2004 RuneScape fit a multiplayer RPG into 56k dial-up

Hacker News

Published Sep 1, 2026 • 1:01 AM

Article URL: https://jkm.dev/posts/how-2004-runescape-fit-a-multiplayer-rpg-into-56k-dialup/

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49516699

Points: 6

# Comments: 2

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• RuneScape 2 utilized a Java applet to deliver 3D multiplayer gameplay over 56k dial-up connections.

• Developers achieved this through extreme bit-packing and incremental updates to minimize bandwidth.

• The game targeted a low 5 KB/s throughput to accommodate users without broadband.

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How 2004 RuneScape fit a multiplayer RPG into 56k dial-up · jkm.dev

In 2004 I played too much RuneScape on a 56k modem that died the moment Mum picked up the phone. A 3D world, up to a couple of thousand players on a server, dozens on screen at once - in the browser, on 5 kilobytes per second. It worked. Let’s follow a single step and see how.

jkm.dev

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