Everything we know about Guild Wars 3 – plus what’s happening to Guild Wars 2

The mad folks at ArenaNet did it: During this evening’s Summer Game Fest, the studio officially announced Guild Wars 3 with an all-new cinematic trailer and some enticing initial details.

“Taking place over a thousand years before the events of the original game, Guild Wars 3 is set in the Tyrian region of Orr, a vast wilderness frontier imbued with the world’s magic. […] Players will assume the role of a Vaelwarden, a member of a guild of adventurers committed to preserving and protecting both the spirits of the wild and the land of Orr itself.”

There was a distinct emphasis made in the reveal and on the game’s Steam page of traversal through gliding, leaping, and what appears to be a lot of mount riding, as well as the promise of “a combat system where depth is achieved through strategic skill use, positioning, and movement” that blends action RPG elements and Guild Wars buildcraft, as well as deep character customization. The video does indeed show in-engine gameplay.

“Taking place over a thousand years before the events of the original game, Guild Wars 3 is set in the Tyrian region of Orr, a vast wilderness frontier imbued with the world’s magic. Nature entities with strong connections to the land called Vael spirits embody the vitality of this lush, verdant landscape. Various guilds are engaged in conflict over how to protect or exploit the bounty beyond civilization’s borders. These multitudinous spirits will vary in size and influence within the ecosystems around them, with the most notable of these being the Seeker. As seen in the trailer, every player’s Seeker will serve as a connection to the spirits of Orr and a mount that will carry them on their journeys through the game’s open world.
“Players will assume the role of a Vaelwarden, a member of a guild of adventurers committed to preserving and protecting both the spirits of the wild and the land of Orr itself. Through the deep character customization and skill-building gameplay the Guild Wars franchise is known for, players will seek adventure and confront danger across this sumptuous, vibrant online world, growing their relationships with the spirits of the wild, the inhabitants of Orr, and other Vaelwarden players.
“A combat system designed from the outset to feel great on both a controller and keyboard rewards positioning by emphasizing the joy of movement and momentum. As players seamlessly transition between various movement modes, they can harness their speed and turn it into bigger damage and impact when fighting their foes.”

As for what this means for Guild Wars 2, the MMO’s official site is promising more details tomorrow, June 6th, when several heads of the studio will discuss “the future of the franchise” in a video presentation set to premiere at 12:00 p.m. EDT. It doesn’t sound as if either of the existing MMORPGs is in trouble.

“With the Guild Wars 3 announcement, we know the community will undoubtedly be wondering what’s next for Guild Wars 2. And we’re going to tell you in detail…tomorrow! Today, we’re celebrating the first brand-new game announcement for ArenaNet in almost two decades, and that deserves its moment in the spotlight. But rest assured, we’re not done making Guild Wars 2—or Guild Wars® Reforged for that matter—and we’re committing to actively developing all three games at the same time. Tomorrow, June 6, we’ll be releasing a studio update video, and you’ll hear directly from Studio Head Colin Johanson, Guild Wars 2 Game Director Josh Davis, and Guild Wars® Reforged Game Director Stephen Clarke-Willson as they discuss the future of the Guild Wars franchise. Look out for that video here on our blog and on our YouTube channel tomorrow at 09:00 a.m. Pacific Time (UTC-7). Then, next week, on Tuesday, June 9 at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time (UTC-7), join us for a livestream where Colin and Josh will continue the conversation. It’s an incredible time to be a Guild Wars.”

The GW3 release date wasn’t announced, but ArenaNet promises more information through the rest of this year and into next year, while release is confirmed for both PlayStation 5 and PC and a beta is scheduled to begin fall of 2027. Signups are open on the game’s official website, ~~though it’s been offline ever since the URL was announced,~~ so be patient and maybe enjoy the trailer below. Update: Signups are finally live!