Trump Waved His Hand, Stirring the Gaming Hurricane in Venezuela
The article explores the unexpected connection between the political crisis in Venezuela and the online game RuneScape. Following the arrest of Venezuelan President Maduro, the game Old School RuneScape (OSRS) saw a record number of players. This is linked to a deeper story of how Venezuelans, facing extreme hyperinflation and poverty starting in 2013, turned to earning a living by playing OSRS.
They would farm in-game currency (gold) by performing repetitive actions like killing monsters, which they then sold for cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. This provided a more stable income than the collapsing national currency, with some players earning enough to support their families. Their presence became a well-known, albeit controversial, part of the game's economy and culture.
However, by 2023, many Venezuelan players began to leave OSRS due to a drop in-game gold prices and increased competition from bots. Some moved to other games, while others used their earnings to physically escape the country, with mixed outcomes. Their story highlights how cryptocurrencies and virtual economies provided a rare lifeline for survival and a means of escape during a severe national economic collapse.
marsbit01/16 03:13
