Global InformationGuild Wars 2 information
| Guild Wars 2 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | ArenaNet |
| Publisher(s) |
|
| Director(s) | Colin Johanson (2012–2016, 2021) Mike O'Brien (2016–2019) Mike Zadorojny (2019) John Taylor (2019–2021) Joshua Davis (2021–present) |
| Producer(s) | Amy Liu (2022–present) |
| Designer(s) | Colin Johanson Eric Flannum |
| Artist(s) | Daniel Dociu Kekai Kotaki |
| Writer(s) | Ree Soesbee Jeff Grubb Bobby Stein Tom Abernathy |
| Composer(s) | Jeremy Soule Maclaine Diemer Lena Raine Stan LePard |
| Series | Guild Wars |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows |
| Release | August 28, 2012[1] August 23, 2022 (Steam) |
| Genre(s) | MMORPG |
| Mode(s) | Multiplayer |
Guild Wars 2 is a free-to-play,[2] massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed by ArenaNet and published by NCSoft. Set in the fantasy world of Tyria, the core game follows the re-emergence of Destiny's Edge, a disbanded guild dedicated to fighting Elder Dragons, colossal Lovecraftian-esque entities that have seized control of Tyria in the time since the original Guild Wars (2005), a plot line that concludes in the third expansion End of Dragons (2023). The game takes place in a persistent world with a story that progresses in instanced environments.[3]
Guild Wars 2 is the fourth major entry in the Guild Wars series, and claims to be unique in the MMO genre[4] by featuring a storyline that is responsive to player actions,[5] something which is common in single player role-playing games but rarely seen in multiplayer ones. A dynamic event system replaces traditional questing,[6] utilising the ripple effect to allow players to approach quests in different ways as part of a persistent world. Also of note is the combat system, which aims to be more dynamic than its predecessor by promoting synergy between professions and using the environment as a weapon,[7][8] as well as reducing the complexity of the Magic-style skill system of the original game.
As a sequel to Guild Wars, Guild Wars 2 features the same lack of subscription fees that distinguished its predecessor from other commercially developed online games of the time, though until August 2015 a purchase was still required to install the game.[9] The game sold over two million copies in its first two weeks.[10][11] By August 2013, the peak player concurrency had reached 460,000.[12] By August 2015, over 5 million copies had been sold, at which point the base game became free-to-play.[13] By August 2021, over 16 million accounts have been created.[14] On 16 August 2022, it was announced that Guild Wars 2 will be releasing on Steam as part of the game's 10th year anniversary celebration.[15]
Four major expansion packs have been released for the game thus far; Heart of Thorns (2015), Path of Fire (2017), End of Dragons (2022), and Secrets of the Obscure (2023), with a fifth and sixth expansion pack in development, slated for 2024 and 2025.[16][17] Each expansion pack introduces new content, including new regions of the world to explore, end-game encounters and masteries, with the first three also offering new professions, elite specializations, and seasons of 'Living World'; live content updates that continue expansion storylines and bridge the gap between them.[18] In February 2023, it was announced that future Guild Wars 2 expansions starting with Secrets of the Obscure would be adopting a new release model. Instead of releasing every two to four years with a season of Living World in between, smaller scale expansions would be released more frequently at a slightly reduced price. Additional content for these expansions will then be added through quarterly releases.[19]
- ^ Mike Fahey (2012-06-28). "Guild Wars 2 Leaps Into Action August 28". Kotaku. Archived from the original on 2012-07-01. Retrieved 2012-06-28.
- ^ "Play for Free Today". Archived from the original on 2023-07-15. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
zam09was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Mike O'Brien (2010-04-27). "Guild Wars 2 Design Manifesto". GuildWars2.com. Archived from the original on 2022-04-12. Retrieved 2015-01-15.
- ^ "Personal Story". GuildWars2.com. Archived from the original on 2022-06-09. Retrieved 2015-01-15.
- ^ "Dynamic Events". GuildWars2.com. Archived from the original on 2022-06-07. Retrieved 2015-01-15.
- ^ "Combat". GuildWars2.com. Archived from the original on 2022-06-07. Retrieved 2013-03-31.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
pcgames_dewas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Game FAQ". Guild Wars 2. Archived from the original on March 14, 2012. Retrieved April 4, 2012.
- ^ James Orry (13 September 2012). "Guild Wars 2 sales now over 2 million units worldwide". Videogamer.com. Archived from the original on 2019-11-16. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
- ^ "'Guild Wars 2′ Sales Break Two Million Mark". Inquisitr.com. 2012-09-14. Archived from the original on 2012-12-28. Retrieved 2013-03-31.
- ^ Stephany Nunneley (2013-08-28). "Guild Wars 2 turns one, has shifted 3.5 million copies". vg247.com. Archived from the original on 2013-09-03. Retrieved 2013-09-03.
- ^ Purchese, Robert (2015-08-29). "ArenaNet explains Guild Wars 2 going free, and the addition of raids". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 2015-10-15. Retrieved 2015-08-29.
- ^ "Celebrating Nine Years of Guild Wars 2". Guild Wars 2. 2021-08-24. Archived from the original on 2022-06-11. Retrieved 2021-10-13.
- ^ "Studio Update: Guild Wars 2 Tenth Anniversary and Steam Launch on August 23". GuildWars2.com. Archived from the original on 2022-08-16. Retrieved 2022-08-16.
- ^ "Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure Launches Today". GuildWars2.com. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
- ^ Palumbo, Alessio (2023-12-21). "Guild Wars 2 Q&A - ArenaNet on Switch to Yearly Expansions, Secrets of the Obscure Learnings, and 2024 Updates". Wccftech. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
- ^ "Expansion - Guild Wars 2 Wiki (GW2W)". wiki.guildwars2.com. Archived from the original on 2022-05-04. Retrieved 2022-03-22.
- ^ "Studio Update: Guild Wars 2 in 2023". GuildWars2.com. Archived from the original on 2023-03-02. Retrieved 2023-03-02.