For some context, the Jagex reboot "Old School Runescape" (OSRS) forked from a circa-2007 build of the game. It was apparently a stroke of luck that they still had the source code.
Notably, the 2007 version was before huge changes to the game that many original players disliked enough to stop playing. But it was also before the HD version. So OSRS player have been stuck with low quality graphics (however, a modder has recently fixed that. There was some drama over this, Jagex tried to prevent the mod from being allowed, but they backed off).
The OSRS version was also pre-neutering of PvP for real-word currency purposes, which happened Dec 2007. I guess this 2009scape would have a neutered Wilderness too. Or perhaps they're making some editorial tweaks.
2009 still predates many of the wild changes Jagex made that eventually morphed into RS3. Some would be nice to have in OSRS (mining/smithing was rehauled in a nice way, some new skills that OSRS players wish they had like Dungeoneering are missing --- but changes like "Evolution of Combat"[1] was a breaking point for many). My understanding is that if they had found the source code circa 2009, Jagex would have used that and OSRS players would have enjoyed HD on day one.
Jagex has done a good job with OSRS, running it with just a few people and heavily relying on community feedback in the form of polling content updates. If something does not pass majority opinion, it is not added to the game. They've added multiple new quests, areas, and skilling options under this model, to the point where OSRS is quite distinct from its circa-2007 seed. One thing they can't seem to get consensus on though is a new skill - every attempt I'm aware of has been downvoted by the community, seemingly for reasons similar to "it would devalue my investment in X skill".
[1] https://runescape.wiki/w/Evolution_of_Combat
Notably, the 2007 version was before huge changes to the game that many original players disliked enough to stop playing. But it was also before the HD version. So OSRS player have been stuck with low quality graphics (however, a modder has recently fixed that. There was some drama over this, Jagex tried to prevent the mod from being allowed, but they backed off).
The OSRS version was also pre-neutering of PvP for real-word currency purposes, which happened Dec 2007. I guess this 2009scape would have a neutered Wilderness too. Or perhaps they're making some editorial tweaks.
2009 still predates many of the wild changes Jagex made that eventually morphed into RS3. Some would be nice to have in OSRS (mining/smithing was rehauled in a nice way, some new skills that OSRS players wish they had like Dungeoneering are missing --- but changes like "Evolution of Combat"[1] was a breaking point for many). My understanding is that if they had found the source code circa 2009, Jagex would have used that and OSRS players would have enjoyed HD on day one.
Jagex has done a good job with OSRS, running it with just a few people and heavily relying on community feedback in the form of polling content updates. If something does not pass majority opinion, it is not added to the game. They've added multiple new quests, areas, and skilling options under this model, to the point where OSRS is quite distinct from its circa-2007 seed. One thing they can't seem to get consensus on though is a new skill - every attempt I'm aware of has been downvoted by the community, seemingly for reasons similar to "it would devalue my investment in X skill".
[1] https://runescape.wiki/w/Evolution_of_Combat