Can You Buy RuneScape Membership as a Gift? A Comprehensive Guide
Yes, you absolutely can buy RuneScape membership as a gift! Gifting membership to a friend, family member, or fellow adventurer is a great way to share the fun of Gielinor. The process is straightforward, and there are several methods to achieve this, ensuring that your chosen recipient can unlock all the fantastic content that RuneScape offers. Whether you’re looking to celebrate a birthday, offer a thank-you, or just spread some joy, gifting RuneScape membership is a fantastic option for any fan of the game.
How to Gift RuneScape Membership
The most common method of gifting RuneScape membership involves purchasing a pre-paid card or a digital code. Here’s how it generally works:
Using Pre-Paid Cards
- Purchase a card: You can buy RuneScape Pre-Paid cards at various retail stores, both online and physical. These cards come in different denominations, each providing a specific amount of membership time, along with possible additional extras like RuneCoins or Keys.
- Redeem the code: The card will have a code printed on it. To gift membership, you simply need to give the card or the code to the person you wish to gift it to. The recipient then logs into their RuneScape account, goes to the membership redemption page, and enters the code.
- Instant access: Once redeemed, the membership benefits are applied instantly to the recipient’s account, allowing them to delve into all the enhanced content.
Digital Codes
- Online Purchases: Many retailers offer digital delivery of RuneScape membership codes. This is a convenient way to gift membership, as you can receive the code via email and then forward it to the recipient.
- Easy transfer: Similar to pre-paid cards, the recipient simply needs to enter the digital code on the RuneScape website to activate their membership.
Other Methods
- Steam Gift Cards: If the recipient plays RuneScape through Steam, you can gift them a Steam gift card. They can then use the card to purchase membership in-game through the Steam interface. This provides a seamless process for Steam users.
- Sharing your account is NOT gifting: It’s crucial to understand that account sharing is strictly against the RuneScape terms of service. Sharing an account to provide someone with access to membership could result in a permanent ban for everyone involved.
Gifting Options and What They Provide
RuneScape membership cards and digital codes offer different options, catering to various preferences and budgets. Here are some common variations:
Membership Only
- These provide pure membership time, without any additional items. The length of time you purchase, such as 65 days, will depend on the price and any ongoing promotions.
Membership Plus Extras
- Some gift card options include membership along with bonus items like RuneCoins and/or Keys. These are very popular options, as RuneCoins can be used to purchase in-game cosmetics and other extras, while Keys can be used to gain rewards from Treasure Hunter.
Premier Membership
- This option, usually a 12-month subscription, offers significant discounts and premium perks. This is a great gift for a dedicated RuneScape player. The discount can be as much as 45% off the standard monthly subscription, making it a very cost effective way to play RuneScape if you are planning to play it long-term.
Things to Keep in Mind When Gifting
Account Ownership
- Remember that all RuneScape accounts are the property of Jagex. Be aware that buying an account is a violation of their terms of service and can result in serious penalties, including losing the account. Always be sure to only play on an account that you personally created.
Sharing Codes Safely
- When sharing a gift code, make sure it is done privately and securely to prevent any unauthorized use.
Expiry of Codes
- While membership cards themselves don’t necessarily “expire” they should be redeemed promptly, to ensure you are getting full value, as they do sometimes have expiration dates. Be sure to check the expiration information on the back of the card or in the terms and conditions from where you purchased your gift card.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions about gifting RuneScape membership, providing you with additional valuable information.
1. Can I buy RuneScape membership for someone in another country?
Yes, typically. However, you will want to ensure that the gift card or digital code is region-specific. Some codes may be limited to a certain region, so always confirm this before purchasing.
2. Can I use a gift card to buy membership through the RuneScape website?
Yes, many gift cards can be used to purchase RuneScape membership through the official website, particularly those with Visa, MasterCard, or American Express logos. Look for the accepted payment methods during the checkout process.
3. How long does RuneScape membership last when purchased with a gift card?
The duration varies, depending on the value of the gift card or digital code you are using. A $25 card might get you around 65 days of membership, but this can vary depending on any promotions being run, or if you opt to include RuneCoins and Keys in the purchase.
4. Can I use in-game gold to buy membership for someone else?
Technically, yes! You can buy bonds with in-game gold and then gift the bond to another player. They can then redeem that bond for membership. This requires that they log onto their own account to redeem it, however.
5. Is it safe to buy RuneScape accounts to gift to others?
Absolutely not. Buying or selling RuneScape accounts is against the rules. Such an account can be revoked from the new user, and both parties can receive permanent bans. The seller could also potentially steal the account back, even after you’ve put time and effort into building it up.
6. Can you buy RuneScape membership with a Steam Gift Card?
Yes, you can if the recipient plays via Steam. When purchasing membership through the game while running it through Steam, the in-game browser will allow for payment via your Steam wallet.
7. Can I get free RuneScape membership?
While there aren’t many ways to get free membership permanently, playing the game enough to earn in-game bonds which can be used to purchase membership can result in “free” membership, but requires a lot of time investment to maintain.
8. What is the best value way to gift RuneScape membership?
A 12-month Premier Membership is often the best value if you intend to gift long-term. This can be discounted by as much as 45% when compared to a standard monthly subscription.
9. Do RuneScape membership cards expire?
Membership cards themselves don’t usually have an expiry date. However, you should redeem the code as soon as possible after purchase to ensure the code is still valid, and any bonus items remain available. Always check the terms and conditions on the back of the card.
10. Are RuneScape 3 and OSRS memberships the same?
Yes. Any membership purchased is applied to both the RuneScape 3 and Old School RuneScape versions of the game, for that same character, if they have different characters for each version of the game.
11. Can I share my membership benefits with someone else?
No, you cannot share your membership. Each membership is linked to a specific RuneScape account. Account sharing is prohibited and can lead to permanent bans for all parties.
12. Can I pay for OSRS or RS3 membership using major gift cards?
Yes, you can use a wide range of major gift cards to pay for your membership, provided the card supports online and overseas payments.
13. How does RuneScape membership enhance the game experience?
Membership unlocks many enhanced features, including additional skills, over 120 extra quests, and access to the entire game world map. It significantly broadens gameplay possibilities. It allows access to all the best content in the game, and makes the game much more enjoyable for most players.
14. Can I buy RuneScape membership using gold through bonds?
Yes, you can! Many high-level boss monsters drop valuable items, including bonds, which can be used to purchase membership. You can buy bonds with gold, and then gift them to another player, so that they can have membership when they redeem them on their own accounts.
15. Is RuneScape membership worth the cost in 2023?
RuneScape remains a great value for a MMORPG, and is a very fun game for new and returning players. If you enjoy a vast and ever-changing game world, with plenty of content and a rich story, RuneScape is worth considering in 2023.
By using the methods discussed, you can make a RuneScape player very happy by gifting them membership! It’s a great way to contribute to their gaming experience and share the joy of Gielinor.