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Guild Wars 2

Guild Wars 2 is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) developed by ArenaNet and published by NCSOFT, set in the expansive fantasy world of Tyria where players explore awe-inspiring landscapes, engage in fast-paced action combat, and participate in dynamic world events without a mandatory subscription fee.^[1]^[2]^[3] Released on August 28, 2012, the game has attracted over 21 million players through its free-to-play model, allowing access to core content including eight playable professions, a branching personal story, competitive PvP modes, and cooperative PvE challenges.^[3]^[4] ArenaNet's design emphasizes player agency, with features like mount customization, guild alliances, and living world updates that evolve the narrative seasonally, fostering a persistent, interconnected universe.^[5]^[6] The game's storyline revolves around ancient dragons awakening and threatening Tyria, drawing players from five playable races—humans, charr, norn, sylvari, and asura—into epic conflicts that span personal quests and large-scale world meta-events.^[1] Over the years, Guild Wars 2 has expanded with six major content packs, including Heart of Thorns (2015), Path of Fire (2017), End of Dragons (2022), Secrets of the Obscure (2023), Janthir Wilds (2024), and Visions of Eternity (launched October 28, 2025), each introducing new regions, elite specializations, mounts, and legendary gear while advancing the overarching lore.^[7]^[8]^[9] Guild Wars 2 has received critical acclaim for its innovative combat system, which blends third-person action with tactical skill usage, and its commitment to accessibility, earning awards such as multiple "Game of the Year" honors and "Best Ongoing Game" from outlets like PC Gamer in 2022.^[5]^[10] The title's enduring popularity is evidenced by over 1.3 million player-created guilds and billions of completed dynamic events, solidifying its status as a benchmark for modern MMORPGs.^[6]

Gameplay

Core mechanics

Guild Wars 2 employs an action-oriented massively multiplayer online structure that diverges from traditional quest-based progression, focusing instead on immersive world interactions to foster player agency and community engagement. Rather than scripted quests with fixed objectives, the game integrates renown hearts—localized tasks where players assist NPCs to build rapport and earn rewards like experience, skill points, and vendor access—and dynamic events, which emerge organically in the open world based on player proximity and participation. These events scale in difficulty with group size, alter environmental states based on success or failure (such as securing a village or unleashing bandit raids), and chain into larger meta-stories that evolve the landscape, making Tyria feel alive and responsive.^[11] The open world map is structured as a series of interconnected regions in Tyria, initially accessible through personal story advancement, which gates higher-level zones to guide progression while encouraging horizontal exploration. Players unlock waypoints, vistas for panoramic reveals, points of interest, and complete renown hearts to achieve map completion, a core loop that rewards thorough discovery with achievement points, transmutation charges, and a sense of mastery over each area. This design promotes non-linear play, where activities like harvesting nodes, defeating foes, and participating in events all contribute to overall advancement without rigid leveling paths.^[12] Introduced with the Path of Fire expansion, the mount system transforms traversal by providing specialized tools for navigating Tyria's varied terrains, from deserts to mountains, reducing travel friction and enhancing exploration efficiency. The raptor, unlocked via early story completion in Path of Fire, excels in rapid ground movement with abilities like a high leap for scaling cliffs and a tail spin for crowd control during events, allowing players to swiftly join distant dynamic occurrences or chase down objectives. Subsequent mounts build on this foundation; for instance, the skyscale, added in The Icebrood Saga, introduces flight mechanics through mastery training, enabling aerial scouting, quick vertical traversal, and evasion in combat-heavy zones, fundamentally expanding access to hidden areas and streamlining the core loop of discovery and interaction.^[13] Personal storylines are seamlessly woven into the core gameplay from character creation, where race, background, and initial choices shape a unique narrative arc that parallels the broader world events. As players progress through chapters, these stories not only deliver tailored missions with branching decisions affecting alliances and outcomes but also unlock new regions, integrating personal growth with open-world exploration and dynamic events for a cohesive experience that ties individual actions to Tyria's ongoing saga.^[14]

Combat system

Guild Wars 2 features a real-time action combat system that emphasizes mobility, positioning, and tactical decision-making, distinguishing it from traditional tab-targeting MMOs by integrating direct control elements. Players engage enemies in a persistent world where combat occurs seamlessly without loading screens, allowing attacks while moving and requiring active avoidance of incoming threats.^[15] The targeting system employs a hybrid approach combining tab-targeting with direct control. Players can select specific enemies using the Tab key or mouse clicks for precise skill application, while ground-targeted skills allow placement of area effects independent of targeting. Auto-attacks occur automatically via the default skill slot 1 when an enemy is in range, providing continuous damage without manual activation, and players manage a skill bar of up to 10 abilities, including weapon swaps that refresh the bar for tactical versatility. Dodging, activated by double-tapping a movement direction or a dedicated key, grants a brief period of evasion, enabling players to roll away from attacks and maintain offensive pressure.^[15]^[16] Combo mechanics add layers of synergy in group combat, where one player's skill creates a combo field—an area of effect like fire (applying burning) or poison (applying poison)—that interacts with another player's finisher skill for enhanced results. Finishers include blasts (affecting a 360-degree radius around the field), leaps (triggering on contact with the field), projectiles (impacting the field or nearby allies), and whirls (launching multiple projectiles into the field). These interactions prioritize the player's own fields and are limited to five unique combatants per field, using the finisher's attribute scaling for effect strength.^[17] Underwater combat introduces unique adaptations to the core system, unlocked at level 8 through aquatic weapons such as spears, tridents, or harpoon guns, which replace land weapons and provide profession-specific skill bars. Movement incorporates verticality, with players ascending via the Space key or descending by angling the camera, and certain skills cause sinking or floating effects; aquatic headgear substitutes for regular helmets, offering attribute bonuses and infusion slots for swim speed enhancements. While most skills function similarly to land combat, some are unavailable underwater (indicated by icons), and depleting health leads to a drowning state with rally skills or surface recovery at 25% health.^[18]^[19] The downstate mechanic activates when a player's health reaches zero, transitioning them to a grounded position with tripled base health and a set of four downed skills for self-recovery or finishing weakened foes. From this state, players can rally by contributing sufficient damage to defeat an enemy—requiring substantial credit toward the kill—which restores 25% of maximum health, grants one second of invulnerability, and applies a downed penalty point. Alternatively, allies can revive downed players using the F interact key or skills, restoring 50% health, while self-revive via the Bandage skill heals the downed health bar to full for a potential rally. In World vs. World mode, rallying is restricted to one player per enemy defeat and limited to event NPCs like guards.^[20]^[21]^[22]

Character creation and progression

Character creation in Guild Wars 2 allows players to customize their avatar extensively before entering the game world. The process starts with selecting a race from five options: humans, norn, charr, asura, or sylvari, each tied to distinct cultural backgrounds and starting locations in Tyria.^[23] Next, players choose a profession from nine available classes—guardian, warrior, engineer, ranger, thief, elementalist, mesmer, necromancer, or revenant—which determines core abilities, weapons, and playstyle.^[23] Appearance customization follows, offering detailed options for facial features, body types, hair, and colors, with no impact on gameplay stats. Finally, players answer three biography questions tailored to their race and profession, establishing the character's background, motivations, and personality; these choices influence the initial personal story progression without locking players into rigid paths.^[23] Upon entering the game, characters begin at level 1 and advance through a traditional experience-based leveling system up to the maximum level of 80. Experience is earned through dynamic events, personal story quests, hearts (task-based objectives), and exploration, with the first 20 levels serving as an introduction to movement, combat, and profession mechanics.^[24] Leveling scales dynamically in lower-level areas to keep progression engaging, and upon reaching level 80, players unlock access to endgame content while retaining the ability to gain experience for additional rewards.^[24] Beyond level 80, progression shifts to the horizontal mastery system, introduced with the Heart of Thorns expansion, emphasizing skill expansion over vertical power increases. Masteries are unlocked using hero points collected from expansion maps, metas, and story achievements, which are spent in the hero panel to progress through categorized tracks such as gliding, mounts (e.g., raptor, springer), or raid-specific abilities.^[25] Each track requires accumulating experience alongside hero points to train tiers, providing account-wide benefits like enhanced exploration tools or combat utilities once unlocked for a character.^[25] The trait and specialization system further defines character builds, starting at level 21 when players can allocate trait points into three specialization slots. Traits are passive abilities organized into nine core specializations per profession, each containing minor, adept, master, and grand tiers that enhance skills or grant new effects; players select one trait per tier for up to 12 active traits.^[26] Expansions introduce elite specializations, which replace a core specialization when equipped, adding unique mechanics, skills, and traits—for example, the reaper elite for necromancer or untamed for ranger—unlocked via hero challenges and expansion content. These allow for diverse builds without requiring gear changes, promoting experimentation across playstyles. Gear progression parallels character advancement, beginning with basic masterwork and rare (blue and yellow) items acquired through crafting, vendors, or drops during leveling. At level 80, players typically acquire exotic (orange) gear, the standard for most open-world and story content, obtainable via dungeons, world bosses, or the trading post.^[27] For higher challenges like fractals, ascended (pink) gear provides a 5-6% stat increase over exotics and is crafted, purchased from laurels, or earned through raids and strikes.^[27] Legendary (gold) items represent the pinnacle, offering full stat-swapping, aesthetic uniqueness, and precursors from challenging collections or Mystic Forge generation.^[28] Infusions, upgrade components slotted into gear, add agony resistance for fractal progression or minor stat bonuses, with ascended and legendary items supporting multiple slots for optimization.^[27]

World and activities

The persistent open world of Guild Wars 2 features dynamic events that respond to player interactions, replacing traditional quests with living narratives unique to each area. These events occur spontaneously in zones as players explore, such as defending an outpost from invaders or escorting a suspicious NPC that may lead to treasure or an ambush.^[11] Events chain together to form larger stories; successful completion might rally NPCs to gather forces for subsequent challenges, while failure alters the local environment, such as damaged structures or displaced inhabitants, encouraging players to revisit areas for changed outcomes.^[11] Difficulty scales dynamically based on the number of participating players, becoming tougher for larger groups to maintain challenge and fairness.^[11] Meta-events extend this system by linking series of dynamic events into zone-spanning narratives, providing immersion and contextual orientation about regional conflicts or threats. For instance, in the Auric Basin map, the Battle in Tarir meta-event involves coordinated phases to defend against an invading force, culminating in a major assault.^[29] These often require map-wide cooperation and reset on timers, fostering community coordination. World bosses, a subset of dynamic events, are powerful champions like the Shadow Behemoth or Triple Trouble that spawn on fixed schedules, drawing crowds for their high rewards including rare gear, Dragonite Ore, and bonus chests upon defeat.^[30] Like other events, world bosses scale with participant numbers, ensuring accessibility while rewarding organized groups.^[30] Instanced activities offer structured challenges outside the open world. Dungeons consist of eight multi-path instances for five-player groups, each with a story mode introducing lore and explorable paths for replayability, such as the Ascalonian Catacombs delving into ancient ruins.^[31] Fractals of the Mists provide an infinite dungeon system of scalable mini-instances, where players tackle themed fractals like the Thaumanova Reactor, progressing through escalating agony levels that introduce environmental hazards and require resistance infusions.^[32] Raids are 10-player elite encounters across wings like Spirit Vale, featuring complex boss mechanics, non-boss events, and legendary loot in a sequence of challenging arenas.^[33] Strike missions, introduced as accessible 10-player content, focus on single-boss fights with normal and challenge modes, such as the Boneskinner in Svanir's Bane, offering remixed mechanics and shared rewards like Dragonstorm.^[34] Competitive PvP modes include structured PvP, a 5v5 arena format emphasizing conquest objectives on maps like Legacy of the Foefire, with automated matchmaking, league seasons, and balanced gear provided to focus on skill.^[35] World vs. World (WvW) delivers large-scale, persistent server-versus-server warfare across four borderlands and the Mists, where teams capture objectives, deploy siege weapons, and engage in dynamic battles for scores and rewards like WvW Skirmish Claim Tickets.^[36] Guilds enable social organization, allowing up to 500 members to collaborate on missions, with features like shared banks and chat. Guild halls, claimable instances from Heart of Thorns onward, serve as customizable hubs for activities including PvE bounties, PvP tournaments, and decoration using earned resources; examples include the Gilded Hollow in Brisban Wildlands.^[37] The alliance system, integrated into WvW restructuring, lets guilds form larger coalitions for matchmaking and strategy, enhancing large-scale coordination without altering core guild mechanics.^[38] Introduced in the Visions of Eternity expansion on October 28, 2025, the homestead system provides an account-wide personal housing instance on the Comosus Isles, unlockable through a dedicated mastery track. Players can customize multiple plots with decorations, furniture, and layouts earned from gameplay activities, save different build configurations, and invite friends to visit, offering a private space for personalization and social interaction.^[39] The crafting system spans nine disciplines—such as weaponsmithing or alchemy—enabling players to create gear, consumables, and legendaries from gathered materials, with discovery mechanics unlocking recipes and scalability up to ascended and legendary tiers.^[40] The trading post, operated by the Black Lion Trading Company, facilitates anonymous player-to-player trades via buy/sell orders, driving a dynamic economy where items like ectoplasm or trophies fluctuate based on supply and demand, with a 15% fee on sales and delivery to in-game mailboxes.^[41]

Setting

World of Tyria

The world of Tyria serves as the primary setting for Guild Wars 2, encompassing a vast planet that includes a supercontinent comprising the continents of Tyria (often called Central Tyria), Elona to the south, and Cantha to the east. Central Tyria features diverse regions such as the mountainous Shiverpeak Mountains, the forested Maguuma Jungle, the kingdom of Kryta, the ruined lands of Ascalon, and the sunken realm of Orr, each shaped by geological and magical forces over millennia. Elona, known as the Land of the Golden Sun, includes arid expanses like the Crystal Desert, a region of shifting dunes, ancient ruins, and crystalline formations introduced through expansions, while Cantha is characterized by its imperial architecture, misty islands, and lush, isolated terrains under the rule of the Empire of the Dragon. These continents form the physical foundation of the game's explorable world, connected by seas and magical pathways.^[42] Expansions have expanded the geographical scope, adding areas like the Heart of Maguuma, a dense, vertical jungle deep within the Maguuma region west of Central Tyria, filled with towering vines, toxic mists, and predatory flora that emphasize elevated traversal and environmental hazards in gameplay. The Crystal Desert, part of Elona, presents a stark contrast with its sun-baked canyons, oases, and branded scars from ancient magical cataclysms, influencing zone designs that reward mount-based navigation and resource gathering amid harsh conditions. Later expansions added further regions, including the extradimensional realm of Nayos in the Mists (Secrets of the Obscure, 2023), the rugged Janthir Archipelago (Janthir Wilds, 2024), and the enchanted Isle of Castora (Visions of Eternity, 2025), each introducing unique biomes and lore elements.^[43]^[44]^[45]^[46]^[47]^[48] These added regions integrate seamlessly into the supercontinent's layout, providing new biomes that alter gameplay dynamics, such as glider-assisted descents in jungle canopies or sand-surfing across desert expanses. Beyond the mortal continents lies the metaphysical framework of the Mists, an ethereal realm enveloping all existence, serving as the boundary between Tyria and infinite parallel worlds, dimensions, and afterlives. The Mists contain pocket realms accessible through rifts or magic, including the Underworld, a shadowy domain of judgment and undeath ruled by the god Grenth, where souls are weighed and tormented eternally. Another key realm is the Fissure of Woe, the eternal battlefield of the god Balthazar, locked in perpetual conflict with demonic forces, representing themes of unending war within the cosmological structure; and Nayos, a chaotic realm of torment inhabited by the Kryptis demons, accessed through rifts and central to recent interdimensional conflicts.^[49]^[50] These Mists-connected areas underpin Tyria's lore by linking the physical world to supernatural elements, occasionally bleeding into gameplay through portals or visions. Key locations within Central Tyria highlight cultural and societal hubs, such as Divinity's Reach, the sprawling capital of the human kingdom of Kryta, designed as a grand wheel-shaped metropolis with radiating districts honoring the Six Gods through statues and architecture, symbolizing human resilience and devotion amid historical upheavals. Rata Sum, the asuran capital, floats as a massive, geometric cube above the Maguuma Jungle, powered by geomantic generators and serving as a nexus for intellectual pursuits, arcane research, and golem craftsmanship, reflecting the asura's innovative and hierarchical society. These cities act as central hubs for player interaction, trade, and storytelling, embedded in their surrounding biomes to enhance immersion. Tyria's environmental biomes profoundly shape its gameplay zones, ranging from temperate forests and rolling plains in Kryta, which support open-field events and communal activities, to the icy tundras of the Shiverpeak Mountains fostering mountaineering challenges and avalanche dynamics. Arid deserts in Elona and the Crystal Desert introduce heat-based mechanics and scarcity-driven survival elements, while the humid, multi-layered jungles of the Heart of Maguuma demand vertical mobility and adaptation to poisonous ecosystems. Underwater zones in the Depths of Tyria add aquatic exploration with currents and abyssal pressures, collectively creating a dynamic world where biomes dictate resource availability, enemy behaviors, and event triggers, promoting adaptive playstyles across the continents.^[51]^[52]

Races and professions

Guild Wars 2 features five playable races, each with distinct origins, homelands, and societal structures that shape player experiences in the world of Tyria.^[53] These races—Humans, Charr, Norn, Asura, and Sylvari—offer unique starting areas and personal storylines influenced by their cultural backgrounds.^[54] Players select a race during character creation, which combines with a chosen profession to determine initial gameplay and minor narrative variations, such as dialogues or quests tailored to racial perspectives.

Humans

Humans are an ancient race brought to Tyria from other worlds by the Six Gods during the early centuries AE, establishing dominance across continents before facing decline due to wars and cataclysms.^[55] Their primary homeland is the Kingdom of Kryta, centered in Divinity's Reach, a fortified city blending medieval architecture with magical defenses, though remnants exist in Ascalon (now haunted ruins) and Orr (sunken by Elder Dragon awakening). Human society is structured around a monarchy ruled by Queen Jennah, with a nobility class, influential priesthoods devoted to the Six Gods (like the god Balthazar for war and Grenth for death), and diverse subcultures including seafaring Elonians and scholarly Canthans.^[56] They emphasize faith, craftsmanship, and resilience, often allying with other races against common threats while grappling with internal divisions like noble intrigue.

Charr

The Charr are a feline humanoid race native to Tyria, originating in the harsh plains of Ascalon where they evolved as aggressive hunters and warriors over millennia. Their homeland spans the Plains of Ashford and the Black Citadel, a massive industrial fortress symbolizing their technological prowess in steam-powered machinery and weaponry. Charr society is rigidly militaristic, organized into four High Legions—Blood for frontline infantry, Iron for engineering, Ash for intelligence, and Flame (reformed post-civil war) for magic—governed by their respective imperators in a kratocratic oligarchy following the defeat of former Imperator Bangar Ruinbringer. They value strength, loyalty to the legions, and rejection of spirituality in favor of pragmatism, with fahrar cub-training systems fostering independence from birth.^[57]

Norn

Norn are towering, furred humanoids descended from northern migrants who settled Tyria's icy wilds thousands of years ago, embodying a primal connection to nature and legend.^[58] Their homeland is the Shiverpeak Mountains, with the great hall of Hoelbrak serving as a central hub for gatherings, mead halls, and spirit shrines amid snowy tundras and hot springs. Norn society is decentralized and individualistic, centered on personal sagas of heroism where hunters and warriors seek glory through deeds to earn a place in the Mists after death; they revere the Spirits of the Wild (like Wolf for cunning and Bear for strength) rather than a formal government, though chieftains like Knut Whitebear provide loose leadership. This nomadic, boastful culture prizes storytelling, shape-shifting via spirit communion, and communal hunts, viewing weakness as a path to obscurity.

Asura

Asura are diminutive, blue-skinned inventors native to the Maguuma Jungle, emerging from underground krewe labs after a cataclysmic event shattered their ancient civilization around 100 BE.^[59] Their homeland is the city of Rata Sum, a labyrinthine metropolis of golem factories, arcane engines, and elevated walkways built atop jungle ruins, reflecting their obsession with innovation. Asura society revolves around intellectual krewes—collaborative research groups affiliated with one of six colleges (Synergetics for energy, Dynamics for chaos, Statics for matter, Secrets for mysticism, plus newer ones like Optics and Alchemy)—where status is earned through groundbreaking experiments and golem mastery, overseen by the Arcane Council. They are hierarchical yet meritocratic, dismissing emotion for logic, with procreation via "genius granting" rituals and a disdain for "lesser races" unless useful.

Sylvari

Sylvari are a young, plant-based race born from the Pale Tree in the Caledon Forest, first emerging in 1302 AE as the second generation after the Dream of Dreams was corrupted by dragon influence.^[60] Their homeland is the verdant Caledon Forest, dotted with thorn walls, dream portals, and the Pale Tree's roots as a communal birthplace, though many venture outward guided by personal Wyld Hunts. Sylvari society is empathetic and exploratory, lacking traditional families but united by shared memories from the Pale Tree and the teachings of Ventari's tablet, which emphasizes balance, curiosity, and rejecting the Nightmare corruption that claims some kin. They form fluid courts (like the Court of Sylvaris for governance) and pods for collaboration, with bioluminescent bodies adapting to light cycles and a innate drive to uncover secrets, fostering a culture of harmony with nature while confronting internal schisms. Players further define their characters through one of nine professions, each offering unique roles, weapons, and skills that emphasize tactical combat styles.^[61] These include the melee-focused Warrior, who wields greatswords and axes with adrenaline-fueled bursts; the supportive Guardian, using staffs and maces to project light-based virtues and wards; the spirit-channeling Revenant, accessing legendary legends via sword and spear for energy-managed invocations; the pet-companion Ranger, employing longbows and nature spirits for ranged and survival tactics; the stealthy Thief, dual-wielding daggers and pistols with initiative-driven stealth attacks; the attunement-shifting Elementalist, conjuring fire, water, air, and earth via scepter and focus; the illusion-weaving Mesmer, manipulating clones and phantasms with sword and staff for mind-bending control; the death-magic Necromancer, raising minions and siphoning life with daggers and axes; and the gadgeteering Engineer, deploying turrets and elixirs through rifle and bomb kits.^[61] Each profession has a unique mechanic, such as the Warrior's weapon-swapping or the Engineer's toolbelt, allowing diverse builds.^[62] Expansions introduce elite specializations that expand core professions with new weapons, mechanics, and themes, unlocked via specialization collections.^[63] Heart of Thorns (2015) added Reaper for Necromancer (graveshroud and greatsword for tanky melee), Herald for Revenant (facets and shield for support), and others like Druid for Ranger. Path of Fire (2017) featured Scourge for Necromancer (sand shades and torch for AoE damage), Firebrand for Guardian (tomes and axe for utility), Weaver for Elementalist (dual-attunement weaving), and others. End of Dragons (2022) introduced elite specializations including Mechanist for Engineer (mechs and jade tech), Vindicator for Revenant (harpoon gun), Specter for Thief (barriers and scepter), Willbender for Guardian (sword mobility), Untamed for Ranger, and others. Secrets of the Obscure (2023) and Janthir Wilds (2024) added new weapons but no elite specializations, while Visions of Eternity (2025) introduced new elite specializations for all professions, such as Ritualist for Necromancer. These elite specs provide thematic evolution, such as the Reaper's undead reanimation or the Mechanist's robotic companions, enhancing profession versatility.^[63]^[64] Race and profession combinations influence gameplay by placing characters in race-specific starting zones—Queensdale for Humans, Plains of Ashford for Charr, Wayfarer Foothills for Norn, Metrica Province for Asura, and Caledon Forest for Sylvari—where introductory quests reflect cultural norms and minor story beats vary, like a Human Warrior aiding Krytan guards versus a Charr Warrior scouting legion borders.^[54] This setup ensures personalized immersion without altering core progression, allowing over 45 unique race-profession pairings at launch, expanded further by elite specializations.^[53]

Magic and ancient threats

In the world of Tyria, magic serves as the fundamental lifeblood sustaining all existence, flowing through an intricate network of ley lines that crisscross the planet's surface and subsurface like rivers of raw energy. These ley lines represent paths of least resistance for magical currents, coalescing where density is high and enabling phenomena such as asura gate teleportation and natural magical anomalies.^[65] The Elder Dragons play a pivotal role in this system, as they awaken periodically to consume vast quantities of ambient magic from the ley lines, which disrupts the balance and leads to widespread corruption of lands, creatures, and even magic itself.^[66] This corruption manifests as a twisting of life and magic into forms aligned with each dragon's domain, turning forests into blighted wastelands or oceans into toxic depths, while also empowering the dragons' minions known as champions—powerful lieutenants that extend their influence. Sylvari, one of Tyria's playable races, draw their unique connection to magic from the Pale Tree, a colossal entity born from an ancient seed infused with extradimensional energies, which nurtures them in a shared Dream and imbues them with innate resistance to certain corruptions. The Elder Dragons, ancient titans predating mortal civilizations, embody primordial threats tied intrinsically to Tyria's magical ecosystem, each commanding a specific domain that amplifies their destructive potential. Zhaitan, the dragon of death and shadow, rules from the depths of Orr, corrupting the dead into risen armies and siphoning necrotic magic to fuel endless undeath. Kralkatorrik, the crystalline elder, soars over the Brand, a vast desert of shattered crystal where it brands living beings into crystalline minions, its magic forging indestructible weapons and armor from corrupted earth. Jormag, the icy whisperer, lurks in the northern Shiverpeak Mountains, freezing landscapes into glacial fortresses and corrupting wildlife into icebrood through seductive promises of power, drawing on frost magic to manipulate minds and weather. Primordus, the destroyer of fire and stone, burrows beneath the surface in volcanic regions, spawning hordes of molten destroyers that overrun tunnels and surface lands, its subterranean magic erupting in lava flows and seismic upheavals. Mordremoth, the jungle dragon, entwines the Heart of Maguuma in thorny vines, corrupting flora and fauna into mordrem vines that ensnare and assimilate victims, harnessing plant-based magic to evolve adaptive, regenerative forces. Balthazar, though not a true Elder Dragon but the fallen god of war and fire, allied with Kralkatorrik in a bid for power, channeling divine flames and war magic to raze armies before his defeat scattered his essence. Kralkatorrik's eventual demise unleashed uncontrolled magical surges, as its death destabilized the ley lines it had long dominated, leading to further environmental chaos until balanced by other forces. Soo-Won, the elusive deep sea dragon of water and torment, dwells in Canthan waters, corrupting marine life into poisonous abominations and manipulating tidal magics to erode coastal realms from below. Corruption mechanics among the Elder Dragons follow a consistent pattern: exposure to their magic warps the essence of affected beings, amplifying traits aligned with the dragon's domain while eroding free will, often resulting in branded, risen, icebrood, destroyers, mordrem, or krait-like minions that serve as extensions of the dragon's will. Dragon champions, such as the Tequatl risen or Shatterer branded, exemplify this by channeling amplified powers, guarding key ley line convergences or leading invasions to harvest more magic for their masters. Magical artifacts like the six bloodstones, forged by the Six Gods from pure magical essence to contain and regulate Tyria's volatile energies, have historically mitigated these threats by anchoring ley line stability, though their shattering has intensified dragon awakenings. With the Elder Dragons subdued, new ancient threats have emerged, exploiting the vacuum in magical equilibrium. Kryptis demons, extradimensional invaders from Nayos, feed on emotional magics and ley line residues, breaching into Tyria through rifts to sow chaos and harvest souls in demonic incursions. The wizards of the Mistborne orders, ancient guardians experimenting with mist and void magics, inadvertently unleash volatile anomalies through their arcane pursuits, blending protective spells with risky summonings that threaten planar stability. Meanwhile, the Inquest, a radical asura syndicate, manipulates captured dragon energies and ley line tech in clandestine labs, engineering hybrid abominations and weapons that risk unleashing uncontrolled magical cataclysms across Tyria. These post-dragon perils underscore the ongoing fragility of Tyria's magical framework, where unchecked experimentation and interdimensional incursions now rival the dragons' ancient dominion.

Plot

Setting overview

The world of Tyria serves as the primary setting for Guild Wars 2, a vast continent marked by diverse landscapes ranging from rugged mountains to sunken ruins, where multiple races coexist amid rising threats from ancient forces. The game's timeline begins in 1325 AE (Ascension's Edge, the calendar established after the human gods' exodus from Tyria), approximately 250 years after the conclusion of the original Guild Wars campaigns, which ended with the defeat of the Great Destroyer—a colossal champion of the Elder Dragon Primordus—in the northern expanse known as the Eye of the North.^[67] This intervening period, spanning from roughly 1075 AE to 1325 AE, witnessed profound upheavals that reshaped Tyria: the charr legions consolidated power after their victory over human kingdoms, asura society advanced through golem technology and portal magic, norn clans migrated southward from the far north, sylvari emerged as a nascent plant-based race from the Pale Tree around 1219 AE, and catastrophic events like the Great Tsunami of 1175 AE submerged the kingdom of Orr while Elder Dragons stirred from millennia-long slumbers, corrupting lands and spawning destructive minions.^[68] These developments fostered tentative alliances among the five primary races—humans, charr, norn, asura, and sylvari—culminating in the formation of the Pact, a formidable military alliance dedicated to confronting the Elder Dragons directly. Key factions define the geopolitical and defensive landscape of Tyria, reflecting both cooperation and conflict in this era of uncertainty. The Pact, established as a united front against draconic incursions, integrates the expertise of three longstanding orders: the scholarly Durmand Priory, focused on historical knowledge and artifact recovery; the secretive Order of Whispers, specializing in espionage and sabotage; and the militant Vigil, emphasizing frontline warfare and rapid response. Allied with these are remnants of the Deldrimor dwarves, an ancient subterranean race whose stone-summoning warriors continue to guard key strongholds like the Depths of Tyria despite heavy losses in prior conflicts. Opposing these groups are antagonistic organizations such as the White Mantle, a fanatical human cult revering enigmatic "Unseen Gods" and pursuing authoritarian control in the kingdom of Kryta, and the Inquest, a rogue asura faction notorious for unethical experiments and exploitation of forbidden technologies that endanger all of Tyria.^[68] Tyria's lore incorporates multiverse elements, drawing from realms beyond the mortal plane known as the Mists, which connect infinite realities and serve as the origin point for influential entities. The Six Human Gods—Dwayna (goddess of life and healing), Balthazar (god of war and fire), Melandru (goddess of nature and earth), Lyssa (goddess of beauty and illusion), Grenth (god of death and ice), and Kormir (goddess of truth and order)—are divine beings who led humanity from a distant, war-torn world through the Mists to Tyria over a thousand years ago, granting the races magic via bloodstones and shaping human society through their temples and doctrines before departing in the Exodus around 1 AE. Ancient races like the Jotun, colossal giants who once wielded blood magic to forge the bloodstones and maintain magical equilibrium across Tyria millennia ago, and the Mursaat, elusive jade-skinned sorcerers hidden in southern wilds and known for their crystalline armor and doorways into the Mists, represent pre-human civilizations whose legacies influence current events, from magical artifacts to lingering curses.^[68] In this post-prophecy era, following the fulfillment of the Flameseeker Prophecies in the original Guild Wars that averted total annihilation, Tyria's narrative shifts from predestined saviors to collective heroism, empowering players as versatile adventurers whose personal choices and alliances shape the world's defense without reliance on a singular chosen hero.

The Elder Dragon Saga

The Elder Dragon Saga forms the central narrative arc of Guild Wars 2, spanning from the base game's launch in 1325 AE through the End of Dragons expansion in 1335 AE, revolving around the awakening and successive defeats of the Elder Dragons—ancient entities that consume magic and corrupt Tyria's lands. This saga emphasizes the player's role as the Commander of the Pact, an alliance forged to unite Tyria's races against these cataclysmic threats, highlighting themes of cooperation, sacrifice, and the precarious balance of magic. In the base game's personal story, set amid the chaos of Zhaitan's awakening in Orr, the player emerges as a local hero whose personal quest intersects with the broader crisis of the Elder Dragon's undead legions overrunning the continent.^[14] As Orr's corruption spreads, the player joins forces with the three great orders—the scholarly Durmand Priory, the stealthy Order of Whispers, and the militant Vigil—to form the Pact under the sylvari marshal Trahearne, creating a unified front across races and creeds. The campaign escalates through reconnaissance, alliances with ancient ghosts in Orr, and the reclamation of the lost city of Arah, culminating in the siege of Zhaitan's stronghold at the Cathedral of Glorious Victory; aboard the Pact's airship fleet, the Commander mortally wounds Zhaitan, causing the dragon to plummet into the sea and shattering its hold over the Risen, thereby liberating Orr and solidifying the Pact's legacy as Tyria's defenders. Three years later, in Heart of Thorns (1328 AE), the Pact's expedition into the uncharted Heart of Maguuma jungle encounters the awakening of Mordremoth, the jungle dragon whose vines and mordrem minions overrun the canopy, downing the airship fleet and decimating the alliance. Survivors, including the Commander, reconstruct the Pact with aid from the indigenous Nuhoch tribe and sylvari allies, uncovering Mordremoth's psychic influence that manipulates minds and spawns twisted creations from living beings. The story unfolds through tense alliances with outcasts like the Pale Tree's firstborn Canach and the asura inventor Scarlet's lingering echoes, leading to the Dragon's Stand—a massive ritual circle where the Commander, empowered by dragon energy, severs Mordremoth's link to its host, the sylvari dragon champion, and destroys the Elder Dragon by channeling its own magic back upon it, though at great cost to the Pact's leadership. The saga intensifies in Path of Fire (1330 AE), as the branded torment of the crystal dragon Kralkatorrik spreads across the Crystal Desert, but the plot pivots with the betrayal of Balthazar, the human god of war, who allies with the Forged legions to invade Elona and harvest dragon magic to challenge the other Elder Dragons. Exiled from the pantheon, Balthazar's campaign ravages Elona, forcing the Commander to rally desert tribes, renegade gods like the exiled Kormir, and old allies like the djinn to counter the invasion; en route to the lost city of Vabbi, the group forges dragon banners—artifacts infused with residual Elder Dragon essences—to weaken Kralkatorrik's crystal shell. The confrontation unfolds in the Elon Riverlands, where the Commander defeats Balthazar in a duel atop his war machine, absorbs his power to slay the tormented dragon Vlast, and ultimately pierces Kralkatorrik's armor in a high-stakes aerial battle, driving the dragon into hiding while unleashing waves of branded minions across Tyria. In The Icebrood Saga (Living World Season 5, 1332 AE), Jormag—the ice dragon who awakens during the saga and manipulates whispers of doubt among the norn—poses a growing threat in the Far Shiverpeaks, while Primordus, the destroyer lord, surges from volcanic depths later in the arc. The Commander, grappling with leadership strains in the fractured Pact, navigates tense negotiations with charr legions and kodan tribes, uncovering Jormag's schemes to corrupt heroes like the Sons of Svanir and Primordus's mindless destroyer hordes; key events include the siege of Bjora Marches, where ghostly visions test loyalties, and the brutal clashes in the northern tundras. The ancient rivals ultimately clash in a destructive confrontation, mutually annihilating each other and concluding their threats. Aurene, the juvenile crystalline dragon and heir to Kralkatorrik's legacy, matures through these trials, absorbing destructive energies and forging bonds with the Commander, setting the stage for her pivotal role amid the escalating dragon conflicts.^[69] The cycle reaches its climax in End of Dragons (1335 AE), drawing the Commander to the isolated empire of Cantha, long sealed after the last dragon war, where the Elder Dragon Soo-Won—guardian of water magic—emerges not as a destroyer but as a tormented entity driven by the cycle's imbalance to spawn destructive saltwater aberrations. Amid political intrigue in the Ministry of Security and alliances with rebels like the Jade Hand, the story reveals the dragons' role in regulating Tyria's leylines, corrupted over millennia; Soo-Won's rampage floods Cantha's jade tech infrastructure, forcing a desperate voyage through the Dragon's Blood Legion and the Ministry of Purity's remnants. In a transformative finale at the Dragon's Heart, Aurene sacrifices to absorb Soo-Won's torment essence, becoming the new cycle's balancer by consuming excess magic without corruption, thereby ending the Elder Dragons' destructive reign and ushering a fragile era of magical equilibrium for Tyria.

Post-Elder Dragon storyline

Following the conclusion of the Elder Dragon cycle, the storyline of Guild Wars 2 shifts to a new era of threats emerging in a dragonless Tyria, emphasizing demonic incursions, arcane instabilities, and resurgent factions like the Inquest.^[70] Players, as the Pact Commander, lead investigations into these perils, forging alliances amid a world grappling with unbalanced magic.^[71] In Secrets of the Obscure (circa 1336 AE), the narrative centers on an invasion by the Kryptis, demonic entities from the realm of Nayos, who breach Tyria through unstable rifts in reality.^[71] These invaders target the hidden Wizard's Tower and the celestial sanctuary of Amnytas, prompting the Commander to join the Astral Ward—a coalition of mages dedicated to protecting Tyria from otherworldly dangers—in mounting a defense.^[71] The story unfolds across acts involving rift closures, demon hunts, and confrontations with Kryptis leaders, culminating in efforts to seal the portals and restore stability to the skies above the Domain of Istan.^[71] The saga continues in Janthir Wilds (circa 1337 AE), where the Commander travels to the remote Janthir Isles to address growing magical anomalies and establish diplomatic ties with isolated inhabitants, such as the lowland kodan clans.^[72] Conflicts arise with the Wizard's Court, a secretive council led by the ancient wizard Isgarren, whose past experiments with the World Spire—a fractured magical conduit—have exacerbated rifts and drawn Kryptis incursions.^[72] The plot explores botched arcane rituals on islands like Syntri, tied to historical tragedies involving groups like the White Mantle, forcing players to navigate betrayals, contain magical fallout, and broker uneasy pacts to prevent further catastrophe.^[72] Visions of Eternity (circa 1338 AE) escalates the intrigue with a pursuit of the Inquest, the asura's ruthless scientific faction, whose covert expeditions target the enigmatic, cursed island of Castora—a long-rumored land shrouded in mists and potent magical energies.^[73] The Commander uncovers the Inquest's operations aimed at harnessing ancient visions and artifacts on Castora, leading to explorations of its wild, creature-infested regions and efforts to thwart their schemes through player-driven quests.^[73] Central to the resolution is the forging of new legendary items, including weapons and accessories infused with Castora's essence, which players craft to disrupt the Inquest's reality-warping experiments and avert prophetic threats.^[73] Interwoven throughout these expansions are episodic Living World updates, functioning as bridging chapters that depict Tyria's gradual recovery from magical fractures.^[70] These installments emphasize player-led investigations into lingering anomalies, such as unstable ley lines and emerging cults, while fostering new alliances among Tyrian races and factions like the Astral Ward.^[70] For instance, post-expansion episodes explore diplomatic summits and joint operations to monitor interdimensional weaknesses, highlighting themes of collective resilience.^[72] Overarching the post-Elder Dragon narrative are motifs of fractured magic—stemming from disrupted global balances—and the Commander's role in proactive, investigative storytelling, where choices shape alliances and uncover hidden lore without the overshadowing dominance of ancient titans.^[70] This era underscores Tyria's vulnerability to internal and extraplanar threats, promoting exploration of arcane mysteries through grounded, character-driven plots.^[73]

Development

Pre-release development

ArenaNet, a subsidiary of the South Korean video game publisher NCsoft acquired in 2002, initiated development on Guild Wars 2 in mid-2006 as a direct sequel to the 2005 MMORPG Guild Wars. The studio, founded in 2000 by former Blizzard Entertainment employees Mike O'Brien, Patrick Wyatt, and Jeff Strain in Bellevue, Washington, aimed to expand on the original game's box-price model by eliminating any subscription fees while introducing innovative multiplayer features. Guild Wars 2 was formally announced on March 27, 2007, during a press event where ArenaNet revealed its focus on a persistent open world and player-driven storytelling, with anticipated beta testing in late 2008. However, development extended beyond initial timelines due to ambitious scope changes, leading to a more detailed public unveiling at Gamescom in August 2009, complete with the first cinematic trailer showcasing the game's fantasy setting in Tyria.^[74]^[75]^[76] Under the leadership of president Mike O'Brien and lead designer Isaiah Cartwright, the team emphasized core design goals centered on accessibility and immersion, including the creation of dynamic events—spontaneous, scalable world activities that replace static quests to foster organic player cooperation. These events were intended to support groups of up to 50 players or more, promoting seamless transitions between solo and group play without requiring formal parties. Cartwright, who joined ArenaNet in 2004 after working on Asheron's Call 2, played a pivotal role in system design, particularly in balancing combat and social features to avoid grindy progression typical of contemporary MMORPGs. The no-subscription model was a deliberate continuation of Guild Wars' commercial success, allowing players to purchase expansions for ongoing content while keeping the base game free-to-play post-launch.^[77]^[78]^[79] Guild Wars 2's technology built upon a heavily modified version of the proprietary engine originally developed for the first Guild Wars, with significant upgrades to handle larger player densities and more complex environmental interactions. Known internally as an evolution of the original codebase, the engine was optimized for scalability to accommodate dynamic events involving dozens of players simultaneously, as well as persistent world changes driven by collective actions. This focus enabled features like seamless zone transitions and real-time event scaling, distinguishing it from quest-hub structures in rival titles. Development involved around 140 full-time staff by 2007, growing as the project matured.^[80]^[81] Closed beta testing commenced on December 16, 2011, initially limited to invited participants and internal testers to evaluate core mechanics. This phase expanded into public beta weekends starting April 27, 2012, allowing pre-purchase owners to access select zones and professions for hands-on play. Subsequent events in May, June, and July provided iterative feedback on elements like action-oriented combat, underwater gameplay, and open-world navigation, prompting adjustments such as refined user interface elements and balance tweaks to profession abilities before the August 28, 2012, launch. ArenaNet incorporated player input from these betas to polish dynamic event flow and server stability, ensuring the final product aligned with the vision of a reactive, subscription-free MMORPG.^[82]

Post-launch development

Following the launch of Guild Wars 2 in 2012, ArenaNet implemented the Living World system in 2013 as a series of free, seasonal updates designed to deliver ongoing story content, dynamic world events, and permanent changes to the game's environment. These biweekly releases emphasized narrative progression through episodic arcs, accompanied by rewards such as achievement points, map completion incentives, and cosmetic items, fostering a sense of continual evolution without requiring paid expansions.^[83]^[84] Balance updates have formed a core component of post-launch maintenance, with regular patches addressing profession mechanics, skill viability, and overall gameplay equilibrium across PvE, PvP, and WvW modes. Notable changes include comprehensive profession reworks to enhance build diversity and the 2017 introduction of trait splits, which allowed certain traits to have mode-specific effects—such as increased potency in PvE while maintaining balance in competitive modes—to better tailor experiences without compromising core functionality.^[85]^[86] Loot systems also received iterative overhauls during this period, including adjustments to drop tables and reward structures to improve accessibility and reduce grind, ensuring more equitable progression for free-to-play players.^[87] Key feature additions expanded mobility and exploration options, with gliding mechanics introduced in 2015 via Heart of Thorns, enabling controlled descent from heights with mastery progression for advanced techniques like updraft utilization. The 2017 rollout of mounts like the raptor and skimmer in Path of Fire introduced specialized traversal abilities such as jumping and water gliding usable across Tyria. The skyscale mount, introduced in 2019 via Living World Season 4's "War Eternal" episode, further enhanced vertical mobility with full flight capabilities, including rift navigation and combat skills, unlocked through story-integrated collections.^[88]^[25]^[89] To support community engagement, ArenaNet expanded the official API starting in 2013, providing developers with structured access to account data, item details, and world events to enable third-party tools like overlay trackers and build planners, provided they adhere to usage policies prohibiting unfair advantages. Anti-cheat measures have been enforced through periodic ban waves, such as the 2018 initiative targeting over 1,500 accounts using prohibited software, with ongoing monitoring to maintain fair play while allowing benign utilities at players' own risk. In April 2018, ArenaNet faced internal controversy when two developers were fired following heated social media exchanges with a streamer, highlighting tensions in community relations during ban wave discussions.^[90]^[91]^[92]^[93]

Expansion development

The development of Guild Wars 2's expansions has been characterized by ArenaNet's iterative approach to enhancing core gameplay systems while introducing new regions, mechanics, and narrative elements, often in response to player feedback and technological advancements. Each expansion builds on the previous ones, focusing on paid content that expands the world of Tyria without requiring a level cap increase after the initial shift away from traditional vertical progression. The studio has navigated challenges including leadership changes, such as Mike O'Brien's departure as president in 2019, and significant layoffs in 2023–2024 affecting around 200 employees amid NCsoft's corporate restructuring, which impacted timelines for later expansions.^[94] Heart of Thorns, released in October 2015, marked ArenaNet's first major expansion and emphasized a return to structured progression after the base game's horizontal focus. Developers introduced elite specializations for each profession, allowing players to unlock advanced skill sets that complemented existing builds without replacing them, as explained by game director Colin Johanson in a 2015 interview.^[95] The expansion also pioneered raids as a new endgame challenge, designed to foster coordinated group play with unique encounters in the Heart of Maguuma jungle, addressing community demands for more hardcore content.^[95] However, the project's scope led to delays; initially teased in late 2014, full development ramped up in early 2015, pushing the release from a summer target to October to ensure polish on the new mastery system and vertical gear progression elements like legendary backpieces. Path of Fire, launched in September 2017, shifted emphasis toward exploration and mobility, responding to feedback on traversal limitations in prior content. ArenaNet overhauled the mastery system to include mounts such as the raptor and skimmer, which integrated seamlessly with environmental challenges in the desert region of Elona, promoting a sense of discovery over linear quests. Development prioritized narrative-driven map design, drawing from the original Guild Wars lore, with the team expanding on mount mechanics to reduce frustration in open-world navigation, as detailed in official design notes.^[88] End of Dragons, released in February 2022, represented a culmination of the Elder Dragon storyline and introduced quality-of-life features to deepen player investment. The return to the continent of Cantha after nearly two decades involved extensive world-building, with developers focusing on cultural authenticity and vertical cityscapes in Kaineng. Innovations included fishing as a new gathering profession and expanded housing options in personal instances, aimed at providing relaxing, non-combat activities amid the expansion's high-stakes plot closure on the dragon cycle. Production challenged the team to balance narrative resolution with mechanical evolution, incorporating player-voted story elements from prior living world seasons. Secrets of the Obscure, arriving in August 2023, pivoted the lore toward demonic threats in the Wizard's Tower, while upgrading the game's underlying technology. ArenaNet implemented a 64-bit client to resolve long-standing performance issues from the 32-bit engine, enabling more complex visuals and larger encounters without crashes. Strike missions were introduced as accessible, shorter-form group content bridging raids and open-world events, developed to appeal to a broader audience seeking variety in endgame activities. The expansion's development was affected by ongoing layoffs at ArenaNet in late 2023. Janthir Wilds, released in August 2024, emphasized cooperative and competitive innovations alongside quality-of-life expansions. Developers expanded the legendary armory to include more customizable gear progression and established the Wizard's Tower as a central hub for mastery training, drawing from community suggestions for better accessibility. The expansion's development occurred amid further staff reductions in 2024, influencing a focus on streamlined content delivery. Visions of Eternity, launched on October 28, 2025, revitalized underutilized aspects of the game while advancing the post-dragon narrative. ArenaNet revamped underwater combat with new fluid dynamics, oxygen management, and aquatic mounts to make it a viable exploration pillar rather than a niche feature. New housing districts on the magic-warped island of Castora offered customizable underwater and surface abodes, integrating with the expansion's focus on Inquest experiments as the primary antagonists, which drove technological and ethical themes in development.^[96] The team addressed scope challenges by prioritizing modular content releases throughout 2026, ensuring ongoing support post-launch.^[97]

Release history

Initial release

Guild Wars 2 was released on August 28, 2012, for Microsoft Windows and macOS platforms.^[3]^[98] The game adopted a buy-to-play model with an upfront purchase price of $59.99 for the standard edition, without requiring a monthly subscription, supplemented by optional microtransactions for cosmetic items and convenience features.^[99]^[100] Marketing efforts for the initial release included multiple cinematic trailers showcased at events like E3, building anticipation through dramatic storytelling and gameplay previews.^[101] Pre-purchase options, available from April 2012, offered editions such as the standard, digital deluxe, and collector's, granting buyers early beta access weekends and a three-day head start before the official launch.^[102] These betas allowed players to test core mechanics in selected areas, fostering community engagement ahead of release. Upon launch, the game experienced server stability challenges, including long login queues on popular worlds due to high player influx, which ArenaNet addressed by adding capacity and implementing queue management systems within the first week.^[103] Initial post-launch patches focused on resolving bugs in personal story instances, event chains, and user interface elements, with the first major update on September 25, 2012, fixing issues in multiple story steps and improving overall balance for professions.^[104]^[105] The base game at launch featured the core Tyria region, encompassing starting maps for the five playable races—such as Queensdale for humans and Metrica Province for asura—along with central regions like Kessex Hills, Brisban Wildlands, and the Orr areas. Players could progress through the personal story's eight chapters, spanning levels 10 to 80, which intertwined individual character backstories with the broader narrative against the Elder Dragons.^[14]

Expansions and updates

Following the base game's launch, Guild Wars 2 received its first major post-launch content update with Living World Season 1, released episodically from January 28, 2013, to March 18, 2014. This season introduced Scarlet Briar as the primary antagonist, whose invasions across Tyria culminated in clockwork chaos, including the destruction and reclamation of Lion's Arch through automated mechanical forces and alliances against her schemes.^[106]^[107] The first full expansion, Heart of Thorns, launched on October 23, 2015, expanding into the Maguuma Jungle with new raid encounters designed for coordinated group challenges and elite specializations that allowed players to further customize their professions beyond the base game's options.^[108] Path of Fire followed on September 22, 2017, taking players to the desert regions of Elona and introducing dynamic mounts such as the raptor and skyscale, alongside large-scale meta events in arid landscapes that emphasized exploration and cooperative world bosses.^[109]^[110] Living World Season 4 unfolded from November 28, 2017, to May 28, 2019, featuring the rise of the Crystal Bloom faction and a continent-spanning hunt for the Elder Dragon Kralkatorrik, with episodes introducing crystalline landscapes and story-driven alliances.^[111] End of Dragons arrived on February 28, 2022, returning to the continent of Cantha and incorporating jade technology as a core element of its narrative and mechanics, while concluding the storyline arc of the Elder Dragon cycle through naval combat and alliances against Soo-Won.^[112]^[113] Secrets of the Obscure released on August 22, 2023, opening portals to the demonic realm of Nayos and centering on alliances with the wizardly inhabitants of the Eye of the North, including new mastery tracks for magical experimentation and confrontations with Kryptis forces.^[71] Janthir Wilds launched on August 20, 2024, focusing on isle-hopping across the archipelago of Janthir and encounters with magical beasts, introducing homesteads for player housing and new legendary weapons tied to the region's mystical wildlife.^[114]^[115] The sixth expansion, Visions of Eternity, debuted on October 28, 2025, set amid the seas surrounding the magical island of Castora and involving plots by the Inquest to harness ancient powers, with enhancements to skimmer mounts and new elite specializations for each profession.^[9]^[116] Looking ahead, a major update planned for early 2026 will merge raids and strike missions into a unified endgame mode, streamlining access to group challenges while preserving their core mechanics.^[117]

Platform expansions

ArenaNet discontinued official support for the macOS client of Guild Wars 2 on February 18, 2021, citing challenges with Apple's deprecation of OpenGL and the technical difficulties in transitioning to Metal, the company's preferred graphics API. This decision affected players using native Mac hardware, though workarounds like running the Windows version through compatibility layers or cloud services became available for continued access.^[118] To enhance performance beyond the original DirectX 9 renderer, Guild Wars 2 added official DirectX 11 support in November 2021, which improved frame rates and reduced stuttering, particularly on modern hardware.^[119] Community-driven adoption of Vulkan rendering began gaining traction around 2019 through tools like DXVK, which translates DirectX calls to Vulkan for better GPU utilization, especially on AMD cards and Linux systems; this player-side enhancement significantly boosted performance in crowded areas like World vs. World battles without requiring official updates.^[120] Guild Wars 2 launched on Steam on August 23, 2022, as part of the game's tenth anniversary celebrations, allowing new and existing players to access the title directly through the platform.^[121] This integration provided seamless compatibility with Steam features, including the overlay for screenshots and voice chat, easy friend invitations, and community tools, while maintaining the game's native achievement system rather than adopting Steam-specific ones.^[2] It also simplified access to third-party addons like the ArcDPS combat log, as Steam's library management and update system streamlined installations for modders and power users.^[122] Controller support remains unofficial but has seen enhancements through Steam Input since the 2022 launch, enabling partial mapping for movement, skills, and menus to facilitate couch co-op play on devices like the Steam Deck.^[123] Community configurations, updated iteratively from 2020 onward via tools like reWASD and Steam's big picture mode, allow viable gameplay in most modes, though complex UI elements like inventory management require hybrid keyboard use.^[124] As of November 2025, no official mobile ports or cross-play features across platforms have been announced or implemented for Guild Wars 2, despite occasional community speculation.^[125] However, cloud gaming compatibility was established with NVIDIA GeForce Now in March 2022, enabling high-quality streaming on various devices without local hardware limitations, including support for the full game and expansions.^[126]

Reception

Critical reception

Upon its release in 2012, Guild Wars 2 received universal acclaim from critics, earning a Metacritic score of 90/100 based on 69 reviews.^[127] Reviewers widely praised the game's innovative combat system, which emphasized action-oriented, hybrid mechanics over traditional tab-targeting, and its dynamic world events that encouraged spontaneous player cooperation without reliance on quest hubs.^[128] However, some criticized the personal story pacing as uneven, with early chapters feeling rushed compared to the expansive open world.^[128] The first expansion, Heart of Thorns (2015), garnered generally favorable reviews with a Metacritic score of 81/100 from 22 critics.^[129] It was lauded for introducing challenging endgame raids that added depth to group content and for its vertical map design enhancing exploration, but faced mixed reception due to the grindy mastery progression system requiring significant time investment for horizontal unlocks.^[130] Path of Fire (2017) improved upon this, achieving an 83/100 on Metacritic from 13 reviews, with strong praise for the introduction of mounts that revolutionized traversal and exploration across diverse biomes.^[131] Critics highlighted the expansion's engaging central story and elite specializations that refreshed character builds.^[132] End of Dragons (2022) continued the positive trend, scoring 81/100 on Metacritic from 12 critics.^[133] It was commended for providing narrative closure to the Elder Dragon saga and for the visually stunning return to the Cantha region, though some noted technical issues at launch. Secrets of the Obscure (2023) lacked aggregated Metacritic critic scores but received positive coverage from outlets like Skill Up, which appreciated the fresh lore involving demonic threats and new wizard-themed masteries, despite initial bugs affecting stability.^[134] Janthir Wilds (2024) earned mixed but generally favorable notices, with Skill Up strongly recommending it for the innovative ally system allowing companion summoning in combat and vibrant, nature-focused maps reminiscent of the base game's charm.^[135] The most recent expansion, Visions of Eternity (2025), launched to strong early reviews, with Skill Up again praising its deep story exploring magical anomalies on the island of Castora and innovative underwater combat mechanics that expanded environmental interactions.^[136] Critics have consistently highlighted Guild Wars 2's free seasonal updates as a key strength, sustaining the game's relevance through ongoing story chapters and balance changes without mandatory purchases, a model that sets it apart in the MMO genre.^[137]

Commercial performance

Guild Wars 2 achieved significant commercial success upon its launch, selling over two million copies worldwide within the first two weeks.^[138] By its first anniversary in August 2013, the game had sold more than 3.5 million copies and reached a peak of over 460,000 concurrent players.^[139] The base game continued to perform strongly, surpassing five million copies sold by August 2015, at which point ArenaNet transitioned it to a free-to-play model to broaden accessibility.^[140] The free-to-play structure, combined with optional expansions and the Gem Store for cosmetic and convenience items, has sustained long-term revenue primarily through microtransactions rather than subscriptions. NCSoft, ArenaNet's parent company, reported cumulative revenue exceeding 1.4 trillion South Korean won (approximately $1 billion USD) for the Guild Wars franchise, including Guild Wars 2, as of April 2024.^[141] This model funds ongoing free content updates, contrasting with subscription-based MMORPGs like World of Warcraft, and has enabled Guild Wars 2 to amass over 16 million player accounts by 2022.^[121]^[142] Expansions have driven key revenue spikes. Heart of Thorns (2015) launched alongside the milestone of seven million total accounts for the game. Path of Fire (2017) and End of Dragons (2022) similarly boosted quarterly earnings, with NCSoft noting strong performance tied to these releases. The latest expansion, Visions of Eternity (October 2025), contributed to renewed interest, with NCsoft's Q3 2025 earnings report (as of November 2025) highlighting "solid results" for Guild Wars 2, maintaining steady daily active players estimated at 300,000 to 500,000 in late 2025.^[143]^[144]^[145] Overall, the subscription-free approach has proven effective for sustained engagement and monetization, supporting over a decade of development without mandatory fees.^[142]

Community and legacy

The Guild Wars 2 community thrives through various online hubs that facilitate discussion, resource sharing, and player collaboration. The official forums, hosted by ArenaNet, serve as a central platform for technical support, news announcements, and community events, with sections dedicated to game discussions, guild recruitment, and profession-specific advice.^[146] Complementing this, the subreddit r/Guildwars2 acts as the primary Reddit community, boasting over 300,000 members as of 2025 and hosting daily threads on gameplay strategies, expansion feedback, and fan art.^[147] Fan-maintained sites like the Guild Wars 2 Wiki (GW2W) provide comprehensive, player-edited references for lore, mechanics, and event timers, with ongoing contributions ensuring up-to-date coverage of the game's evolving content.^[148] The game's competitive scene centers on player-versus-player (PvP) leagues and World versus World (WvW) tournaments, fostering organized esports activities. Structured PvP features ranked seasons and tournaments through platforms like ESL, where regional leagues have historically offered substantial prizes, such as the $400,000 USD distributed across North American and European teams in the Pro League's two-season format.^[149] WvW events, emphasizing large-scale guild battles, include community-run tournaments like the Tournament of Legends, which in 2025 drew hundreds of participants for bi-annual competitions with in-game prizes including gems, legendary items, and titles.^[150] Modding and third-party tools enhance player experience, supported by ArenaNet's official API. ArcDPS, a widely used combat metrics tool, logs damage and healing data without altering gameplay, though ArenaNet does not officially endorse it but permits its use as long as it adheres to terms of service.^[151] GW2Efficiency, an ArenaNet partner, leverages the game's API to offer inventory management, achievement tracking, and raid planning features, requiring users to generate API keys via the official developer portal for secure access.^[152]^[153] This API support enables a ecosystem of tolerated add-ons, promoting transparency in group content without compromising the core game integrity. Guild Wars 2's legacy endures as a benchmark for live-service MMOs, with over 13 years of continuous updates since its 2012 launch, including annual expansions and balance patches that sustain player engagement without mandatory subscriptions.^[154] Its innovative dynamic events system, which spawns spontaneous, scalable world activities with branching outcomes, has influenced subsequent titles; for instance, Destiny 2's public events echo this model by encouraging uncoordinated group participation in open-world encounters.^[11] This approach to emergent storytelling and horizontal progression sets a standard for longevity in the genre, as evidenced by the game's active player base and developer commitments through 2025.^[155] Fan-driven content enriches the game's cultural footprint, including cosplay at conventions and community lore expansions through fan fiction and artwork shared on hubs like Reddit. Charity initiatives further highlight this engagement, with ArenaNet's annual Extra Life participation in 2025 featuring a donation bundle of in-game items like Karma Boosters and the Mini Guardian Angel Blish, alongside a 24-hour developer livestream aiming to raise funds for children's hospitals, matched up to $25,000 by the studio.^[156]^[157]^[158]

References

[1]
The Game – GuildWars2.com
Guild Wars 2 is an online role-playing game with fast-paced action combat, a rich and detailed universe of stories, awe-inspiring landscapes to exploreProfessions · The Races of Tyria · Releases · Combat
[2]
Guild Wars 2 on Steam
Rating 4.5 (15,599) · 14-day returnsGuild Wars 2 is an award-winning online roleplaying game with fast ... Release Date: Aug 23, 2022. READ MORE. Is this game relevant to you? Sign in ...
[3]
Announcing the Guild Wars 2 Launch Date – GuildWars2.com
Jun 28, 2012 · Guild Wars 2 will officially launch on Tuesday, August 28th! This is an incredibly momentous day for the studio and for me personally.
[4]
Guild Wars 2 | Play for Free | MMORPG
Guild Wars 2: Visions of Eternity launches today! A legendary adventure on the island of Castora awaits.Game · Shop · News · Forums
[5]
Combat – GuildWars2.com
Combat in Guild Wars 2 is flexible, fast paced, and dynamic. Every profession is versatile, with an arsenal of skills and powers at their command. As you ...
[6]
Guild Wars 2 Tops Over 1.3 Million Player Guilds as ArenaNet ...
Aug 26, 2022 · The total number of in-game player guilds has eclipsed 1.3 million, and they've completed over 3.6 billion dynamic events across ten years.
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Path of Fire - Guild Wars 2
Guild Wars 2: Path of Fire™ is the second expansion for the award-winning game, Guild Wars 2. As the balance of magic comes undone, lead your allies in the hunt ...Expansions 1 & 2 · FAQ · More Path of Fire News
[8]
Guild Wars 2 | End of Dragons, Third Expansion to the Award ...
Mar 2, 2022 · “End of Dragons represents a multi-year expression of passion, talent, and creativity from the entire team at ArenaNet and NCSOFT,” said Amy Liu ...
[9]
Announcing Guild Wars 2: Visions of Eternity – GuildWars2.com
Jul 15, 2025 · Guild Wars 2: Visions of Eternity launches on October 28, 2025, and, like the previous two expansions, will bring with it a year of story chapters and three ...Missing: developer | Show results with:developer
[10]
Guild Wars 2 Wins Multiple Game of The Year Awards - NCSOFT
Dec 27, 2022 · Read on to learn what awards Guild Wars 2 has won this year as well as reasons behind the players' choice!
[11]
Dynamic Events – GuildWars2.com
In Guild Wars 2, your choices have an impact on the world around you. Instead of a traditional questing system, each area has its own unique dynamic events that ...
[12]
Explore the World of Guild Wars 2 – GuildWars2.com
Sep 21, 2021 · Guild Wars 2's open world is meant to be explored! Nearly everything you can do in explorable zones—from killing enemies to harvesting ...
[13]
Introduction to Mounts in Guild Wars 2 – GuildWars2.com
Jul 6, 2022 · To unlock the raptor in Guild Wars 2: Path of Fire, just complete the first chapter of the main story, “Sparking the Flame.” You'll be given ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[14]
Personal Story – GuildWars2.com
Featured Video. Guild Wars 2 Personal Story Overview. Guild Wars 2's story begins when you create your first character. You ...
[15]
Combat - Guild Wars 2 Wiki (GW2W)
Key combat mechanics include targeting and using skills, weapon swapping, avoiding attacks by dodging or blocking, and skill combos. Instead of immediately ...
[16]
https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Targeting
[17]
Combo - Guild Wars 2 Wiki (GW2W)
### Summary of Combo Fields and Finishers in Guild Wars 2 Combat
[18]
Underwater mode - Guild Wars 2 Wiki (GW2W)
Access to aquatic weapons and underwater combat is unlocked at level 8. Underwater combat occurs much in the same manner as land-based combat except with ...Equipment · Aquatic weapons · Combat · Drowning state
[19]
https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Aquatic_weapon
[20]
Downed - Guild Wars 2 Wiki (GW2W)
When a character is downed, they fall to the ground and are unable to move, but gain triple their base health and a chance to fight to survive.
[21]
Rally - Guild Wars 2 Wiki (GW2W)
Rally is one of the ways a player can recover from downed state. Players can rally by gaining credit for killing a foe which grants experience.
[22]
https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Revival
[23]
New Player Guide - Guild Wars 2
During your first 20 levels in Guild Wars 2, you'll learn how to control your character, get comfortable moving around the world, and start discovering your ...Part 2 · Part 3 · Part 4
[24]
Guild Wars 2 - ArenaNet
Guild Wars 2 features a vast, ever-changing world, fast-paced combat, detailed character customization, and no fee to play. It has three campaigns and an ...Missing: core mechanics
[25]
The Mastery System - Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns
Progressing in the Mastery system requires both time and expertise; you'll train a given Mastery by killing enemies, completing events, and doing other ...Guild Wars 2: Heart Of... · The Legendary Journey · Points Of InterestMissing: traits | Show results with:traits
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Elite Specializations Are Back: Mesmer, Ranger, and Guardian
Jul 23, 2025 · Elite Specializations Are Back: Mesmer, Ranger, and Guardian. by The Guild Wars 2 Team on July 23, 2025 ...
[27]
Linsey Murdock Unveils New High End Ascended Gear - Guild Wars 2
Nov 13, 2012 · In November, we'll introduce Offensive, Defensive, and Omni Infusions of Fine rarity from new Mystic Forge recipes. Infusion upgrade types must ...
[28]
Legendary equipment - Guild Wars 2 Wiki (GW2W)
Legendary weapons could not swap infusions nor sigils until October 30th, 2018. It is possible to create more than one of any legendary weapon, armor piece, ...Legendary weapon · Legendary back item · Legendary armor · Legendary trinket
[29]
Meta event - Guild Wars 2 Wiki (GW2W)
... Guild Wars 2 Wiki · Disclaimers · Guild Wars 2 Wiki. Search ... A meta event (often referred to as just 'meta') is a series of dynamic events that tells the story ...
[30]
World boss - Guild Wars 2 Wiki (GW2W)
... Guild Wars 2 Wiki · Disclaimers · Guild Wars 2 Wiki. Search. World boss. Page ... World boss events attract many players and are a good way to earn various ...Shadow Behemoth · Megadestroyer · The Shatterer · World Boss Rush
[31]
Dungeon - Guild Wars 2 Wiki (GW2W)
There are eight dungeons in the game. Dungeon locations in Guild Wars 2. Mail.png.Tale of Dungeon Delving · Dungeon Merchant · Ascalonian Catacombs
[32]
Leah Rivera on the New Fractals of the Mist Dungeon - Guild Wars 2
Nov 14, 2012 · This dungeon is unlike anything you've played in Guild Wars 2. It's built of an array of mini-dungeons, which we call fractals.
[33]
Raids in Guild Wars 2 – GuildWars2.com
Aug 29, 2015 · What Are Raids in Guild Wars 2? Raids are 10-player, instanced content that will introduce very challenging bosses, epic encounters, and more!
[34]
End of Dragons Strike Missions – GuildWars2.com - Guild Wars 2
Oct 27, 2021 · Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons is on the horizon, bringing with it a series of new Strike Missions that aim to provide accessible, challenging combat experiences ...
[35]
Structured Player vs. Player: The Iceberg – GuildWars2.com
Oct 8, 2012 · Custom arenas are special PvP maps, rented by players, that will allow you to set up passwords, host scrims, and test strategies with your team.
[36]
World vs. World Updates Are Live – GuildWars2.com
Jun 6, 2017 · World vs. World updates include a new skirmishing UI, rewards, and an improved LFG system. There is also a Guild Chat about the updates.<|separator|>
[37]
Welcome to Guild Halls – GuildWars2.com
Jun 17, 2015 · In this post, we'll tell you about the guiding lights of the guild halls system and introduce the guild halls we'll be adding in Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns.
[38]
World vs. World Update: June 2022 – GuildWars2.com
Jun 24, 2022 · WvW rewards will scale with enemy interaction. A new weapon set is in development. Queue bug fixes are ongoing, with a new beta test planned. ...
[39]
Crafting - Guild Wars 2 Wiki (GW2W)
Crafting is the process of turning component items, such as crafting materials, into equipment or consumables. There are nine different crafting disciplines.Crafting station · Additional Crafting License · Ascended crafting · Talk:Crafting
[40]
Introducing the New Trading Post – GuildWars2.com
Sep 4, 2014 · The new Trading Post streamlines actions, has a new UI, removes the Pick-Up tab, uses a Delivery Box, and has improved browsing and searching.
[41]
Cantha - Guild Wars 2 Wiki (GW2W)
Cantha is a continent to the south of Tyria. Cantha has mostly been ruled by a single empire, called the Empire of the Dragon or, alternatively, the Dragon ...Talk:Cantha · Ministries of Cantha · Designing the Canthan Written...
[42]
Heart of Maguuma - Guild Wars 2 Wiki (GW2W)
Heart of Maguuma is a region west of the Tarnished Coast, just beyond Rata Sum. It contains the thickest forested parts of the Maguuma Jungle.
[43]
Crystal Desert - Guild Wars 2 Wiki (GW2W)
In the northern desert, defectors from Joko's empire have established new homes along the Bay of Elon and the highlands connected to the Shiverpeak Mountains.Talk:Crystal Desert · Crystal Oasis · Desert Highlands
[44]
Gameplay Features: Making the Most of Maguuma – GuildWars2.com
Apr 3, 2015 · Each map in the Heart of Maguuma focuses on vertical as well as horizontal exploration. Players can explore jumping puzzles in the trees, hopping from crashed ...Missing: zones | Show results with:zones
[45]
Underworld - Guild Wars 2 Wiki (GW2W)
The Underworld, also known as the Realm of the Dead and the Realm of Death, is part of the Mists ... The shattered sections of the Underworld, Fissure of Woe and ...History · Early history · Living World Season 4 · Cosmology
[46]
Rata Sum - Guild Wars 2 Wiki (GW2W)
Rata Sum is the capital of the asura, a floating, giant cube in the Maguuma Jungle, and a geometrical masterpiece.
[47]
Zone - Guild Wars 2 Wiki (GW2W)
A zone, also referred to as a map, is the primary division of the open world or a playable instance, and allows open-ended travel and exploration within it.Missing: biomes gameplay<|separator|>
[48]
Playable races - Guild Wars 2 Wiki (GW2W)
The playable races are the Tyrian species that players can select from during character creation: asura, charr, human, norn, or sylvari.Asura · Sylvari · Charr · Norn
[49]
Personal story - Guild Wars 2 Wiki (GW2W)
Spoiler alert: The following text contains spoilers relating to Guild Wars 2 Personal Story. ... Each character's personal story is divided into eight chapters, ...Personal story rewards · Cathedral of Silence (story) · Victory or Death
[50]
Human - Guild Wars 2 Wiki (GW2W)
Humans in Guild Wars 2 are a playable race, once dominant, now in decline, brought to Tyria by the Six Gods, and not native to the world.List of human racial skills · Physical appearance · Six Human Gods · Talk:Human
[51]
Six Human Gods - Guild Wars 2 Wiki (GW2W)
The Six are a small group of extremely powerful divine beings from somewhere deep in the Mists, with powers rivaling those of the Elder Dragons.
[52]
Norn - Guild Wars 2 Wiki (GW2W)
The norn have always been a nomadic people, focused on hunting, individual goals, and pursuits. For a brief while, the norn were united as a race in the years ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[53]
Asura - Guild Wars 2 Wiki (GW2W)
They are a race of beings in constant war with the Deva. The asura were originally a non-playable race for the cancelled Guild Wars Utopia expansion; in that ...
[54]
Sylvari - Guild Wars 2 Wiki (GW2W)
The sylvari are a young, inquisitive race of botanical humanoids. The first sylvari sprouted from the Pale Tree in Arbor Bay, emerging in 1302 AE.Physical appearance · Talk:Sylvari · List of sylvari racial skills · Ventari
[55]
Profession - Guild Wars 2 Wiki (GW2W)
Professions in Guild Wars 2 determine skills and equipment for combat, like a class, and are divided into Soldiers, Adventurers, and Scholars. There are nine ...Profession mechanic · Revenant · Mesmer · Necromancer
[56]
Profession mechanic - Guild Wars 2 Wiki (GW2W)
Profession mechanics are combat abilities exclusive to a given profession. They consist of unique skills, effects and secondary mechanics which add to the ...
[57]
Specialization - Guild Wars 2 Wiki (GW2W)
Depending on the character's level, up to three specializations can be chosen, and each fully trained specialization provides 3 minor traits and the choice of 3 ...Elite specialization equipment · Specializations (Heart of... · Achievement points
[58]
Magic - Guild Wars 2 Wiki (GW2W)
Magic coalesces into channels across the world, traveling across paths of least resistance beneath the ground in what are called ley lines. Likened to wind ...Form and shape · Practice · History
[59]
Elder Dragon - Guild Wars 2 Wiki (GW2W)
The Elder Dragons are primordial beings who have throughout history awoken and wrought devastation upon the world of Tyria, before falling back into slumber ...Read this. · Zhaitan · Deep sea dragon · Primordus
[60]
The 10th Anniversary of Guild Wars – GuildWars2.com
Apr 28, 2015 · It would resume the story of Tyrian history with a starting point 250 years after the ending of the original Guild Wars. Sometime around ...
[61]
Lore Interview with Ree Soesbee – GuildWars2.com
Mar 24, 2016 · A: There were many races in Tyria that the humans hadn't encountered yet in Guild Wars®, either because those races lived deep underground (such ...
[62]
The Icebrood Saga: Champions – GuildWars2.com
Oct 27, 2020 · We're diving deep into development on the upcoming expansion, Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons. Since our work in Cantha is top secret for now, ...Missing: summary | Show results with:summary
[63]
Secrets of the Obscure: Looking Back and Forward – GuildWars2.com
May 28, 2024 · Story. The conclusion of the Elder Dragon saga in Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons® presented us with a unique opportunity to delve into a ...
[64]
Secrets of the Obscure™ | Coming August 2023 - Guild Wars 2
Join the Astral Ward in fighting off the Kryptis forces as they crawl into Tyria through rifts in reality, laying siege to Amnytas above. As you progress ...
[65]
A Peek at the Lowland Kodan and the Story of Janthir Wilds
Jul 10, 2024 · The story of Guild Wars 2: Janthir Wilds is a treasure trove of intrigue and lore, both past and present, and we'll be encountering a variety of allies and ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[66]
https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Elder_Dragon
[67]
History - NCSOFT
2002. CHALLENGE WITH CONFIDENCE. 1997 - 2002. 12. Acquired American video game company ArenaNet. 12. NCSOFT awarded "Best Exporting Enterprise" (2002 Korea Game ...
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Guild Wars 2 Announced - IGN
No launch date was announced, but the ArenaNet team anticipates that Guild Wars 2 will go into beta sometime in the second half of 2008. In ...
[69]
GC 2009: Guild Wars 2 - First Details and Q&A - IGN
Aug 20, 2009 · While Guild Wars 2's existence was no secret, the company kept a tight lid on the game, and ArenaNet all but disappeared from sight last year.
[70]
From Concept to Release: Designing Guild Wars 2 - GDC Vault
What did it take to design and ship the most critically acclaimed MMO of 2012? ArenaNet's design director, Chris Whiteside, and lead designer, Isaiah Cartwright ...
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Stephen Isaiah Cartwright - MobyGames
Since April 2004 he works for ArenaNet, initially at Guild Wars, now at Guild Wars 2. He is most famous for being the Guild Wars Skill Balancer. Credited on ...
[72]
Guild Wars 2 and Guild Wars Expansion Announced ...
It was also revealed that, like its predecessors, Guild Wars 2 will not have a subscription fee. No launch date was announced, but the ArenaNet team anticipates ...
[73]
How to Create a Successful MMO by Jeff Strain (ArenaNet)
Sep 9, 2007 · We have 140 full-time developers working on Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2 at ArenaNet, and that number will probably have to grow throughout the ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[74]
Guilding It Bigger: Guild Wars 2 Interview | Rock Paper Shotgun
Aug 31, 2010 · The other thing is having an engine which can take the kind of stylised art and recreate it faithfully within a 3D environment is something that ...
[75]
ArenaNet Rings in the Year of the Dragon With Guild Wars 2 Beta ...
With closed beta events wrapping up this month, next month will see the beta expanding to include “select press”, so expect more in-depth previews and analysis ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[76]
Living World in Guild Wars 2 – GuildWars2.com
Guild Wars 2's living world aims for a world that changes and evolves, with dynamic events, permanent changes, and a two-week release cadence.
[77]
Designing the Living World – GuildWars2.com
Mar 27, 2013 · The Living World is designed to gradually gain momentum, creating a chronological world with story arcs in instances, and the world continues ...Gaining Momentum · Tools Of The Trade · Experiencing A Story
[78]
Guild Wars 2 Balance Philosophy
Oct 28, 2022 · We've started to make broader splits over the last few months. When we decide a functional split is necessary, we still want the general purpose ...
[79]
Balance Update: 2 October 2018 - Guild Wars 2 Forums
Sep 27, 2018 · The release is focused around updating some weapon traits to make them more broadly usable and splitting some skills between game modes.<|separator|>
[80]
Game Release Notes - November 7, 2017 - Guild Wars 2 Forums
Nov 7, 2017 · This trait now grants might around the player and the marked target regardless of distance, but it can only grant might to the same target once ...
[81]
Announcing Guild Wars 2: Path of Fire – GuildWars2.com
Aug 1, 2017 · Guild Wars 2: Path of Fire will launch on September 22, 2017 at approximately 9:00 AM Pacific Time (UTC-7).
[82]
“War Eternal” is Live – GuildWars2.com
May 14, 2019 · The Guild Wars 2 Living World Season Finale is here! You can visit the release page for details and read the complete release notes on our forums.
[83]
API:Main - Guild Wars 2 Wiki (GW2W)
The Guild Wars 2 API (application programming interface) is an interface that enables third-party applications to access data directly from the Guild Wars 2 ...Missing: expansions | Show results with:expansions
[84]
Policy: Third-Party Programs - Guild Wars 2 Support
Third-party programs are tools or utilities that interact with the game ... These tools range from informational overlays to prohibited cheat programs.Missing: API anti-
[85]
I Hope This Ends Misinformation Regarding The Anti-cheat Software
Apr 25, 2018 · This post is meant to be constructive and to help heal some of the strife and misinformation regarding the recent wave of Bans.Missing: measures | Show results with:measures
[86]
Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns devs talk new lands, masteries and PvP
Jan 28, 2015 · I spoke with Mike O'Brien, president and co-founder of ArenaNet, and Colin Johanson, Guild Wars 2 game director. Here's that interview, covering both Heart of ...
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Guild Wars 2: Visions of Eternity Preview - MMORPG.com
Oct 21, 2025 · Guild Wars 2 will launch its sixth expansion, Visions of Eternity, on October 28th. The Inquest is up to its usual shenanigans, ...
[88]
Visions of Eternity launches today! – GuildWars2.com - Guild Wars 2
Oct 28, 2025 · Or whet your appetite for travel with these previews of the two new open-world maps that will be available on release today. Tap to unmute.<|control11|><|separator|>
[89]
Guild Wars 2 comes to Mac with beta client release - Ars Technica
Sep 18, 2012 · Those who purchased the Windows version of the game now have free access to the beta Mac client through their account management page. The Mac ...
[90]
ArenaNet details micro-transactions in Guild Wars 2 | Eurogamer.net
Mar 21, 2012 · Guild Wars 2 won't have a monthly subscription fee but will have micro-transactions, and developer ArenaNet has shared more information on ...
[91]
Guild Wars 2 Pre-Purchase Offers 3 Day Head Start, Beta Access
Apr 10, 2012 · Players who pre-purchase the Guild Wars 2 Collector's, Digital Deluxe or Standard/Digital Editions will receive guaranteed entry into beta ...
[92]
E3 2012 Preview | MMORPG.com
Jun 22, 2012 · The fairly seamless travel, the ability to create your own bases for your guild (or yourself), and interesting server structure set the game ...
[93]
Guild Wars 2 pre-purchasing begins with beta access - Shacknews
Apr 10, 2012 · April 10 is here, and so you can now pre-purchase Guild Wars 2 to secure entry into the weekend beta events.
[94]
The Launch Day Blues – Mana Obscura
The Launch Day Blues. Posted on August 26, 2012 by Gazimoff ... With the launch pf Guild Wars 2 early access ... issues, workarounds and what was taken offline ...
[95]
Update Notes - 25 September 2012 - Guild Wars 2
Sep 25, 2012 · Fixed bugs in the following story steps: “A Fragile Peace,” “Against the Corruption,” “Bad Blood,” “Forging the Pact,” “Stand By Your Krewe ...
[96]
Guild Wars 2: Broken Stuff - Twenty Sided - Shamus Young
Sep 4, 2012 · Guild Wars 2: Broken Stuff ... Still, over a week of downtime and brokenness leads me to believe this is more than just “launch day problems” or a ...
[97]
Living World Season 1 - Guild Wars 2 Wiki (GW2W)
It began proper with Flame and Frost: Prelude on January 28, 2013, and ... Later on, Levvi discovered that the wildlife had become riled up due to a flora's toxin ...Story Journal/Living World... · Flame and Frost · Battle for Lion's Arch · Sky Pirates
[98]
Living World Season 1: “Flame and Frost” Returns on April 19
Apr 5, 2022 · On April 19, the first episode of Living World Season 1, “Flame and Frost,” will return to Guild Wars 2 as playable content for the first time since the ...
[99]
Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns
The story of Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns takes place in the Heart of Maguuma, the deep jungle where Pact forces crashed on their way to confront the Elder ...
[100]
Countdown to Launch! – GuildWars2.com
Sep 15, 2017 · There's only a week left—Guild Wars 2: Path of Fire™ launches on Friday, September 22! We're kicking off the final countdown today, so keep ...
[101]
Guild Wars 2: Path of Fire
Guild Wars 2: Path of Fire is the second expansion pack for Guild Wars 2. It was released on Friday, September 22, 2017, at approximately 09:00 UTC-07:00.
[102]
Living World Season 4 Continues Next Week – GuildWars2.com
Feb 27, 2018 · The second episode of Living World Season 4 arrives on March 6! Remember to follow all safety protocols when viewing the trailer below.
[103]
Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons FAQ
Feb 28, 2022 · End of Dragons is ArenaNet's third major expansion pack to Guild Wars 2, released on February 28, 2022. The expansion introduces a number of ...
[104]
End of Dragons - Guild Wars 2
01 : STORY. The Cycle Is Reborn. Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons is the third expansion for the award-winning and critically acclaimed MMORPG Guild Wars 2.
[105]
Announcing Guild Wars 2: Janthir Wilds – GuildWars2.com
Jun 4, 2024 · Janthir Wilds includes new maps, a homestead feature, new spear skills, and the warclaw mount with new mechanics.
[106]
Play Guild Wars 2: Janthir Wilds Now! – GuildWars2.com
Aug 20, 2024 · Play Guild Wars 2: Janthir Wilds Now! ... Note: Originally published at 6:00 a.m. Pacific Time (UTC-7) on August 20, 2024. Hello, Tyrians,. Happy ...
[107]
Guild Wars 2: Visions of Eternity FAQ
Visions of Eternity is a paid expansion to Guild Wars 2. When you purchase Visions of Eternity, you will unlock access to a new story, new maps, new masteries, ...
[108]
Combining Raids and Strike Missions in 2026 - Guild Wars 2 Forums
Oct 1, 2025 · Two paths, one destiny! ⚔️ Raids and Strike Missions are joining forces next year into a single mode in GuildWars 2 raids!
[109]
An update on Mac support for Guild Wars 2
Jan 8, 2021 · Starting February 18 , we will be discontinuing support for the Mac OS version of Guild Wars 2. This means the Mac client will no longer work after this date.
[110]
DirectX11 Support is Coming to Guild Wars 2 – GuildWars2.com
Sep 16, 2021 · It allows us to provide support back to Windows Vista, while Vulkan support starts at Windows 7 and DirectX12 support starts at Windows 10.
[111]
Vulkan graphics engine? - Guild Wars 2 Forums
Apr 20, 2019 · This week NMS released the news that they will change from OpenGL to Vulkan to hopefully increase FPS and overall performance.Missing: renderer adoption
[112]
Studio Update: Guild Wars 2 Tenth Anniversary and Steam Launch ...
Aug 16, 2022 · When Guild Wars 2 launches on Steam on August 23, we’ll have a wave of new players entering Tyria for the very first time.
[113]
Award-Winning MMORPG Guild Wars 2 Launches on Steam Aug ...
Aug 16, 2022 · Guild Wars 2 comes to Steam August 23, 2022. "Guild Wars 2 has delighted over ...
[114]
Controller Support or no buy :: Guild Wars 2 General Discussions
Aug 17, 2022 · Controller use is not supported officially, but there's plenty of people who play with a controller. Setup information is available online. #4.<|separator|>
[115]
Guild Wars 2 controller support - reWASD
reWASD can help you to make a fully custom Guild Wars 2 controller support present, and eventually, you will play with gamepad easily.
[116]
[Future-proof for dev]Times are mature for mobile porting
Oct 29, 2023 · The mobile game will definitely be more profitable, but porting an 11 year old PC game to mobile for crossplay is a meh idea. If there's gonna ...Missing: 2025 | Show results with:2025
[117]
Guild Wars 2 is Playable on NVIDIA GeForce NOW – GuildWars2.com
Mar 10, 2022 · You can play Guild Wars 2 on NVIDIA GeForce NOW, NVIDIA's cloud gaming service. GeForce NOW members get the full PC gaming experience.
[118]
Guild Wars 2 Reviews - Metacritic
Rating 90% (69) Latest Critic Reviews ... Guild Wars 2 surpasses the original in every aspect, from its massive and atmospheric world to its addictive and engrossing gameplay.
[119]
Guild Wars 2 critic reviews - Metacritic
Guild Wars 2 does what MMOs have been promising for years: it provides players with a dynamic virtual world filled with discovery, adventure and cooperation.
[120]
Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns Reviews - Metacritic
Rating 81% (22) Rated T for Teen. Platforms: PC. Initial Release Date: Oct 23, 2015. Developer: ArenaNet. Publisher: NCSOFT. Genres: MMORPG · Full Credits & Details. Related ...
[121]
Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns critic reviews - Metacritic
Heart of Thorns is a worthy addition to the Guild Wars 2 world that brings enough new features to the table to keep the franchise going for a few more years.Missing: score | Show results with:score
[122]
Guild Wars 2: Path of Fire Reviews - Metacritic
Guild Wars 2: Path of Fire continues the story with an imaginative and fun campaign filled with great character moments and a reverence for the world of Tyria ...
[123]
Guild Wars 2: Path of Fire critic reviews - Metacritic
Guild Wars 2 Path of Fire is a brilliant expansion and one of the best MMO's we have ever played. The world is beautiful and the addition of mounts is very fun.Missing: score | Show results with:score
[124]
Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons Reviews - Metacritic
Revised score: Down to a 7 from 8/10. Reason: After a year playing the expansion the longevity of the content in EoD maps has slightly decreased for me. Still ...Guild Wars 2End of Dragons critic reviews
[125]
Guild Wars 2 in 2023 (inc. Secrets of the Obscure) - Review - YouTube
Sep 8, 2023 · https://ridge.com/SKILLUP. · #Review · #GuildWars2 · #Secretsoftheobscure -- Thanks for taking the time to watch the video. · https://twitter.
[126]
Austin strongly recommends: Guild Wars 2 - Janthir Wilds (Review)
Sep 2, 2024 · ... skillup -- Guild Wars 2: Janthir wilds is a return to form for Austin's favorite MMORPG, delivering exploration that few MMOs can match, as ...
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https://www.metacritic.com/game/guild-wars-2/
[128]
Interview: Over A Decade Later, Guild Wars 2 Still Finds Its Voice
May 27, 2025 · Perhaps part of Guild Wars 2's continued success is the fact that ArenaNet not only iterated just enough on a tried and tested formulae, but ...
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Guild Wars 2 sales now over 2 million units worldwide - VideoGamer
Guild Wars 2, the subscription free MMO, has now sold over two million copies worldwide, NCsoft and ArenaNet have announced.
[130]
Guild Wars II sales climb to 3.5 million - GameSpot
Aug 28, 2013 · Guild Wars II has now sold over 3.5 million copies, developer ArenaNet announced today on the game's first anniversary of release in August ...<|separator|>
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Guild Wars 2 Sales Figures Revealed - IGN
Aug 21, 2015 · ArenaNet has revealed Guild Wars 2 has sold more than 5 million copies to-date. The developer confirmed the figure to IGN during an interview at Gamescom.<|separator|>
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GW2 Earnings update - Q1 2024 & Q4 2023 update : r/Guildwars2
May 10, 2024 · NCSoft released earnings for Q1 2024. They are back at reporting game by game and included more accurate value for Q4 2023.How often does ArenaNet do sales? : r/Guildwars2 - RedditGW2 Q2 2025 Earnings : r/Guildwars2 - RedditMore results from www.reddit.com
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Mike O'Brien on Microtransactions in Guild Wars 2 – GuildWars2.com
Mar 20, 2012 · Here's our philosophy on microtransactions: We think players should have the opportunity to spend money on items that provide visual distinction ...Missing: platforms Windows Mac
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Guild Wars 2 celebrates 7 million accounts as Heart of Thorns arrives
Oct 23, 2015 · Guild Wars 2's Heart of Thorns expansion is now live and available at digital and retail locations throughout Europe and North America.
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Guild Wars 2 Live Player Count and Statistics - ActivePlayer.io
Guild Wars 2 has approximately 300,000 to 500,000 daily active players. Is Guild Wars 2 still popular in 2025? With over 12 million monthly active players and ...
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Guild Wars 2
The latest Guild Wars 2 changes and live release info. The Library Threads stored for reference and record.Guild Wars 2 Discussion · Looking For Guild · API Development · Fashion Wars Too
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r/GuildWars2: Expansion is out - Reddit
Guild Wars 2 breaks 10K Steam players for the first time ever after New World shutdown news · [News].New · Is guild wars 2 good? · The Beauty of Guild Wars 2 · Guild Wars 2 - State of...<|separator|>
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https://www.videogamer.com/guild-wars-2-sales-now-over-2-million-units-worldwide/
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Pro League - Guild Wars 2 Wiki (GW2W)
In the ESL Guild Wars 2 Pro League, 8 teams per region (North America and Europe) will compete for $400,000USD in cash prizes over the course of two seasons.Missing: 2025 | Show results with:2025
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Guild Wars 2's BIGGEST PVP TOURNAMENT - YouTube
Sep 22, 2025 · It's that time of year again - time for the bi-annual GIGATOURNAMENT that is the Tournament of Legends! I'm joined by the legendary ROY ...Missing: leagues prize 2025
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arcdps | deltaconnected.com
arcdps: gw2 dps meter (and general combat metrics tool) WARNING: MODIFYING GUILD WARS 2 THROUGH ANY 3RD PARTY TOOLS IS NOT SUPPORTED BY ARENANET OR NCSOFT.Here · Index of Api · Index of Translations · Index of EvtcMissing: modding | Show results with:modding
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Frequently Asked Questions - gw2efficiency
Is this site / the API safe to use? Yes! To ease your worries, gw2efficiency is an official ArenaNet partner (https://welcome.guildwars2.com/en/partner-program) ...
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User - API keys - gw2efficiency
Open the official Guild Wars 2 API Key Management. Click on the "New Key" button. Enter a name of your choice and check all permission checkboxes.
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Clarification On The Future Of Guild Wars - Guild Wars 2 Forums
Oct 16, 2025 · 2.) GW1 is still running with a lively playerbase. GW2 is very unlikely to shut down when GW3 (if at all) launches. ANet needs to surive and pay ...Missing: benchmark | Show results with:benchmark
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Guild Wars 2 in 2025 | Is it Worth Playing? - YouTube
Aug 12, 2025 · Guild Wars 2 is a free to play MMORPG from Arenanet, featuring hybrid combat and a seemingly endless amount of horizontal progression.Missing: cross- teases
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https://en-forum.guildwars2.com/
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Team ArenaNet for Extra Life 2025 – GuildWars2.com
Oct 9, 2025 · Members of the Guild Wars 2 development team and ArenaNet Partner Program will livestream for twenty-four hours to raise funds for Children's ...Missing: fan cosplay
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Guild Wars 2 studio ArenaNet is fundraising for Extra Life 2025 ...
Oct 16, 2025 · Guild Wars 2 studio ArenaNet is fundraising for Extra Life 2025, promising to match $25,000 in player contributions. By. Bree Royce. -. October ...