![Old School RuneScape Pronouns and Body Type Update Controversy Old School RuneScape Pronouns and Body Type Update depicting a screenshot from the game of the options.](https://i.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/mobile/000/050/966/osrscover.jpg)
Old School RuneScape Pronouns and Body Type Update Controversy
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Overview
The Old School RuneScape Pronouns and Body Type Update Controversy refers to backlash and reactions to Jagex (the developers of RuneScape) for purportedly removing binary gender options from the Old School RuneScape (OSRS) character creation or "Makeup Mage" interface, instead replacing them with a choice of the pronouns "he/him," "they/them" or "she/her" and offering players a choice of two "body types," "body type A," which is more masculine, or "body type B," which is more feminine. The update was released on August 14th, 2024, and became the subject of controversy on social media that day.
Background
On August 14th, 2024, a series of updates were implemented for the MMO game Old School RuneScape, which were detailed in a post on the RuneScape website.[1] Part of the update includes changes to the Makeup Mage interface, which changes the way that players choose how their in-game character is represented. The update details read:
A big part of Old School is having the freedom to play the game your way, and that should extend to character creation, too. We want our players to have the freedom to express themselves in Gielinor, just as they would IRL.
With this in mind, we've updated the Makeover Mage interface:
- Players may now choose between Body Type A and Body Type B, offering the freedom to pick either body type without the restriction of gender labels.
- To give you even more room for self-expression, you can now choose a preferred pronoun for your player character from the following options: He/Him, She/Her, or They/Them. You can also continue without selecting a pronoun, if that's what you prefer. The game will use the default based on body type, similar to how it has always been.
Another section of the update notes mentions that you "can also continue without selecting a pronoun, if that's what you prefer. The game will use the default based on body type, similar to how it has always been" (screenshots of the character creator seen below).
![OSRS Pronouns Update Screenshot Select skin colour, body type and pronouns Body type A He/him X Apply They/them Confirm Body type B She/her](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/002/883/769/38c.jpg)
![OSRS Pronouns Update Screenshot 2 Character Creator Design Pronouns Head She/her Jaw Torso Arms Hands Colour Hair Torso Legs Feet Skin Legs Body type Feet Confirm A B](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/002/883/770/591.jpg)
Online Reactions
That day, reactions to the update began going viral on social media, with some accusing RuneScape developers of "ruining the game" with the update and forcing it to "go woke." For example, on August 14th, 2024, X[2] / Twitter user @Grummz posted screenshots of the character creation tool's updated interface, writing, "They just ruined OG Runescape. Mandatory and unasked for update forces 'body types' and 'pronouns' onto players," garnering over 930,000 views and 10,000 likes in a day (shown below).
That same day, a similarly critical post about the update was made to the GamerGate subreddit /r/KotakuInAction,[3] garnering over 1,100 upvotes and 260 comments in a day.
![They just ruined OG Runescape Grummz @Grummz Subscribe They just ruined OG Runescape. Mandatory and unasked for update forces "body types" and "pronouns" onto players. nay now choose between Bod Type B, offering the freedom dy type without the restriction abels. Select skin colour, body type and pronouns ou even more room for self- on, you can now choose a pref for your player character from Joptions: He/Him, She/Her, or ou can also continue without Sy type A n, if that's what you prefer. The he default based on body type" has always been. 10:13 AM Aug 14, 2024 933.1K Views im X ●They/them Apply Confirm Body ty](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/002/883/776/496.jpg)
The criticism towards the update was also met with backlash for being perceived as disingenuous by some online. For example, on August 14th, X[4] user @Johnny2shoes__ commented on Grummz's post with a screenshot of the section of the updates denying that it is "mandatory" to pick pronouns, with Grummz responding, "Is body type optional? Do I have to see YOUR pronouns?" (shown below, left).
Also on August 14th, 2024, X[5] user @airbagged made a post suggesting that Grummz has not spent any significant amount of time in RuneScape and that the game has always been "woke," garnering over 11,000 likes in a day (shown below, right). Other X[6][7] users additionally criticized Grummz for calling Old School RuneScape the incorrect name, "OG RuneScape."
![runescape pronouns not mandatory Jay @Johnny2shoes___ . Aug 14 Them. You can also continue without selecting a pronoun, if that's what you prefer. The game will use the default based on body type, similar to how it has always been. 22 125 lil 22K Grummz @Grummz Is body type optional? Do I have to see YOUR pronouns? Subscribe can I mod it out if I want to? I'm sure Nexus Mods would let me host a .... Oh wait, nevermind. PurpleMadness Sep 6, 2023 10:42am 17 Nexus mods announces to ban pronoun removal mods. We Won Thats right, nexus will be removing any mods that aim to remove pronouns from the game, and thats a great move to be honest. 10:41 AM - Aug 14, 2024. 21.5K Views](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/002/883/784/9c4.jpg)
![this is definitive proof that grummz is an dumb anger tourist kate bush's husband @airbagged this is definitive proof that grummz is an dumb anger tourist jagex has ALWAYS been "woke", hell they donated over £100,000 to the uk diversity and inclusion charity "blueprint for all" i guarantee you he has NEVER put any significant time into runescape Grummz @Grummz .54min They just ruined OG Runescape. Mandatory and unasked for update forces "body types" and "pronouns" onto players. nay now choose between Bod Type B, offering the freedom dy type without the restriction abels. Select skin colour, body type and pronouns ou even more room for self- on, you can now choose a pret for your player character from options: He/Him, She/Her, or ou can also continue without s₁ type f n, if that's what you prefer. Th he default based on body type has always been. Body ty They/them Apply Confirm 1:31 PM - Aug 14, 2024 180.6K Views](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/002/883/785/062.jpg)
Between August 14th and 15th, numerous videos discussing the update and controversy were uploaded to YouTube by various channels and creators, with some criticizing it for being "woke," while others praised the character creation options (examples shown below).
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