Fans of Guild Wars 2 can rest easy as ArenaNet has just released a studio update regarding the game's future in 2023 and for the foreseeable future. Following the launch of a new expansion and a critically acclaimed remaster of the first Living World Season in 2022, ArenaNet plans to ride high on the success and carry Guild Wars 2 into the future with a renewed focus on upcoming PvE content and quality of life changes.
ArenaNet went into the holiday season after releasing the final episode of Guild Wars 2's Living World Season 1. Even though the game did receive a major balance patch for WvW and played host to the annual Lunar New Year festival in January, the studio remained tight-lipped about future developments. While some players started to speculate about the future of Living World Seasons altogether, hype and excitement began to grow as the studio hinted about possible reveals.
In the official studio update, Game Director Josh "Grouch" Davis outlined the plans for Guild Wars 2 in 2023 and how the studio is planning for years beyond. The post briefly discusses the multiple accolades Guild Wars 2 won in 2022 and then moves on to topics like upcoming PvE content, improvements to the game systems, updates for player professions, and a change to the current expansion model. The studio elaborates on how it has always allocated most of its resources to developing new expansions and Living World Seasons. The modernization of Guild Wars 2's Living World Season 1, and the success of that venture, made the studio redirect its focus on polishing up older content while developing new stories. From now on, Guild Wars 2 will release a smaller expansion to introduce new stories, maps, and endgame activities, with a quarterly update introducing new challenges to bring that expansion's story to an end.
Currently, Guild Wars 2 releases an expansion every one or two years, with a seasonal content drop between major launches. The new two-phased launch will allow the studio to deeply invest in new gameplay opportunities, while also working to improve the existing mechanics and activities. The newer expansions will have a lower price tag than the current expansions, which should alleviate the concerns of fans. The studio revealed a patch to balance the professions and Objective-based rewards in WvW coming tomorrow, with a future update scheduled for February 28 to introduce a new PvE map. The new map will continue the story from the End of Dragons expansion and will unveil the future storylines of Guild Wars 2.
After a full decade since its launch, Guild Wars 2's momentum in 2022 was unmatched as the game enjoyed quality-of-life changes, increased accessibility, and a long-awaited Steam debut. With the studio reaffirming its dedication to continuing its success, players can rest easy knowing that The Commander has plenty of adventures waiting in the world of Tyria.
Guild Wars 2 is available for PC.
