Jagex has once again stirred controversy with its latest RuneScape event, and this time, it’s the Valentine’s event that’s under fire for being a blatant cash grab. Players have noticed a drastic shift in how rewards are distributed, particularly in the form of Oddments, which have effectively been replaced with the event-exclusive currency, Hoddments—and not for the better.
A Massive Price Hike Disguised as an Event
Ordinarily, a medium XP lamp costs 250 Oddments, while a medium Bonus XP star is priced at 175 Oddments. However, during the event, Oddments cannot be earned at all, forcing players to rely on Hoddments instead. And here’s the catch:
- A medium XP lamp now costs 1,000 Hoddments.
- A medium Bonus XP star now costs 750 Hoddments.
This is a staggering price increase, effectively making these rewards four times more expensive than usual.
The Drop in Earnable Currency
Not only are Oddments disabled for the duration of the event, but Jagex has also drastically reduced how players can earn the replacement currency. Typically, players can receive 300 Oddments for rejecting a prize from Treasure Hunter (TH) events. But now, rejecting a TH prize only grants 50 Hoddments, making it significantly harder to accumulate enough currency for rewards.
A Recurring Pattern in RuneScape Events
This isn’t the first time Jagex has pulled a move like this. Recent in-game events have seen similar tactics, where a temporary currency replaces Oddments while offering far worse value. The core problem? The Oddments reward shop has remained largely untouched for years, yet Jagex continues to manipulate in-game economy mechanics to push players toward spending money on keys.
With each passing event, RuneScape players are growing more frustrated with the game’s increasing monetization. If these trends continue, it raises a crucial question: Is RuneScape becoming more about cash grabs than meaningful content updates?
