Guild Wars 3
“We all have our own reasons for coming to this vast frontier. But for our guild, we who protect this land, one reason stands above all others: our wonder. You feel it too. I see it in your eyes. Wonder at the astonishing power that shapes this land of Orr, at the great spirits to whom we are bound, at the gods who hold dominion over all. We cannot guarantee your comfort, or even your safety. But if you yearn for horizons unexplored, for fellowship and purpose, for a cause worth dying for...to you, we can promise magic.
Guild Wars 3 is the upcoming third entry in the series of games produced by ArenaNet in the Guild Wars® franchise.
The game will release globally on the standalone PC client, Steam, and PlayStation 5, marking the first time a Guild Wars game will appear on home consoles.
Development progress and release information
Guild Wars 3 was first teased to several Guild Wars® franchise content creators who received mail from ArenaNet containing a modified piece of key art which depicted a group of travelers, later revealed to be Vaelwardens, watching over a lush landscape with massive rings often associated with Orr, as well as the phrase "Raise the banners" which would foreshadow the game's logo. Guild Wars 2 celebrated ArenaNet's appearance in Summer Game Fest with a special in-game event starting 2 June 2026 which included three related achievements, one of which required completing events in Orr as further foreshadowing.
Guild Wars 3 was first announced to the public on 5 June 2026 during Summer Game Fest with Studio Head Colin Johanson appearing on stage to give more teases about the game while promoting the launch of the official Guild Wars 3 website. The game's first beta test is scheduled for Fall 2027.[1] By signing up for the Guild Wars 3 newsletter, players have a chance to join this beta when it opens.
Guild Wars 3 is being designed from the outset with console support in mind.[2]
Connections to Guild Wars 2
- A new Hall of Monuments system will connect Guild Wars 2 and Guild Wars 3.[3]
- A future Guild Wars 2 open-world map set in Orr will serve as a bridge to Guild Wars 3.[3]
- The Future of Guild Wars Franchise
- Development of Guild Wars: Reforged and Guild Wars 2 will continue during the development of Guild Wars 3, and after its release.[3]
- After a year of maintenance on Guild Wars 2, ArenaNet plans to return to annual expansion releases.[2]
Setting
“Set in the enchanting frontier of Orr, the world brims with mystery, magic, and wonder. Play solo or form a band of adventurers, forging impactful and enduring bonds with fellow players, a formative cast of memorable NPCs, and the nature spirits that call Orr home.
— Official website
Guild Wars 3 transports players back over a thousand years before the time of Guild Wars to the Tyrian region of Orr,[4] long prior to its sinking in the Cataclysm and subsequent rising from the Sea of Sorrows. The setting features almost no technology, being described as a more "grounded high fantasy experience" than Guild Wars 2.[2]
The story begins shortly after the goddess Dwayna's son Grenth has succeeded Dhuum as the new God of Death among the Six Gods.[5] Nature entities with strong connections to the land called Vael spirits embody the vitality of Orr's lush, verdant landscape, while various guilds are engaged in conflict over how to protect or exploit the bounty beyond civilization's borders.[4] Orr is entering its golden age, and the Six Gods residing in the floating city of Arah entrust guilds to cultivate the land and protect its inhabitants from wild beasts and competing interests, while the city is viewed as a threat by those who have fallen from divine favor. Magic is unobtainable by most, entrusted only to guilds that the high council and the Six Gods choose; however, magic is also coveted by those who would misuse it, sometimes falling into the wrong hands and leading to disastrous outcomes. Rising tensions and unexpected hardships have everyone seeking help, with most turning to the oldest guild in Orr called the Order of the Vael. However, recent events have caused the Vaelwardens to lapse in their duties from exhaustion as there is simply too much land to cover and too few hands to pitch in.[6][7]
A faction of Lowland Kodan has split off from their Janthir brethren and migrated south to Orr to follow their own paths and answer the call of Koda,[8][9] causing disagreements and strife between them and the kodan who have stayed in the Far Shiverpeaks.[10] A group of asura are living on the surface during this time period, building Rata Pten on the Tyrian mainland.[11] Isgarren and his Wizard's Court continue to observe the Six's actions in secret, not wishing to draw the ire of the gods too soon.[12]
- Characters
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. Like its predecessors, Guild Wars 3 will offer deep character customization options and skill-building gameplay. Over the course of their journey, players will explore the vibrant landscape of Orr, growing their relationships with the spirits of the wild, the inhabitants of Orr, and other Vaelwarden players.[4]
Gameplay
Guild Wars 3's combat system features depth through strategic skill use, positioning, and movement, designed to combine action RPG combat and Guild Wars build-making. The game will have a movement system featuring gliding, running, sliding, riding, and jumping that transfers momentum between modes of travel.[13]
The Vael spirits vary in size and influence within the ecosystems around them, with the most notable of these being the Seeker. 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.[4]
Instead of focusing on a massive numbers of players roaming the world, Guild Wars 3 will be more about segments of small groups playing.[14]
General information
- Supported languages
| Languages | Interface | Full Audio | Subtitles |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 1 |
1 |
1
|
| French | 1 |
1 |
1
|
| German | 1 |
1 |
1
|
| Spanish - Spain | 1 |
1 |
1
|
| Korean | 1 |
1 |
1
|
| Simplified Chinese | 1 |
0 |
1
|
- System requirements
| Component | Minimum requirements[13] |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows 10 64-bit |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 5 2600 |
| Memory | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics | RTX 2060 / Radeon RX 5700 / Intel Arc A580 |
| Storage | 65 GB available space |
Gallery
- See also: Category:Guild Wars 3 images
- Screenshots
- Concept art and logograms
Secondary monogram logo.
Key art. Its modified version was first mailed to content creators to build up speculation about the game in advance.
Farm.
Market.
External links
|
The Guild Wars 3 Wiki has an article on Guild Wars 3. |
- Official Guild Wars 3 website, GuildWars3.com
- Guild Wars 3 | Announcement Trailer, YouTube.com
- Guild Wars 3 | The Setting of Guild Wars 3: Stepping into Ancient Orr, YouTube.com
- Guild Wars 3 press kit, Arena.net
- Stores
- Social medias
References
- ↑ "Celebrating the Announcement of Guild Wars 3", GuildWars2.com
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Guild Wars Franchise Update Livestream, Twitch.tv
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "The Future of Guild Wars: Our Commitment to Tyria", YouTube.com, June 6, 2026.
- Colin Johanson at 1:58
- All three games share the world of Tyria. They are intentionally very different in design, in experience, and where they sit on the timeline, whichever one is your home... We're going to continue developing it for years to come.
- Josh Davis at 4:30
- First off, we're building a new Hall of Monuments system that will connect Guild Wars 2 with Guild Wars 3. This will let you carry your accomplishments forward over to 3.
- [...] And the fourth announcement is a new open world map set in Orr bridging the Tyria that you know and the Tyria that's you're about to discover in Guild Wars 3.
- Colin Johanson at 1:58
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "Guild Wars 3, Modern Evolution of the MMORPG, Announced at Summer Game Fest for PC and PlayStation 5" , Newswire.ca
- ↑ Comment by Colin Johanson, Reddit.com
- ↑ The Setting of Guild Wars 3: Stepping into Ancient Orr, GuildWars3.com
- ↑ The Setting of Guild Wars 3: Stepping into Ancient Orr, YouTube.com
- Bobby Stein: Instead of focusing on a planet embroiled in war, we wanted to show conflicts between guilds and other forces operating in this territory. [...] Orr is entering its golden age when the human gods entrust guilds to cultivate the land and protect its inhabitants from wild beasts and competing interests. It's a time of rising tensions when magic is unobtainable by most, entrusted only to guilds that the high council and the human gods choose. It's coveted by those who would misuse it, sometimes falling into the wrong hands and leading to disastrous outcomes. Above the dense forests and the wild plains, the shining city of Arah floats majestically against the clouds, visible from every direction. It's a source of comfort to some and a threat to those who have fallen from divine favor. Under the city's shadow, farmers tend land and livestock to sustain a growing population. But rising tensions and unexpected hardships have everyone seeking help. Most turned to the Order of the Vael, the oldest guild on Orr, to aid them in their time of need. However, recent events have caused the Vaelwardens to lapse in their duties. Not out of dereliction, but from exhaustion. There's simply too much land to cover and too few hands to pitch in.
- ↑ Harvest Den ambient dialogue
- ↑ Unknown Territory
- Wry Lichen: The same will of our Claw channeled in the trial's aftermath. Rather than risk ruin, he led the tribe south. To Janthir.
- Wry Lichen: Given time, some kodan found themselves called back by the will of Koda. A call they followed to Orr.
- ↑ Strangers among Lands
- Cresting Wave: Stoic Alder... It is not often that the lowlanders leave the forest.
- <Character name>: So you know each other?
- Cresting Wave: No. They've always kept their distance from the Shiverpeaks. And we avoid their bay.
- <Character name>: Why's that?
- Cresting Wave: Disagreements far older than me or you. A lot of that strife sank with Orr, though. I'm curious to see them join the rest of the world.
- ↑ Early Asura Relief Rubbing
- ↑ Archival Records: Legavo, the Binding of Wills
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Guild Wars 3™, Store.Steampowered.com
- ↑ Aion 2 producer says it's good to have 'friendly competition' with Guild Wars 3 'during this period where MMOs are struggling', PCGamer.com
