The Guild Wars 2 2023 roadmap announces a huge pivot in the way ArenaNet develops the beloved MMO.
Guild Wars 2 2023 Will Change the Game Forever
Written by Ollie Bradley at 02/14/2023, 03:03 AM
The Guild Wars 2 2023 roadmap has been unveiled, and ArenaNet has promised a pretty big change in direction for the future of its universally beloved MMORPG. And although the current model garnered awards aplenty from various gaming sites, the change in tactic shows that ArenaNet isn't about to let things go stale any time soon.
In fact, ArenaNet opened its recent blog by pinpointing a "problem" in the current model upon reflecting on the decade-long Elder Dragons saga conclusion. As a result, the studio has now resolved to deliver content updates "in a more timely and consistent manner."
This means foregoing the current delivery of Living World seasons in favor of giving the title's existing systems a little more TLC. Which will include focusing on support for popular game modes, delivering frequent quality-of-life updates to systems like professions, implementing new features, and expanding on Tyria with immersive story updates.
These updates will come in the form of quarterly expansions. Which is a pretty far cry from the two-to-four year expansion cycle that players are currently used to. The expansions will now be smaller (and cheaper), but will help to keep those of us with lower attention spans engaged. And ArenaNet is wasting no time, as the first Guild Wars 2 2023 update is just a couple of weeks away.
February 28th will introduce two new open-world maps, two Strike Missions, new gameplay and combat features, new Masteries, and new rewards. And because it comprises the next chapter in End of Dragons, this content will be available to anybody who owns the expansion.
A brand new expansion will soon follow. Although ArenaNet is keeping its cards close to its chest, stating that "in the background, we'll be quietly working on what's to come in the second half of the year. We'll have more to share on that later."
Needless to say, this is the biggest change to happen in Guild Wars 2 in years. We suspect that the audience may be divided (it is an MMO, after all). Though if ArenaNet continue to forge ahead with their player-focussed ethos, we have every faith that they'll still be raking in the accolades at the end of 2023.