-based videogame studio whose best-known work is 15 years old is, unquestionably, a bit odd at first glance. But RuneScape, despite its age, is a multi-tentacled free-to-play beast, and my guess is that Shandong sees it as a turnkey entry into a market that's very lucrative, especially in Asia, and also entirely distinct from its core business.

For gamers, the relevant bit is that even if the deal goes down, nothing will change. “Put simply, our plans, including the launch of NXT, Zeah, Chronicle: RuneScape Legends, God Wars Dungeon 2, and RuneScape: Idle Adventures, remain on track,” the studio wrote. “It is business as usual across Gielinor!”

Update: Jagex has sent us a statement indicating that reports that the acquisition has been completed are incorrect. "Jagex has entered into a non-exclusive, non-binding arrangement for a potential acquisition," it said. "The negotiations surrounding the acquisition are ongoing and it remains very much business as usual for the Company."

Thanks, Eurogamer.

Andy has been gaming on PCs from the very beginning, starting as a youngster with text adventures and primitive action games on a cassette-based TRS80. From there he graduated to the glory days of Sierra Online adventures and Microprose sims, ran a local BBS, learned how to build PCs, and developed a longstanding love of RPGs, immersive sims, and shooters. He began writing videogame news in 2007 for The Escapist and somehow managed to avoid getting fired until 2014, when he joined the storied ranks of PC Gamer. He covers all aspects of the industry, from new game announcements and patch notes to legal disputes, Twitch beefs, esports, and Henry Cavill. Lots of Henry Cavill.