Guild Wars 2
News, coverage and analysis tracking Guild Wars 2 across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Mistbound, The First Digital Card Game Set in the Guild Wars Universe, Announced
Mistbound, the first digital collectible card game set in the Guild Wars universe, has been announced by NC and published by bilibili. Officially licensed by ArenaNet, the game will be available on Android and iOS. Mistbound features deckbuilding, a tactical grid-based battlefield system with dynamic movement, and incorporates lore, artwork, and music from the Guild Wars series.
NC, ArenaNet and bilibill Reveal ‘Mistbound’ - The First Digital Card Game Set in the Guild Wars Universe
ArenaNet, NC, and bilibili have announced Mistbound, a new free-to-play digital collectible card game set in the Guild Wars universe for PC and mobile. The game introduces a 'Dynamic Movement Gameplay' mechanic allowing cards to reposition on a tactical grid, aiming to blend the franchise's lore with deckbuilding strategy. Key figures from ArenaNet and NC, along with a former professional Hearthstone player, discussed the game's design and accessibility.
Guild Wars' devs tried to escape the MMO branding in 2005, citing all the things that would become genre staples 20…
Developer ArenaNet discussed the original Guild Wars' branding struggles, noting that despite efforts to market it as a Cooperative Online RPG (CORPG), it was widely perceived and awarded as a Massively Multiplayer Online RPG (MMORPG). This is contrasted with modern MMOs like Final Fantasy 14 and World of Warcraft, which incorporate more soloable content and NPC party systems, elements that Guild Wars originally emphasized to differentiate itself.
MMO Week in Review: ArcheAge’s revival, Guild Wars’ CCG
This week's MMO news roundup covers a variety of topics including Guild Wars receiving a CCG in China, ArcheAge's revival, and Richard Garriott's efforts to regain Ultima copyright. It also features updates on Tomo Endless Blue's Kickstarter success, Embers of the Uncrowned, and Diablo Immortal's new Warlock patch.
Guild Wars CCG Mistbound Revealed
NCsoft has revealed Mistbound, a competitive collectible card game set in the Guild Wars universe, currently in development by a Korean team. The announcement was made via a post on the Guild Wars 2 Forums.
One Shots: Yet another MMO without handrails
This week's "One Shots" column highlights community screenshots from various MMOs, including The Secret World, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Witchspire, Final Fantasy XIV, and Guild Wars 2. Players shared humorous and scenic moments from their in-game adventures, with a call for readers to submit their own screenshots.
Mistbound is a new Guild Wars CCG by ArenaNet, NCsoft, and Bilibili
ArenaNet, NCsoft, and Bilibili have announced Guild Wars Mistbound, a new digital collectible card game set in the Guild Wars universe. The game features a unique multi-directional card movement mechanic on a tactical grid, aiming to blend the franchise's lore with deckbuilding strategy. While officially licensed by ArenaNet, NCsoft is shouldering development, with Bilibili handling global publishing.
Guild Wars 3 isn't the only new Guild Wars on the way: ArenaNet just announced a Guild Wars card game
ArenaNet, alongside its parent company NC and with involvement from bilibili, has announced Mistbound, an official Guild Wars card game. This new title expands the franchise into the collectible card game genre, featuring a dynamic tactical grid where cards can reposition. Studio head Colin Johanson stated the game aims to offer a new way for fans to play together, inspired by the franchise's card game roots and the world of Tyria.
Hot off the Guild Wars 3 reveal, the long-running MMO series is getting its first-ever CCG in Mistbound
ArenaNet has revealed Mistbound: Guild Wars Card Game, the first-ever collectible card game for the long-running Guild Wars franchise. Developed by NC and published by bilibili, this free-to-play title for PC and mobile introduces a unique card movement mechanic and features characters and music from the original Guild Wars games. The announcement follows the recent reveal of Guild Wars 3.
WRUP: What I think the positions in soccer mean because I didn’t listen edition
This article humorously explores the author's lack of understanding regarding soccer positions, contrasting it with their engagement in various video games like Guild Wars 2, Final Fantasy XIV, and Warframe. It also touches on personal reflections about school life and social events.
Guild Wars 3 is 'significantly more' of an MMO than the first game, but that doesn't mean it's like GW2: 'All three of our games can coexist as different experiences'
ArenaNet studio head Colin Johanson clarified that Guild Wars 3 will be significantly more of an MMORPG than its predecessors, though it will not replicate the large-scale gameplay pillars of Guild Wars 2. This approach aims to allow all three Guild Wars titles to coexist as distinct experiences within the world of Tyria.
Massively Overthinking: Is the era of the themepark MMORPG over?
Industry veterans discuss the sustainability of themepark MMORPGs, with Raph Koster suggesting rising development costs are making the model unsustainable. While some argue that modern themeparks incorporate sandbox elements to survive, others believe the dichotomy is false and that innovation from both styles is key. The discussion highlights the challenges of content creation speed versus player consumption and the evolving player base's preferences.
Guild Wars 3 hopes to solve the problem that made me quit Guild Wars 2 after thousands of hours with the series
ArenaNet has outlined the core philosophy for Guild Wars 3, aiming to address issues that drove players away from Guild Wars 2, such as the time-consuming 'preparing to play' problem. The sequel will focus on respecting player time with no subscriptions or pay-to-win mechanics, and plans to begin beta testing in 2027.
ArenaNet reiterates Guild Wars 3’s B2P no-sub model and place in ‘the middle of the MMO spectrum’
ArenaNet has reiterated that Guild Wars 3 will be a buy-to-play title with no subscription fees or battle pass subscriptions, emphasizing a fair monetization model. The studio aims for Guild Wars 3 to occupy a middle ground in the MMORPG spectrum, coexisting with Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2 by offering a distinct experience.
Many live service games are just an MMO subscription "hidden inside of a neat 'optional' package", argue Guild Wars 3 devs in a post about the new game's monetisation
ArenaNet developers discussed the evolution of the MMORPG genre and how live service games often hide subscription-like monetization models. They stated that Guild Wars 3 will be a pay-upfront, no-subscription game, differentiating itself from models that use battle passes or recurring seasonal tracks.
Guild Wars 3 mission statement: no pay-to-win, no subscription fees - "The lines between an MMO and a live-service game have blurred"
ArenaNet studio head Colin Johanson released a mission statement for Guild Wars 3, emphasizing a commitment to no pay-to-win mechanics and no subscription fees, instead opting for a buy-to-play model. The statement also addresses the blurring lines between MMOs and live-service games, aiming to innovate the genre by respecting player time and offering meaningful progression without excessive barriers.
The Stream Team: Canach’s collection creates a key in Guild Wars 2
Massively OP's MJ Guthrie will be streaming Guild Wars 2's 'Within Your Grasp' episode, focusing on Canach's efforts to create a key to break a barrier in the Spire of Exaltation. The stream is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, June 16th, 2026, with the full stream to be posted afterward.
Guild Wars 3 Will Not Have Subscriptions, Pay-to-Win Features
ArenaNet has detailed its monetization and design plans for Guild Wars 3, confirming it will not feature subscription fees or pay-to-win mechanics, with all microtransactions being cosmetic or for convenience. Studio head Colin Johanson emphasized respecting players' time and maintaining a balance between the scale of Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2. The game is in development for PC and PlayStation 5, with beta tests planned for Fall 2027.
Guild Wars 3 Won’t Have “Hidden” Subscriptions Like Battle Passes
ArenaNet studio head Colin Johanson confirmed that Guild Wars 3 will not feature a subscription fee, battle passes, or pay-to-win mechanics, aiming for accessibility and long-term value. The upcoming MMORPG will be smaller in scale than Guild Wars 2 but larger than the original Guild Wars, and is slated for PC and PlayStation 5 with a beta in Fall 2027.
The Daily Grind: What would you recommend as a gamer’s *second* MMORPG?
This article discusses recommendations for a gamer's second MMORPG, distinguishing it from introductory gateway MMOs. It suggests that while games like World of Warcraft are good first choices, more complex options like EVE Online or Wurm Online might be too difficult for a second experience, proposing an intermediate difficulty range is needed.