Music System Improvements: Small UI Changes, Big Quality-of-Life

This week’s Old School RuneScape update focuses on quality-of-life improvements to the music system, plus a handful of targeted Deadman changes and some important platform news for Android users. None of it is designed to reshape the meta, but it does make day-to-day play smoother—especially if you like to keep the soundtrack on while skilling, questing, or roaming the world.

Volume sliders now actually slide

The settings menu volume controls have been reworked so they behave like real sliders. Previously, the “slider” effectively functioned like a row of discrete buttons, forcing you to click step-by-step instead of dragging to the exact volume you want. After the update, you can adjust audio levels fluidly, which makes quick changes far less annoying—particularly when switching from quiet skilling to louder combat or minigames.

Area Mode expanded across the entire game

OSRS music is iconic, but the old rules behind track switching could be jarring. Historically, track changes were tied to map squares, meaning a single step could abruptly cut one song and start another—even when you hadn’t meaningfully changed location.

The game previously introduced a more modern “music area mode” where boundaries follow scenery and natural borders (like walls, cliffs, and region edges) rather than strict squares. The key change in this update is that this improved area mode has now been expanded to cover the entire game world. The result is more natural-feeling transitions as you move between towns, dungeons, and wilderness regions.

Custom playlists: build up to three personal sets

The headline feature for many players is custom music playlists. You can now create up to three playlists using tracks you’ve unlocked. Add songs via the music list, then play a playlist that shuffles through your chosen tracks.

This is especially useful if you want a consistent vibe while doing longer sessions—like Slayer, clue scrolls, or repetitive skilling—without needing to manually hunt down track names. It also gives completionists a new reason to chase music unlocks across the map.

New music settings and a “true shuffle” update

The music system also adds several smaller options that make it feel more like a modern media player:

• True shuffle for random music mode, improving variety and reducing repeated patterns.
• Remember last music mode on login, instead of always reverting to area mode.
• Default track behavior for area mode, letting you define what plays when entering an area.
• Automatic updating when switching playlists, reducing manual clicks.
• Control over how manual track selection behaves, depending on your preferred mode.
• Visibility and color options for locked and unlocked tracks, making lists easier to read.

Overall, it’s a UI-focused update, but it meaningfully improves the experience for anyone who uses music regularly—or wants to start.

Deadman: Annihilation continues, and this update includes tweaks aimed at closing loopholes and improving consistency. Whether you’re an experienced PvPer or trying Deadman for the first time, these changes are designed to reduce edge-case abuse and keep core systems functioning as intended.

Trinket of Fortunities teleport timer can’t be bypassed via looting bag

A notable rule clarification and fix: the Trinket of Fortunities teleport timer can no longer be bypassed by placing the trinket into a looting bag. The intended 7-second teleport timer now applies properly when the trinket is active, preventing workarounds that could create unfair escapes or inconsistent risk in PvP situations.

Emblem trader roaming fixed in Revenant Caves (multi)

The emblem trader will now roam correctly in the multi-combat area of the Revenant Caves. This should reduce friction when trying to hand in emblems, and it helps ensure the activity loop works cleanly without requiring awkward alternatives.

Take a look at: our breakdown of the earlier Wilderness diary lock changes

Permanent Deadman Tweaks

Alongside the event-focused changes, there are also updates for Permanent Deadman rulesets.

Autocast settings now persist more reliably

Autocast settings will now be remembered in Permanent Deadman in the same way they are in Deadman: Annihilation. In practical terms, if you haven’t attacked another player for 20 seconds, your staff’s autocast settings will remain even if you swap weapons and then switch back. This reduces unnecessary setup time and prevents frustrating miscasts in high-stakes situations.

The bank chest inside the Chambers of Xeric raid can no longer be used in Permanent Deadman. This is a rules/utility change that tightens access to banking conveniences in a mode where risk management and resource logistics are a core part of the experience.

Android 32-bit Support Ending: What to Expect

Jagex is increasing minimum specifications and moving away from Android 32-bit support. The reasoning is straightforward: continuing to support older 32-bit devices limits performance and future client improvements on mobile, especially as the broader Android ecosystem shifts away from 32-bit.

Timeline and impact

• Around mid-March, a client update will ship that no longer supports Android 32-bit.
• On those devices, the app will no longer be available in stores.
• Existing installs on unsupported devices will no longer be able to update or access the game after the change.

If you play on a very old Android phone or tablet, it’s worth checking your device architecture ahead of time so you’re not surprised when the cutoff arrives.

Behind-the-Scenes Combat Infrastructure Improvements

A large portion of the update is described as foundational work that most players won’t directly notice. The goal is to strengthen and future-proof combat infrastructure so upcoming combat-heavy releases can be integrated more smoothly and remain stable at launch.

Even though these changes aren’t flashy, this type of engine and systems work is often what prevents nasty bugs, desync issues, or broken interactions when new bosses, leagues, or combat features arrive.

Other Changes and Events

Take a look at: more OSRS update notes focused on Wilderness requirement changes

There’s a targeted quality-of-life change driven by player feedback: if you’re on a boss-specific Slayer task, you can now enter the lair of that specific Wilderness boss without meeting the diary requirements.

Two important details:

• This only applies to boss-specific tasks.
• It does not apply to generic tasks that could be completed on multiple monsters.

This helps players engage with Wilderness boss content more naturally when their Slayer assignment is clearly pointing them there, without forcing diary progression first.

Castle Wars special event: Jmod showdown

A limited-time community event is also highlighted: a Castle Wars match featuring Jmods dropped into the action with unusual rules—massive hitpoints, no gear, and a focus on flag play. These kinds of events are typically lighthearted, but they can be a fun excuse to revisit classic minigame chaos.

Birthday cake competition

To celebrate OSRS’s 13th birthday and RuneScape’s 25th anniversary, there’s a themed birthday cake competition with membership and bonds as prizes. If you enjoy community contests and creative events, it’s worth keeping an eye on official announcements for entry rules and deadlines.

FAQ

Do I need to do anything to use the new music playlists?

No special unlock is required beyond having music tracks unlocked in-game. You can create up to three playlists and add tracks from your unlocked list.

Music transitions should feel less abrupt because boundaries now follow natural scenery across the entire world, rather than switching strictly by square map tiles.

Can the Trinket of Fortunities still teleport in Deadman?

Yes, but the teleport timer can’t be bypassed by storing it in a looting bag. The intended 7-second timer applies when it’s active.

Does the Wilderness boss lair entry change work for any Slayer task?

No. It only works for boss-specific tasks tied directly to that Wilderness boss, not generic tasks.

What happens if I’m on an Android 32-bit device after mid-March?

You won’t be able to update or access the game after the cutoff, and the app will no longer be available in stores for those devices.