Developer ArenaNet officially announced "Guild Wars 3" for PC and PlayStation 5 at the Summer Game Fest. The long-awaited sequel abandons old traditions and brings the online role-playing game to a home console for the first time.
Players should be prepared for a long wait, however, as the first beta test isn't scheduled until autumn 2027. The story takes us far back in time. The game is set over a thousand years before the events of the very first Guild Wars. The setting is the region of Orr, which here presents itself as an untamed, magical wilderness borderland.
A new era in the past
Instead of the familiar factions, so-called Vael spirits govern the ecosystem. You take on the role of a Vaelwarden. As a member of an adventurer's guild, you defend these nature spirits against other factions who seek to ruthlessly exploit the land's resources. ArenaNet is thus fully committed to a fresh scenario. Each player also receives a special mount called a Seeker. This creature not only serves as transportation across the open world but also represents your connection to the spirits of Orr.
The combat system of “Guild Wars 3According to the developers, the game was designed from the ground up to be perfectly playable with both keyboard and controller. Dynamic gameplay is paramount. Movement and momentum play a central role. You transform your speed directly into attacks to inflict more damage. Stand still and you lose.
The announcement offers fresh ideas. The decision to forgo a classic sequel scenario and delve into Orr's distant past lifts the burden of old lore from their shoulders. Console gamers, who have been denied access to the series until now, have reason to rejoice.
Nevertheless, you should temper your expectations for now. There's still a long way to go until the first playable beta test in autumn 2027. Images and concrete gameplay footage have yet to prove how good the momentum-focused combat system actually feels. Skepticism is warranted.
What do you think of the radical time jump into the past and the focus on a more action-packed combat system with controller support?
Hypeeeee❤️