Key points
- Jagex’s account security figures show more than 8 trillion gold removed from OSRS in April 2026 through bans and other account action.
- GamesRadar+ reported that April alone was roughly two-thirds of the 2026 total up to that point.
- Bot hunter SirPugger said a botter told him bans on members’ worlds started landing within hours instead of days from January.
- FlippingOldSchool noted sharp price rises for resources that bots used to farm.
What changed in 2026
On May 29, 2026, GamesRadar+ reported that two well-known Old School RuneScape analysts, SirPugger and FlippingOldSchool, had independently concluded that bots are now largely gone from the game. SirPugger titled his video “RuneScape No Longer Has a Bot Problem” and said of the Wilderness caves: “I’ve never seen the caves so empty.”
GamesRadar+ credited the change to harsher punishments, better detection and more internal resources under Jagex’s new CEO, Jon Bellamy. According to SirPugger, a botter told him that from January 2026 bots on members’ worlds were being banned within hours rather than days or weeks.
The gold numbers
Jagex’s updated account security figures, as reported by GamesRadar+, show more than 8 trillion gold removed from the game in April 2026 through bans and other account actions, about two-thirds of the year’s total at that point. Notebookcheck separately reported on June 2 that more than 6.2 million bot accounts had been banned in 2026, but did not say where that figure came from, so treat it with care.
Knock-on effects
FlippingOldSchool pointed out that resources bots used to farm passively have risen sharply in price. GamesRadar+ also noted the other side: with fewer bots around, the ones that slip through are more profitable, and botters may be holding large stables of accounts in reserve.
What it means for buyers
Most cheap OSRS gold has historically come from bots, so a crackdown that removes trillions of gold squeezes supply and puts more weight on sellers who farm by hand. It also means gold sourced from bots is more likely to be traced and removed after you receive it. Jagex has banned first-time gold buyers since September 2025, so the risk sits with the buyer as well. Compare sellers on the Old School RuneScape page and read how gold farming works.
Sources
- GamesRadar+: Old School RuneScape is winning the war against MMO botsMay 29, 2026
- Notebookcheck: Jagex bans 6.2 million botsJun 2, 2026
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