Guild Wars 3
News, coverage and analysis tracking Guild Wars 3 across the outlets.
Latest coverage
More playable species might be coming to Guild Wars 3 later down the line, according to latest developer blog post
ArenaNet has indicated that Guild Wars 3 may receive additional playable species beyond the initial four at launch. The game is being designed with future flexibility in mind, allowing for the addition of new races. While Humans and Kodan are confirmed, the fourth launch race remains unrevealed, and the developer noted that species with extreme body silhouettes might not be feasible.
Guild Wars 3 confirms Humans, Asura, and Kodan, plus a mystery species, will be playable at launch
ArenaNet has confirmed that Guild Wars 3 will feature Humans, Asura, and Kodan as playable species at launch, with a fourth mystery species also planned. The developer is building the game with the intention of adding more playable species in the future, establishing shared technical foundations to support this expansion.
MMO Week in Review: I want to believe
This week's MMO news roundup covers updates and announcements for numerous titles including Stars Reach, EverQuest Legends, Elder Scrolls Online, and Final Fantasy XIV. Key stories include Stars Reach's official early access date, Elder Scrolls Online's post-layoff roadmap, and Guild Wars 3 revealing its composers. The article also touches on game development, business practices, and player sentiment across various MMORPGs.
Betawatch: Stars Reach sets course for early access, EverQuest Legends successfully launches
Stars Reach has announced its paid early access will begin on August 18th, while EverQuest Legends has officially launched. The article also provides updates on Guild Wars 3's music, Cinder City's pre-alpha testing, and Reaper Actual's free weekend, alongside a comprehensive list of games currently in various stages of testing and early access.
Star Wars, Metal Gear, and Halo composer Kazuma Jinnouchi confirmed as lead composer for Guild Wars 3
ArenaNet has announced Kazuma Jinnouchi, known for his work on Star Wars, Metal Gear, and Halo, as the lead composer for Guild Wars 3. A video detailing the creation of the game's main theme, featuring Jinnouchi and other composers like Asuka Ito and Maclaine Diemer, was also released.
‘It’s like your mom reading you an old story’: Guild Wars 3 reveals composers and main music theme
ArenaNet has revealed the composers for Guild Wars 3, with BAFTA Games Awards nominee Kazuma Jinnouchi serving as lead composer. He will be joined by Asuka Ito and longtime Guild Wars 2 composer Maclaine Diemer. A new video showcases the game's main theme, emphasizing a warm and comforting musical style.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 574: Is it getting Evercold in here or is it just me?
The Massively OP Podcast episode 574 covers the launch of EverQuest Legends, reveals from Final Fantasy XIV's Evercold, Guild Wars 3's backstory, SEED's early access, The Guild's Kickstarter success, and Black Desert's 2026 plans. Hosts Bree and Justin discuss these MMO updates and share listener emails.
MMO Week in Review: FFXIV in Berlin, Black Desert in SoCal, and Jimothy saturation
This week's MMO news covers Final Fantasy XIV's Fan Festival in Berlin, Black Desert's Heidel Ball, and the early access launch of SEED. Updates were also provided for Dungeons & Dragons Online, Aion 2, and The Guild reunion movie. Several games saw controversy including World of Warcraft staff cheating, Elder Scrolls Online capacity issues, and Microsoft layoffs.
Betawatch: Aion 2 outlines head start plans as Guild Wars 3 outlines its story premise
NCsoft has detailed head start plans for Aion 2, which is slated for a global launch in September 2026. Guild Wars 3 has also outlined its story premise, with a beta expected in fall 2027. The article also provides an extensive list of other MMORPGs currently in various stages of testing and development.
Roadmaps and Plans
The article discusses roadmaps and plans for Guild Wars 3, referencing the 'Vaelwardens of the Orrian Golden Age' as a potential theme or expansion. Further details on specific plans are not provided.
A new Guild Wars 3 blog post spills the beans on the game's narrative focus, and perhaps even how magic will work in the upcoming MMORPG
ArenaNet has released a blog post detailing narrative elements and potential magic systems for the upcoming MMORPG Guild Wars 3. The post, "The Vaelwardens of the Orrian Golden Age," places the game during a period of slumber for the Elder Dragons, allowing magic to flow freely and leading to the founding of the Vaelwardens. Player theories suggest a system involving signets and spiritual aids for magic, potentially similar to Guild Wars 2's mastery system.
The Guild Wars 3 story pitch sees players holding the line against greedy industrialists who exploit the magical wilds
ArenaNet has revealed story details for the upcoming MMORPG Guild Wars 3, with Aaron Linde outlining the narrative pitch. Players will take on the role of Vaelwardens, guardians of magic in a world where industrialists, like the Mavenwrights, seek to exploit magical resources. The story focuses on the Vaelwardens' struggle to protect the fading magic and its spirits against encroaching greed and societal change.
MMO Week in Review: Lament for Elder Scrolls Online
Microsoft's decision to lay off a significant portion of The Elder Scrolls Online team has led to further management turnover and a restructuring of the studio. This week's MMO news also covers the early access launch of SpiritVale, the cancellation of Final Fantasy XIV Mobile, and discussions on lessons for Guild Wars 3.
Flameseeker Chronicles: Lessons Guild Wars 3 must not fail to learn from its predecessors
This opinion piece discusses key lessons ArenaNet should learn from Guild Wars 1 and Guild Wars 2 for the development of Guild Wars 3. It highlights the importance of a consistent content release cadence, the pitfalls of the Living World experiment, the need for flexible race and class design, and the significance of player mobility options and respecting the existing player base. The author expresses cautious optimism that ArenaNet has learned from past mistakes.
The Daily Grind: Which modern MMORPGs should get a sequel?
This article discusses which modern MMORPGs are candidates for sequels, drawing parallels to the genre's history and upcoming titles like Guild Wars 3. It highlights the potential for sequels to games such as World of Warcraft, The Elder Scrolls Online, and EVE Online, questioning where the next major franchise follow-ups will emerge.
Old-school Guild Wars franchise podcast GuildCast is back with Shawn Schuster at the helm
The Guild Wars franchise podcast, GuildCast, has been revived by its original host, Shawn Schuster. New episodes are now available, with the second episode discussing the recent Guild Wars 3 announcement. Schuster, formerly the editor-in-chief of Massively, aims to bring back the fun of the original podcast with regular guests planned.
Guild Wars 2 kicks off PvP Rush event, won’t host a PAX West community event this year
ArenaNet is hosting the seventh Guild Wars 2 PvP Rush event, offering players limited-time achievements and rewards for participating in Player versus Player content. The studio also announced it will not host a community event at PAX West this year, citing development on Guild Wars 3 and the upcoming September expansion for Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons.
Guild Wars 3 may have cracked the MMO code for tired millennials
ArenaNet studio head Collin Johanson stated that Guild Wars 3 aims to respect players' time, allowing them to play as much or as little as they desire. This approach contrasts with many modern MMORPGs and live-service games that can feel like a second job due to mechanics like battle passes and repetitive tasks. The article suggests that if Guild Wars 3 can remain captivating without demanding excessive playtime, it could appeal to a growing audience of adult gamers.
The Daily Grind: Are you upset that Guild Wars 3 seems to be ditching the zerg?
ArenaNet has indicated that Guild Wars 3 may move away from the large-scale 'zerg' gameplay that defines Guild Wars 2. While some players enjoy the low-stress mass participation, others, like the author, are open to a potential shift towards smaller-scale content, reminiscent of other MMOs like World of Warcraft.
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.
