Many of you are probably wondering what world 2 is and what that means for world 1. I'd like to take a moment to clear this up about world 1: it'll be staying online and also receiving updates world 2 receives (for example, ToB). Many of the changes going toward world 2 (but not all) will also be seen added to world 1. The big difference is that world 2 has a fresh economy to back the changes to the server going forward both now and over the last 2 years.
So what are stands out as being different specifically about world 2? Hard mode will be able to trade rare drops between normal mode. General store supplies will all cost money. XP rates will be lower with normal mode losing the ability to set stats (or having a huge drop rate penalty, much higher than 25%). Coin drops will be much smaller.
What type of changes are being done to both servers, where world 2 sees the majority of the benefit? Drop rates are being adjusted, PK supply boxes have been dropped since they're only really used for quick cash, the BM shop is being changed, mystery boxes will be less likely to reward rare items, and the cost of shop items has been increased. This is just to name a few!
Experience Rates
Normal Mode: Combat x200 and skilling x20
Hard Mode: Combat x20 and skilling x20
Ironman Modes: Combat x20 and skilling x20
Voting: 5%
Wishing Well: 15%
Gold Member: 5%
Drop Rates
Most monsters sit at x1.5 OSRS
Barrows x3
Voting: 15%
Wishing Well: 5%
Gold Member: 5%
Ring of Wealth: 5%
Hard Mode: 20%