Guild Wars Reforged

ArenaNet

Yesterday, ArenaNet announced a light remaster of the first Guild Wars MMORPG is in the works in collaboration with 2weeks, and it’s coming much sooner than you might think. You can file that under news I never expected to see.

Guild Wars Reforged introduces a “plethora” of visual and user interface updates, alongside a lower price, to attract both new and old players to return to the classic MMO two decades after it first released.

Guild Wars Reforged Goes Live on December 3

According to the press release, over nine million players have dove into Guild Wars at some point and collectively have spent over nine billion hours adventuring around Tyria. That’s wild.

If you own Guild Wars Prophecies, Factions, or Nightfall, then you’ll automatically have access to all three bundled together within Guild Wars Reforged. And if you don’t have the game, then all three campaigns will only cost $19.99—and there’s still no subscription fee.

“Even after two decades, we’re still passionate about improving the experience of the original Guild Wars for players,” said game director Stephen Clarke-Willson in a prepared statement. “The game has a dedicated group of fans, and with this update to modernize the experience, we hope players new and old will find a reason to continue adventuring through Tyria together.”

In the release, there are frequent mentions of visual updates, user interface changes, and specifically the inclusion of controller support and official Steam Deck verification. Fingers crossed that eventually means a console port is also coming.

“This new and improved Guild Wars experience is not just limited to controller input options,” the press release states. “The update will also improve in-game functionality by adding high-DPI support for modern high-resolution monitors, new HD skill icons, rendering improvements including new antialiasing options, ambient occlusion, enhanced bloom, more font size options for game text, enhanced 3D environmental audio, and a new quest-tracker that will help players navigate to their next adventure on their monitor or TV.”

They specifically avoid the word remaster, though.

“It’s a real treat to revisit the original Guild Wars,” said Brandon Dillon, co-founder of 2weeks, in a prepared statement. “Beginning as a teenager, I’ve been involved with this franchise from the very start, collaborating with the original studio founders to create the world of Tyria. Partnering with ArenaNet to update and improve the player experience means the game can continue to be a beloved beacon for fans of multiplayer online RPGs for years to come.”

Personally, I had a very brief stint of playing the original Guild Wars due to just not having a capable gaming computer back then at all. While my friends and the rest of the world had moved onto shiny new games like World of Warcraft, EverQuest 2, and Guild Wars, I was still playing RuneScape in browser windows and grinding out Phantasy Star Online on my GameCube. I don’t regret all those hours, to be clear, but I did have some FOMO for sure.

Eventually, I was able to play Guild Wars when visiting a cousin one weekend and loved it. Years later, once I was in college and had a gaming PC of my own, I got hardcore addicted to Guild Wars 2. I haven’t let myself get back into it, but I fear having the original Guild Wars easily accessible on my Steam Deck could do disastrously amazing things to my productivity.

Guild Wars Reforged goes live on December 3 and I can’t wait to check it out.