Guild Wars Afterlife: Major Update Announced for Classic MMO
- ArenaNet and 2Weeks reveal Guild Wars Afterlife, the first major update in nearly 20 years.
- The update introduces a dynamic dungeon and a skill-drafting system, along with a new narrative and region.
- Afterlife launches on January 13, 2024, priced at $29.99 / €29.99 / £25.99, with a 20% pre-order discount.
ArenaNet and co-development studio 2Weeks have officially announced the upcoming expansion, Guild Wars Afterlife, marking the first significant update for Guild Wars in nearly two decades.
Scheduled to launch on January 13, 2024, for both PC and mobile platforms, Afterlife will feature a new dynamic dungeon that alters with each run. Additionally, a skill-drafting system will enable players to create a unique skill bar that changes every time they engage with the dungeon. The update will introduce a fresh narrative, allowing players to interact with new characters and explore the newly unveiled region of Xotecha.
The retail price for Afterlife will be $29.99 / €29.99 / £25.99, but players who pre-order the game between now and January 13 can enjoy a 20% discount.
This announcement is significant as the last substantial content addition to Guild Wars occurred back in August 2007 with the Eye of the North expansion. Since then, ArenaNet has largely directed its focus towards the development of Guild Wars 2 while keeping the original game’s servers operational.
In the interim, Guild Wars has entered a new phase, particularly following the release of Guild Wars Reforged—an enhanced update to the original MMO—in late 2022. The game also saw the addition of a new dungeon in April, which has attracted both new and returning players.
The unveiling of Afterlife occurs amidst ArenaNet’s concurrent development of three live service games: Guild Wars Reforged (including Afterlife), the traditional MMORPG Guild Wars 2, and the anticipated action-focused Guild Wars 3. This multi-project undertaking indicates ArenaNet’s confidence in the ongoing viability of the MMO genre.
News Courtesy of Eurogamer
