Guild Wars 3
News, coverage and analysis tracking Guild Wars 3 across the outlets.
Latest coverage
'Bringing the game to console for the first time' means that ArenaNet 'can reach a much wider group of players' as devs say they want to offer an 'invitation' for everybody to play Guild Wars 3 together by bringing it to PS5 and PC — but not Xbox
ArenaNet announced that Guild Wars 3 will be the first game in the series to launch on both PC and PlayStation 5, aiming to reach a wider audience. Studio head Colin Johanson stated the console release is an 'invitation' for new players to join the MMORPG, which is set 1000 years before the original game. A beta is scheduled for Fall 2027, but a full release date has not yet been announced.
ArenaNet says Guild Wars 3's ancient Orr setting will entice hardcore fans who 'care deeply' about the lore, but it also means 'it's the perfect time for new people to come join the Guild Wars franchise'
ArenaNet has revealed that Guild Wars 3 will be set 1000 years before the original game in the ancient land of Orr. Studio head Colin Johanson stated this setting will appeal to both longtime fans invested in the lore and new players who won't need prior knowledge of the franchise. The game is scheduled for a PC and PlayStation 5 release, with a beta planned for Fall 2027.
Guild Wars 3 dev wants you to be able to take a break for months at a time and know you're "not going to be left behind"
ArenaNet studio head Colin Johanson believes the MMO genre is still thriving and that Guild Wars 3 aims to address common player concerns about time commitment. He emphasizes the need for games to allow meaningful progress in short sessions and for players to be able to take extended breaks without falling behind.
Guild Wars 2's Code of Creation update is now live, bringing an end to Visions of Eternity
ArenaNet has released the Code of Creation update for Guild Wars 2, marking the conclusion of the Visions of Eternity storyline. This update introduces a new explorable zone, Leyspring Hollows, six new story chapters, a new multistage meta-event, and new gear. It also adds the Nexus of Eternity raid encounter and the Solitary Throne Fractal. Future updates are planned through December, while the highly anticipated Guild Wars 3 is expected to innovate the MMO genre with features like a momentum system.
Flameseeker Chronicles: Hands on with Guild Wars 2: Visions of Eternity’s finale, Code of Creation
This preview of Guild Wars 2's final update for Visions of Eternity, Code of Creation, details the new underground map Leyspring Hollows, its lore involving the Inquest, and the new meta event. It also highlights new group content like a fractal and raid encounter, and showcases the new legendary sword Wages of Stars.
MMO Week in Review: Foreverrrrr
BlizzCon 2026 saw major announcements including a new open-world StarCraft shooter, Diablo V for 2029, and World of Warcraft Forever launching soon. The event also revealed World of Warcraft's next retail expansion, The Last Titan, and sparked controversy over World of Warcraft Forever's monetization. Other news included the sunsetting of Ship of Heroes, layoffs at Pantheon Rise of the Fallen, and business dealings involving ArcheAge.
ArenaNet says Guild Wars 3's new momentum system creates a 'seamless sense of movement you'd expect to see in an action game' by connecting all movement and combat abilities to create 'fluid movement'
ArenaNet studio head Colin Johanson detailed Guild Wars 3's new momentum system, which aims to create fluid transitions between movement and combat, a first for the MMORPG genre. This system allows players to maintain momentum through actions like jumping, gliding, and wall-running, seamlessly blending them with combat for a more action-game-like experience. The game is scheduled for a Fall 2027 beta on PC and PlayStation 5.
Guild Wars 3 discusses its more approachable setting and being ‘meaningfully multiplayer’
ArenaNet developers discussed Guild Wars 3's approachable setting and its 'meaningfully multiplayer' design. The game will launch on Steam and consoles with a focus on a shared open world for 20 players, balancing the smaller party size of Guild Wars 1 with the larger scale of Guild Wars 2.
Betawatch: Monsters & Memories plunges testers into The Deep, Loftia begins pre-registrations, and ArcheAge S is on its way next year
Several MMORPGs are entering new testing phases or preparing for launch. Monsters & Memories is plunging testers into 'The Deep' ahead of its early access, while Loftia has begun pre-registrations. ArcheAge S is slated for a Q2 2027 release, with gameplay previews coming soon. Legends of Aria Eternal and Valheim have officially launched, while Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen has experienced layoffs.
"20 players is the sweet spot": Guild Wars 3's action game combat is a first for MMOs, but it doesn't work at traditional raid scale
ArenaNet is developing Guild Wars 3 with a focus on action game-like combat and fluid movement, drawing inspiration from titles like Prince of Persia and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. This approach shifts away from traditional MMO raid scales, aiming for a 'sweet spot' of around 20 players for optimal combat experience. The developers are also incorporating lessons from live service games to make the MMO more approachable.
MMO Week in Review: Joy of movement
This week's MMO news roundup covers a preview of Guild Wars 3's combat and movement, with ArenaNet's Colin Johanson taking on the game's direction. Other news includes Xbox's cloud gaming plans, Aion 2 lacking an Oceania server, Elder Scrolls Online's roadmap, and rumors of a StarCraft successor from Nexon and Blizzard.
Betawatch: ArcheAge Chronicles plans a network test for next weekend
ArcheAge Chronicles is planning a network test for September 12th, continuing its development journey. The article also rounds up other MMO news, including updates on Guild Wars 3, Farhaven, and Aion 2, alongside a lengthy list of games currently in various stages of testing and development.
Evening Reading - September 3, 2026
This edition of Shacknews Evening Reading covers a variety of topics including reviews for NHL 27 and Halloween: The Game, news on Guild Wars 3 and Final Fantasy 7 Revelation's DLC and release date, and NVIDIA's acquisition of Hugging Face. It also touches on Sonic Team's lead Takashi Iizuka's comments regarding Fortnite's Sonic and the White House posting propaganda games.
Guild Wars 3 wants to solve every MMO's biggest problem, and might actually pull it off: "No subscription fee…
ArenaNet is aiming to solve the biggest challenge in the MMO space with Guild Wars 3: making the genre more accessible and less like a 'second job.' Studio head Colin Johanson discussed how the game will focus on approachability and depth without a subscription fee, allowing players to engage meaningfully in shorter play sessions and return after breaks without falling behind. This focus on player time and a less demanding relationship with the game aims to attract both veteran MMO players and a new generation.
With wall-running and surprisingly weighty combat, Guild Wars 3 is aiming high: "If we hadn't been making MMOs for 26 years I don't think we could have built this"
Guild Wars 3 is aiming for a more visceral, action-RPG-like combat experience with a new momentum system that allows for wall-running and impactful attacks. Developer ArenaNet is focusing on making the MMO accessible for both new and returning players, with a launch planned for PlayStation 5 and PC.
Guild Wars 3 is a lot smaller scale than Guild Wars 2 because of the new approach to combat and movement: 'You would probably see about 20 players in a large combat scenario'
ArenaNet's Guild Wars 3 will feature a significantly smaller player scale in combat scenarios, capping at around 20 players, compared to Guild Wars 2's large-scale battles. This decision is driven by the new high-fidelity combat and movement systems, which are designed to be more readable and visceral. While cities will remain busy social hubs, the open world will focus on more intimate, meaningful player interactions.
Guild Wars 3's devs think they've found an answer to one of MMOs' biggest problems, but can ArenaNet pull it off?
ArenaNet is developing Guild Wars 3 with a focus on dynamic momentum-based movement and combat, aiming to break away from traditional MMORPG design. Studio lead Colin Johanson and combat lead Kevin Stocker demonstrated how chaining traversal and combat actions creates a more fluid, action-RPG-like experience, contrasting it with the static nature of many MMOs. The game will also feature more defined player roles and cooperative multiplayer combos.
Flameseeker Chronicles: A first look at combat and the joy of movement in Guild Wars 3
ArenaNet provided a first look at Guild Wars 3, focusing on its fluid movement and kinetic combat systems, which aim to innovate within the MMORPG genre. Director Colin Johanson highlighted features like momentum conservation and environmental interactions in combat, while also acknowledging concerns regarding UI minimalism and potential combat simplification.
ArenaNet says Guild Wars 3 will make you "fall in love with MMOs." Here's why I think it could
ArenaNet aims to revitalize the MMO genre with Guild Wars 3, focusing on innovative 'Momentum' systems that allow for fluid movement and dynamic combat. Studio head Colin Johansen believes the game will attract both existing Guild Wars fans and new players seeking a fresh experience, potentially making them 'fall in love with MMOs.' The design prioritizes a cleaner UI and more action-oriented gameplay, a departure from traditional MMO mechanics.
Guild Wars 3 Plays Unlike Any Other MMO, And That’s A Good Thing
Guild Wars 3 is set to redefine the MMORPG genre with its unique, fluid combat and traversal systems, moving away from traditional action bars and tab-targeting. Developed by ArenaNet, the game emphasizes momentum-based movement and environmental interaction, aiming to provide an equally engaging experience on both PC and PlayStation 5 with controller support.
