Over a decade after its launch, Old School RuneScape remains one of the biggest MMOs in the world. Jagex's MMO is great, but sometimes, it's good to take a break and try s??omething new.

We're looking at 8 MMOs to play if you like Old School RuneScape. Each title on this list has something to offer that will remind players of OSRS, while remaining great games in their own right.

8. Lost Ark

Much like Old School RuneScape, Lost Ark features a point-and-click movement system, which is pretty rare to find in a modern MMO. That's largely where the similarities stop, but fans of the genre will undoubtedly have a blast with Lost Ark.

The game's art style is pretty unique, and it's got your standard MMO fare with questing, crafting, and endgame raids. Overall though, Lost Ark's combat is the star of the show. It's reminiscent of something like Diablo, where you must chain skills to deal huge damage. These skills are unique depending on your class, offering a ton of replayability to Lost Ark.

7. New World: Aeternum

If the traditional MMO structure is a little stale to you, New World: Aeternum might not change your thoughts much. You know exactly what you're getting into here if you've played games like WoW, but it does it all with such a high production quality that you simply can't discount ?it.

The visuals are gorgeous, the combat is free-flowing and engaging, and the main quest is a winner, too. New World: Aeternum also rewards crafting so heavily that its hard to remember any MMO like ?it. If you put the time in to gather your resources, that's how you'll get your endgame gear - no grinding tough bosses ?and hoping for a random drop here.

6. Palia

If you like the skilling side of Old School RuneScape, then Palia is sure to appeal to your interests. Part life simulator, part MMO, Palia is a cozy game about living off the land in a world along??side yo??ur friends.

Fishing, farming, cooking, constructing a home - these gameplay concepts are at the heart of Palia. While RuneScape's offerings are more point-and-click and Palia's require a more hands-on approach, they're the same core ideas. If you're looking for a relaxing MMO, you can do a lot worse than starting a virtual life in Palia.

5. Guild Wars 2

Don't let Guild Wars 2's age fool you. It's still an MMO well worth trying?? in 2024, offering pl??enty of unique experiences you won't find anywhere else in the genre.

I largely want to hone in on Guild Wars 2's Dynamic Events system. It's such a huge part of the game, replacing the traditional quests you might find in other MMOs. Around the game world, things just... happen. This can be as big as an enormous monster threatening an entire town, for which you'll need a big group of players to defeat, or it can be as small as a suspicious NPC in a city who leads you to their hidden treasure. Guild Wars 2 is dynamic storytelling at its finest.

4. RuneScape 3

Well, yeah. Obviously. If you're a fan of Old School RuneScape, there's a good chance you'll like RuneScape 3, too. While many series fans are vehemently against the newer game's modernized combat and aggressive microtransactions, the core gameplay still evokes the classic RuneScape feeling.

The two games have taken different paths, meaning RuneScape 3 has tons of great quests that Old School RuneScape players will have never seen. There are even a few exclusive skills, like Summoning, Divination, Invention, Archaeology, and Necromancy. XP comes much easier in RuneScape 3, too, removing much of the grind aspect of Old School RuneScape skills. Whether that's a good thing or not is person??al pref??erence.

3. Neverwinter

Neverwinter is a classic Dungeons & Dragons MMO, with a huge focus on its engrossing narrative. Sadly, much of the conversation about Neverwinter in recent years has turned to its monetization strategy. It's a shame, really. As far as MMOs go, few have ??such an epic main questline, and that deserves to be celebrated.

Many long-time fans of the game have complained about its grind. That word, "grind," is music to the ears of Old School RuneScape players. They live for the grind. Yearn for it. Yeah, I reckon OSRS players would love Neverwinter.

2. The Elder Scrolls Online

Over 10 years after its launch, The Elder Scrolls Online remains as popular as ever. Its game world of Tamriel evokes serious Old School RuneScape vib??es, as do its quests, which are some of the most interes??ting you'll find in an MMO.

Elder Scrolls Online's world is its biggest strength. Tamriel has so much to see and do, whether that be exploring locations previously seen in the series, grinding levels, or completing Trials, which are ESO's 12-player raid dungeons. If you like Old School RuneScape, I feel pretty safe in sayin??g ?you'll enjoy this one.

1. Albion Online

It only takes a cursory glance at Albion Online to see why it might appeal to fans of Old School RuneScape. Visually, its graphics style draws an immediate comparison to OSRS, but the similarities aren't just surface level.

Albion Online is classless, just like Old School RuneScape. This means that your character's strengths are defined by your actions rather than an arbitrary choice you make at the start of the game. There's also the player-driven economy, with all items in the game being gathered or created by players. This is perfect for Old School RuneScape Ironman players who don't mind facing a grind.

The post 8 MMOs to play if you like Old School RuneScape appeared first on Destructoid.

If you want to experience free games on Steam, there's, thankfully, a lot that the store has to offer. You can gallivant with your friends on hostile planets in PlanetSide 2 or message your love interest friend in a pseudo-AOL Messenger in Emily is Away.

The best free games on Steam offer a ton of content and have as few restrictions as possible. These 20 titles certainly do that in spades. The monthly active users are based on Steam Charts' stats from the past 30 days.

Apex Legends

• Steam release date: November 4, 2020
• Publisher: EA
• Monthly active players: 104,039

One of the best battle royales in the market right now is Apex Legends. It provides the high-precision gunplay from Titanfall 2 and brings it into the competitive battle royale space. Sliding down hills and using each hero's powers is satisfying to perform in the game. There will be many intense moments as you contend against opposing teams, and the game provides many opportunities to fail or succeed. The free-to-play model is a little on the expensive side if you want cosmetics and more characters, but playing from the base roster is also entertaining to start Apex Legends with.

Brawlhalla

• Steam release date: October 17, 2017
• Publisher: Ubisoft
• Monthly active players: 10,369

If you're annoyed you can't play Super Smash Bros. on PC, check out Brawlhalla. It features a smooth platform fighter experience that plays great online. It also has a vibrant cast of characters to choose from. Many will be locked behind payments or in-game progression, but there is a regularly updated free rotation of characters to choose from. One of the game's unique strategic elements is switching ??two weapons available to each player. Each weapon's move set is radically different, and you'll need to decide which option best suits the situation.

The Finals

• Steam release date: December 3, 2023
• Publisher: Embark Studios
• Monthly active players: 14,242

Destructible e?nvironments, participating in a game show, and great gunplay all combine into The Finals, one of the latest multiplayer hits on Steam. You’re taking?? a cash prize and trying to transport it to a capture area. On the way,?? you’ll have to fend off two other teams of three. With an exciting vertical element to each map, The Finals manages to stand out among its FPS competition?. Check this game out when you can!?? Oh, and it’s crossplay too! 

My Hero Ultra Rumble

• Steam release date: September 28, 2023
• Publisher: Bandai Namco
• Monthly active players: 1,494

Anime fans, rejoice! My Hero Ultra Rumble is a ne??at battle royale take on the beloved anime series. Each hero or villain has their own quirks that change the battle. Deku can pick up allies and run fast to get away from enemies. Meanwhile, Cementoss cr??eates stone walls to protect his team and keep the enemy team distracted. If you don’t want to shoot down enemies in Call of Duty Warzone or Fortnite, My Hero Ultra Rumble offers a refreshing take on the genre. 

Emily is Away

• Steam release date: November 20, 2015
• Publisher: Kyle Seeley
• Monthly active players: 11

Emily is Away is a nostalgic? journey back into the Windows XP era of communication. There was no Facebook, TikTok, or Instagram. Instead, you used to chat on AOL Instant Messenger. This unique storytelling device isn't just a gimmick, however. There's a beautifully told narrative about two friends who have grown apart from each other since high school and are trying to reconnect. Despite there being no voice acting, all the emotional beats are there, as you await Emily's response. Try this one-hour game out when you can. It's one of the best free games on Steam.

Guild Wars 2

• Steam release date: August 23, 2022
• Publisher: NCSoft
• Monthly active players: 3,367

Can't afford Final Fantasy XIV Online or don't want to bother with the Battle.net client on PC for World of Warcraft? Guild Wars 2 is a good third option for an MMO. You can play the entirety of the engaging core campaign for free. However, there are restrictions you should keep in mind, like locked content until you reach a certain level. Despite that one fault, Guild Wars 2 offers a stunning world e??nriched with entertaining MMORPG gameplay.

Farlight 84

• Steam release date: September 21, 2023
• Publisher: Farlight Games
• Monthly active players: 1,817

Tired of Fortnite and want something new? Farlight 84 may be your antidote. It blends the art style of Epic Games�battle royale and mixes it with the ability-based system of Apex Legends. The result is a solid shooter that impresses new fans of the game and isn’t even out of Early Access yet. The weapons feel heavy and powerful, and the overall environments look pleasing to the eye. Just tur?n off the voice acting; it’s pretty bad!

Disney Speedstorm

• Steam release date: April 18, 2023
• Publisher: Gameloft
• Monthly active players: 262

Want a fun Mario Kart-like game without having to r??esort to emulation? Disney Speedstorm is a great free-t?o-play substitute. The tracks are immaculately designed and based on the films we know and love like Lilo & Stitch, Aladdin, and Pirates of the Caribbean. You’ll be avoiding pillars of fire within the Cave of Wonders and giant tentacles from sea monsters in Port Royal. While the items are disappointingly generic for a Disney game like this, there is a neat alternate use?? for most of them by holding do?wn the button. For example, with a boost (mushroom), you can hold it to get three smaller bursts of speed rather than just one. Read my review for more information.

Marvel Snap

• Steam release date: August 22, 2023
• Publisher: Nuverse
• Monthly active players: 4,723

Everyone knows and loves the Marvel Cinematic Universe, so a card game based on the property could be a cheap cash-in. Fortunately, Marvel Snap is a cherished title for fans of card games, and it's free to play. "At work and at home, I just can’t put it down," said CJ Andriessen in his review. "With its structure and speed, it doesn’t feel as tactical as some of the other card games I’ve played, but it finds a way to be satisfying in its brevity." Each match in Marvel Snap also only lasts for three or so minutes, as opposed to Hearthstone, making this quick and easy to play.

Path of Exile

• Steam release date: October 23, 2013
• Publisher: Grinding Gear Games
• Monthly active players: 23,219

Path of Exile, despite it being a free Steam game, is an excellent alternative to the Diablo series if you crave more ARPG goodness. It features a tonne of passives to unlock through the huge skill tree system. It also includes plenty of classes, including the Duelist, Marauder, Ranger, Scion, Shadow, Templar, and Witch. Path of Exile will offer hours upon hours of content for the low, low price of $0, and it also has PvP mode?s like tournaments and Capture The Flag.

Team Fortress 2

• Steam release date: October 10, 2007
• Publisher: Valve
• Monthly active players: 52,155

A cherished multiplayer game for many Team Fortress 2 is an absolute classic. This team-based shooter has you playing different r??oles. One can be the Heavy, dealing a lot of damage with his mini-gun. Another player can send out Sentries and Teleporters throughout the map as the Engineer. There are many options available, so you can find the right playstyle. Despite the game being over a decade old, it still holds up visually with a cartoony art style. Give it a go if you haven't already.

The Sims 4

• Steam release date: September 2, 2014
• Publisher: EA
• Monthly active players: 26,585

Living out your dreams as a Sim doesn't necessarily sound fun, but The Sims 4 somehow sucks you in for many hours at a time. You're building your own house, family, and wealth in the game which will feel rewarding. You also grow relationships with other sims by hanging out with them and performing a variety of activities in the community. All of this is now free to play on Steam, so go ahead and download The Sims 4, if you want a chill simulation game to play.

Warframe

• Steam release date: March 25, 2013
• Publisher: Digital Extremes
• Monthly active players: 45,873

It's been a decade, but Warframe still pulls in players tod??ay. This game is extremely fast with powerful guns and delightful swordplay. It's been supported thoroughly by developer Digital Extremes. The game added an open world, and there is spaceship warfare to be had. The art style is also unabashedly strange as it embellishes its sci-fi genre with pride.

Omega Strikers

• Steam release date: September 16, 2022
• Publisher: Odyssey Interactive
• Monthly active players: 375

The precision of the MOBA gameplay of League mixed with the sport of soccer do?esn’t sound like a great mix, but Omega Strikers certainly proved me wrong. Each character has their own skills to master while you’re trying to score a goal. You can even take out your foes with your abilities by striking them out of the arena. The graphics are gorgeous, the concept really comes through, and the head-bump-worthy music will?? keep your heart racing. Check this game out!

Splitgate

• Steam release date: May 24, 2019
• Publisher: 1047 Games
• Monthly active players: 212

If you thought Halo Infinite’s multiplayer was disappointing, give Splitgate a go. This arena shooter offers cool weapons to control and a unique mechanic that lets you use portals to shoot through or teleport with. In my opinion, the maps are far more interesting than their Xbox-published counterpart. There are many modes to choose from as well, and you can create Custom Lobbies w?ith all manner of rules available, including Big-Head mode.

DC Universe Online

• Steam release date: November 2, 2011
• Publisher: Daybreak Game Company
• Monthly active players: 361

We've all wanted to step into the shoes of Batman and Superman, and you can get that power fantasy by creating your own hero or villain in DC Universe Online. Behind it is over a decade of content with plenty of DC stories and experiences to encounter in this free-to-play MMO. Some of the quests are written by DC comic legends Geoff Johns and Marv Wolfman. Unlike others of its genre, the combat's fast and revolves around your choice of superpower. The game might be 13 years old, but it's still getting Very Positive reviews on Steam to this day.

PlanetSide 2

• Steam release date: November 20, 2012
• Publisher: Daybreak Game Company
• Monthly active players: 667

PlanetSide 2 is a massive FPS that spans across wide environments and many players against each other. It's not just about capturing points on a map like the Battlefield series. Instead, Daybreak Game Studios says "The core gameplay of PlanetSide 2 is about holding crucial territories and controlling resources." It also says you'll have to work "strategically as a team to secure tactical positions has long-lasting effects that can shift the tide of battle." There are six different classes to master as well as you go to war in PlanetSide 2.

Super Animal Royale

• Steam release date: August 26, 2021
• Publisher: Pixile
• Monthly active players: 578

Want a fresh spin on the battle royale genre? Well, you can play this cute take on it as you play as animals picking up weapons and trying to be the last remaining. Super Animal Royale features unique 2D bird's eye view angle on the action. The action gets wild with bombs of different types, grenades, and dart guns, in addition to the regular guns you'd expect like a shotgun or SMG. You have a fun, slightly less intense night with Super Animal Royale than the likes of Apex Legends, ?which needs precision in a? reflex-based first person-shooter.

Dark & Darker

• Steam release date: June 7, 2024
• Publisher: IRONMACE
• Monthly active players: 17,458

Those who like sickeningly hard games will find comfort in Dark & Darker. In a D&D-like dungeon, you’re exploring an ancient citadel thwart with many dangers. You’ll be taking on tough monsters and making your way through the depths of this citadel to get the treasure you’re seeing. You can play as a barbarian, a ranger, and a bard in a three-person squad as you turn off lights to get away from enemy detection and utilize magic to gain the upper hand. The game is currently in early access, but it has a Mostly Positive score on Steam right now.

MultiVersus

• Steam release date: July 19, 2022
• Publisher: WB Games
• Monthly active players: 1,735

After disappearing for almost a year, MultiVersus has returned stronger than ever with new characters like The Powerpuff Girls and Beetlejuice taking on the likes of Bugs Bunny and Superman. The Smash-like platform fighter is thrilling with spectacular special moves, funny voice lines, and an overall polished product. Some of the new stages like the Warner Bros Water Tower are also bright, beautiful, and fun to play on. All of the action is cross-play between all of its available systems, so you can play wit??h your pals on consoles.

Previous entries:

• Smite
• Halo Infinite multiplayer
• The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog
• Goose Goose Duck
• DOTA 2
• Star Wars: The Old Republic

The post 20 best free games on Steam right now appeared first on Destructoid.

Finally, explore the floating castle

NCSoft has announced that their long-lasting MMORPG Guild Wars 2 will be receiving a fourth expansion. Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure will see players soaring through new maps high above the skies of Tyria with new updates to flight masteries. Veteran players will recognize the setting of this expansion: the Wizard's Tower. This tower has been floating in the sky since Guild Wars 2 was released and players will finally get to e??xplore it.

Alongside the normal expansion updates such as new story content, quests, dungeons, and more, Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure will feature some exciting new combat options. Players will gain additional flexibility and playstyle diversity by equipping weapons that were previously exclusive to elite specializations. Furthermore, a new relic and rune system allows you to augment your build with special effects. Finally, all nine professions will gain access to a new weapon from the Guild Wars 2 armory. This will grant new skills and fighting styles to accompany the other combat system changes coming with the expansion. Fans anxious to tr?y out the new combat changes will get a chance to do so this weekend during a combat beta test.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=cc4rcnC5ECM

Continual updates after release

Guild Wars 2 players have been disappointed with the lack of love their game has gotten recently. With the new expansion, NCSoft has planned new major content releases every few months. These updates will introduce new locations and rewards as the expansion continues to grow. Each update will expand its features and the story of Secrets of the Obscure.

While I have played Guild Wars 2, it's never stuck with me like Final Fantasy XIV or World of Warcraft. That being said, I know the game has a huge devout player base that I'm sure is beyond ecstatic about this news. At the end of the day, no one likes to see their MMORPG die out like Wildstar or Sword of Legends Online (the latter of which is closing its servers for good on June 30, 2023). A big expansion is great news for the future of Guild Wars 2.

Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure will launch on PC on August 22.

The post Guild Wars?? 2 to get fourth expansion Secrets of the Obscure appeared first on Destructoid.

End of Dragons is the priority

Earlier this year, we were given a teaser taste of Guild Wars 2's next expansion: which would later come to be known as End of Dragons.

But while we waited for the next chapter of the Guild Wars saga to begin, ArenaNet dished out some juicy news that the game was coming to Steam (sans account transfers). Well, that plan is changing, at least temporarily. According to a short post from ArenaNet, the company has made the decision to "put the Guild Wars 2 Steam release on hold for the time being."

The reason given? Their "number one priority" is focusing on the End of Dragons expansion and the "epic climax" to the current storyline, to deliver "high quality" content. In fact, the first major look at the upcom??ing Icebrood Saga conclusion is coming this week on November 5.

For those of you who don't play Guild Wars 2, the idea is that the game is part of a "living" world, where storyline changes can come through major or minor patches. Although other MMOs like World of Warcraft have "pre-patches" and the like to facilitate similar story arcs, Guild Wars 2 is built around its narrative at its core.

While it??'s a bummer that the game isn't co?ming to Steam anytime soon, I'm sure veterans don't mind as they can't transfer their accounts anyway.

Guild Wars 2 Steam Release News [ArenaNet]

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There's no way to convert a GW2 account to a Steam account

Eight years later, Guild Wars 2 is finally coming to Steam. Out of nowhere. ArenaNet also shared a vibrant teaser trailer for the 2021 expansion End of Dragons that references Cantha and Kuunavang.

The subscription-less MMO will be playable on Steam starting in November – wh??o kne?w the day would ever come? – but there's a big caveat: current player accounts "cannot be accessed via Steam."

In other words, the Steam edition of Guild Wars 2 will have "the same maps and servers," and "everyone plays together," but accounts won't be able to transfer over from the ArenaNet launcher and?? vice-versa.

With that in mind, the Steam release is about pulling in new audiences (or, I guess, bringing back lapsed fans who dropped the game years ago and wouldn't necessarily mind starting fresh on Steam along with their buddies). It's wild to think that I was into Guild Wars 2 way back ??when. I can't imagine returning – MMOs aren't compatible with my day-to-day in 2020 – but plenty of people will dig it.

Your First Look at Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons [ArenaNet] [Thanks, elric6]

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'A glimpse at the distant future'

It's kind of incredible that Guild Wars 2 has lasted this long.

It turns eight years old this August, and ArenaNet, for the most part, has been a pretty good steward of the game.  In all that time it's only hosted two expansions (Heart of Thorns and Path of Fire): otherwise, it's been propelled by its "Living World" seasonal concept that was ?way ahead of the curve of many others games at the time. Now it's gearing up for another era of the game.

On the official site, the team puts it plainly: "Development is underway on a third Guild Wars 2 expansion." There you have it. Although it's "too soon" to mention any specific details about pretty much anything (even the timeline), they did give us a "piece of early concept art," and the pagodas and cherry blossoms are a dead giveaway that Guild Wars 2 is looking to the east in the future.

Although things are a bit uncertain right now (and ArenaNet is centered in Seattle, where Washington state was hit pretty hard by COVID-19), expansions typically release with a two- to three-year cadence (2015, 2017). Guild Wars 2 is due for one??, but we could be waiting unti??l 2021 for it.

A Glimpse of the Distant Future [Guild Wars 2]

The post The Guild Wars 2 team is teasing a?n eastern expa??nsion appeared first on Destructoid.

New expansion looks hot!

Guild Wars 2 is looking set to expand, soon, with the recently announced Path of Fire. The newest add-on will be releasing on September 22 and will bring players back to one of the lands from the original Guild Wars, The Crystal Desert. The main goal of this latest adventure will be to track down the rogue god Balthazar, which just makes me think we'll be living out an episode of Futurama in a fantasy setting.

If you pre-order the expansion now (and have an account in good standing), you'll be granted access to a preview weekend set for August 11 - 13. This preview will allow you begin your journey and experience the new Raptor mount, which sounds awesome. Pre-ordering will also net you some goodies in the form of a miniature, a title and a weapon skin. All users will receive a free level boost up?on buying the game, bringing one character to level 80 immediately.

As for how big this expansion will be, there are no specifics, but ArenaNet president and co-founder Mike O'Brien is quoted as saying, "This new expansion is all about content. An epic story, five immense new open-world zones, mounts tha?t allow you to move through Tyria in all-new ways, and nine new elite specializations." Sounds chock full of goodness.

As big of a fan as I was of the first Guild Wars, I completely missed the boat on the sequel. I suppose I could just jump in now and start questing, but I always feel daunted by the vast amount of content MMO's amass over the years. The idea of returning to World of Warcraft, for example, ??fills me with an ove?rwhelming sense of dread.

Either way, Path of Fire does seem suitably epic and I'm sure it will be a b?ig treat for fans.

The post Get ready to walk the Path of Fire in G?uild Wars 2 appeared first on Destructoid.

But if you want more, it's there

My experience with Guild Wars 2 has been very similar to a lot of people I've met over the years. We all agree it's a wonderful, beautiful take on MMOs, and delivers on its promise of a subscription-free game. But at the same time, we often find ourselves gravitating towards other games every few months on a more consistent basis, like Final Fantasy XIV.

Guild Wars 2 is a massive success for ArenaNet, who is always listening to its fanbase for adjustments and the like, but it doesn't offer up a lot of endgame activities or structures that hardcore MMO fans are usually accustomed to. The developer's recent Heart of Thorns expansion is basically m?ore of the same, which is either a good or a bad thing depending on your initial experience.

Heart of Thorns is, first and foremost, a massive collective of content updates for $50. It takes place across four new zones, which may n?ot sound like much -- unless you account for the fact that they're tiered. The concept works far better than it sounds, as the massive canopies make? for a unique setting that hasn't been done all that often in the MMO space. It's also visually more impressive than any region in the base game, and contains more lore than any one person can ever handle.

I had a chance to speak to ArenaNet's Loremaster and Writer Jeff Grub years back, and his enthusiasm for every pore of the Guild Wars lore was palpable. That passion is present in Heart of Thorns just as much as it was in the base game. The story is marked?ly better than it was in the past. The stakes feel high, the world is constantly out to get you (which is represented by the creepy forest feel of the new areas), and the entire presentation has been improved. Cutscenes don't feel cheap and tacked on, bringing you further into the game's world.

It's important to note though, there's no new level cap -- it's still at 80. Instead, "masteries" have replaced the level extension, and it's a system that ArenaNet is interested in expanding upon going forward. They amount to new abilities and skill trees that players can pick from, including powers like gliding and environmental interaction. But just because ArenaNet has re-labeled late-game leveling in this manner doesn't mean you're free of grinding. To obtain every mastery, you'll essentially have to level up from 1-80 multiple times over. Depending on who you ask, thi??s is? either an excessive amount of grinding, or a way to keep players engaged. I'm somewhere in the middle, partially because the effect is account-wide -- it actively benefits players with multiple characters.

I also created a Revanant, the newest class in the expansion. It might be my favorite character yet, as I dig the necessity between switching styles, and utilizing offensive and defensive abilities on a whim. Thankfully, every existing class also sports a new specialization, which expands everyone's abilities, and results in cool loadouts like casters using Greatswords. Vanilla Guild Wars 2 already had a fantastic open class sy?stem, and this just makes it even more approachable. There is no "wrong" choice when it comes to crea??tion, basically, and even less of a need to re-roll a character.

For the most part, Guild Wars 2 continues excelling as a PVE game. It's as easy as ever to walk out into the open world, do a few quests with strangers without eve??n grouping, and participate in open events against world bosses. It's awesome, and is easily the best public questing has ever been handled to date in an MMO. Guild Halls help accentuate that community feel, and if you're into RPing or casual play, helping your teammates build and upgrade?? your hall results in a massive sense of accomplishment. But once you've obtained all the masteries you want and start seeing the same old content, you hit a wall -- the lingering need for more endgame.

There is one way ArenaNet is planning on satiating the hardcore crowd, though -- proper [10-person] raids. The Spirit Vale is set to drop next week on November 17, which is the first of three planned wings. While the jury is still out on that aspect of the game, Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns is a pretty fantastic expansion all told, and you don't have a lot to lose checking it?? out at some point without a subscription fee.

The post Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns won’t change your opinion of Guild Wars appeared first on Destructoid.

Finger cross on PC port not sucking

(Update: New deals now available for MGSV, added in below).

Of the two AAA titles releasing on September 1st the big one is Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. PC gamers are getting discounts up to 23% off at GMG dropping the price to $44.99. A good alternative is DLGamer where 20% off coupon DLG-QOPANFAE cuts the price to $47.99. There'??s no pre-load available for Phantom Pain so where ever ??you buy, you'll be at the mercy for your internet connection come Tuesday.

Joining MGSV is Mad Max, a?? title that's somehow g?aining over 50% off in pre-order discount... making this a essentially a $30 title on launch day. You can read into that however you like.

The Humble Store is running an "End of Summer" Sale with loads of discount. Today is also the last day to grab their free copy of Stealth Inc 2: A Game of Clones&nbs?p;- a surprising freebie that you proba??bly don't already own 6 copies of.

In another freebie "deal" of sort, ArenaNet's popular Guild Wars 2 base game is now free to play with very generous restrictions in place for free players. More details can be found here.

Finally if you're looking for ultraportable laptops, there are some solid deals this week on Lenovo's popular Yoga series along with a MacBook Air and X1 Carbon (bottom of list). You're not going to be able to run MGSV on any of these (probably) but with the latest Intel integ??rated GPU, casual gaming is not too far of a stretch.

Sep 1st Releasing Deals

• MGSV Phantom Pain (Steam) —$46.20 at GMG
  Use code: SAVE23-WITHGM-GSEP15
• MGSV Phantom Pain (Steam) — $47.99 at DLGamer 
  Use code: DLG-QOPANFAE

• Mad Max (Steam) — $30  (list price $60)
• MGS V Phantom Pain Day One + $10 Rewards (PS4, Xbox One) — $59.99
• MGS V Phantom Pain Day One + $10 Rewards (PS3, Xbox 360) — $49.99

Recent Releases

• 08/27: Dead in Bermuda (Steam) — $9.95  (list price $15)
• 08/25: Age of Survival (Steam) — $12.59  (list price $19)
• 08/25: Madden NFL 16 (PS4, Xbox One) — $49.99  (list price $60)
• 08/25: Pillars of Eternity Expansion Pass (Steam) — $19.50  (list price $25)
• 08/25: Crookz – The Big Heist (Steam) — $21.06  (list price $30)
• 08/25: Mega Man Legacy Collection (Steam) — $11.70  (list price $15)
• 08/24: Valhalla Hills (Steam) — $12.48  (list price $20)
• 08/18: Zombi (Uplay) — $15.60  (list price $20)
• 08/04: Fairy Fencer F (Steam) — $23.40  (list price $30)

Upcoming Releases

• 09/03: Company of Heroes 2 - British Forces (Steam) — $10.65  (list $13)
• 09/08: Armikrog (Steam) — $17.55  (list price $25)
• 09/25: FIFA 16 (Origin) — $46.20  (list price $60)
• 09/29: NBA 2K16 (Steam) — $46.20  (list price $60)
• 10/09: Civilization: Beyond Earth - Rising Tide (Steam) — $21.06   (list $30)
• 11/06: Call of Duty: Black Ops III (Steam) — $46.20  (list price $60)
• 11/10: Fallout 4 (Steam) — $46.20  (list price $60)
• 11/17: Star Wars: Battlefront (Origin) — $46.20  (list price $60)

PC Game Deals

Humble Store: End of Summer Sale

• Valkyria Chronicles (Steam) — $4.99  (list price $20)
• Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons (Steam) — $2.99  (list price $15)
• Rogue Legacy (Steam) — $2.24  (list price $15)
• Terraria (Steam) — $2.49  (list price $10)
• Super Meat Boy (Steam) — $1.49  (list price $15)
• Skullgirls (Steam) — $2.24  (list price $15)

More PC Deals

• Galactic Civilizations III (Steam) — $29.25  (list price $50)
• The Witcher III: Wild Hunt — $27.99  (list price $60)
• Sorcerer King (Steam) — $23.40  (list price $40)
• Elder Scrolls Bundle at GOG — $21.37  (list $32)
• Mount and Blade Full Collection (Steam) — $17.55  (list price $45)
• Guild Wars 2: Heroic Edition — $15.99  (list price $40)
• Magicka Collection (Steam) — $10.92  (list price $40)
• Fallout Bundle at GOG — $9.99  (list price $30)
• Alien Rage Unlimited (Steam) — $3.90  (list price $20)
• A Game of Dwarves (Steam) — $2.73  (list price $10)

Console Game Deals

• Mortal Kombat X (PS4, Xbox One) — $49.99  (list price $60)
• Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited (PS4, XOne) — $39.99  (list $60)
• Final Fantasy Type-0 HD (PS4, Xbox One) — $34.99  (list $50)
• Dragon Ball Xenoverse (PS4, X360, XOne, PS3) — $29.99  (list $40)
• NBA 2K15 (PS4, Xbox One) — $29.99  (list price $60)
• Assassin's Creed Rogue (Xbox 360, PS3) — $19.99  (list price $40)
• Evolve (PS4, Xbox One) — $19.99  (list price $40)
• Far Cry 4 (PS4, Xbox 360, PS3, PC DVD) — $19.99  (list price $40)
• Assassin's Creed Unity (PS4, Xbox One) — $19.99  (list price $40)

Laptop Deals

• 13.3" Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro, M-5Y71, 1800p, 256GB SSD — $1,099  (list $1,500)
• 14" Lenovo Yoga 3, i5-5200U, 128GB SSD — $829  (list $1,100)
• 13.3" MacBook Air, i5-5250U, 128GB SSD — $799.99  (list $1,100)
• 14" Lenovo X1 Carbon, i5-4300U, 128GB SSD, 1440p — $799.99  (list $1,200)
• 13.3" Lenovo U31-70, i5-5200U, 8GB — $569  (list $900)

HDTV Deals

• 79" Sony 4K 3D LED TV — $3,499.99  (list price $5,000)
• 48" Samsung Curved 1080p 240Hz 3D Smart HDTV — $899.99  (list price $1,798)
• 49" Vizio 4K Smart TV — $599.99  (list price $770)
• 60" Samsung 1080p 120hz Smart HDTV (Refurb) — $599.99  (list price $680)

Console Deals

• Xbox One 1TB Madden NFL 16 + 50" Samsung TV — $849.98  (list price $1,150)
• Xbox One 1TB Madden NFL 16 + Extra Controller — $399.99  (list price $465)
• PlayStation 4 Console + Last of Us Remastered — $349.99  (list price $449)

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One of nine specializations

Guild Wars 2 is gearing up to deliver nine elite specializations in the Heart of Thorns expansion, which will fundamentally change-up yo?ur class. The Reaper will switch up Necromancers entirely, allow??ing them to use greatswords to enter combat as melee participants, with all of the dark goodness they can normally expect from spellcasting.

Just like the video for the Dragonhunter, it's a short, low-key demonstration of what the Reaper can do in-game.?? Except this time, the Reaper looks incredibly badass.

Meet the Reaper, the Necromancer's Elit?e Specialization [Guild Wars 2]

The post Guild Wars 2’s Necromancer can become a ‘Reaper’ in the expansion appeared first on Destructoid.

Good

Blizzard did a great job with its streaming game hub, allowing players to jump into titles while they were downloading. Every feature may not be available and it might not look the best, but duri??ng particularly slow download sessions it was nice to not wait hours on end to actually get in and play the game you paid for.

ArenaNet is following suit soon with the beta version of their streaming client for Guild Wars 2, set to arrive in the near future in North ?America and Europe. In essence, you'll have a progress bar, same as always, but once it reaches a certain point you can start playing early.

Streaming options will also be available for fans who have ISP cap issues or ??slower conne??ctions.

Coming Soon: Beta Version of Streaming Client [Guild Wars 2]

The post Guild Wars 2 is gettin?g a streaming client soon, getting you into the game faster appeared first on Destructoid.

An interview with lead designer Colin Johanson

Guild Wars 2 is one of the most accessible MMOs ever made. Eschewing the Holy Trinity of class builds, you can basically pick any character you want and still fulfill a role in any group. Everyone can heal, and everyone can contribute in s??ome way.

As a result of that design however, a lot of opportunities for advanced tactics fell by the wayside, and the endgame was too simplistic to keep everyone interested. Can the upcoming Heart of Thorns expansion rectify that problem?

I had some time to talk to lead designer ;Colin Johanson and fig??ure out just that.

So how exactly do you tackle an MMO expansion? For the most part, developers will put a new level cap in place, and immediately make your old gear irrelevant within the first few quests. It's a traditional system that isn't inherently flawed for the right type of gamer, but ArenaNet is trying something different with the Masteries system in Heart of Thorns.

I asked Johanson how they plan to keep people interested for longer periods of time. With a level cap that's a firm goal to reach for, but how is Guild Wars 2 going to entice players to get every Mastery? He responded with, "Well there's a lot of variety here. Combat masteries are needed for certain big bosses, like one foe that has thick bark -- you'll need one special ability to strip the bar??k, otherwise you'll have to run for your life. There's a lot of combat abilities peppered about, which will drive players alone. For the m?ost part the story is not gated, but other parts will be."

Going on, he noted that "We'll also be adding more Masteries and points. The system is not a one-off in the expansion. This is the message to players that this is the new system going forward as we build and progress the game. We'll continue to add more challenging content and new Masterie??s for players to play with. Each of these systems we picked is how we plan to build and grow the game in the future."

Johanson was excited to talk about what influenced this system, stating, "We noted that this took a lot of progression from other franchises. In fact, the traversal systems like gliding are like Metroid and Zelda slammed together. Some day you'll be able to come back and do other th?ings, like bounce up on a certain mushroom and go up into certain treetop areas.

So how are they tackling exploration? Will players want to go to places other than t??he expansion? "We don't want to have empty, barren areas like other MMOs," he ?responded. "We want people to go back to everywhere in the game. We want strong core areas with lots of fun things to do. Inherently, there will be more people to play with in those areas, which is what MMOs are all about. So we want to make less areas and create more focused experiences."

Johanson was mum about discussing dungeon or raid content, as nothing has been announced yet. But when coaxed, he stated, "Yeah, we're looking at all of that. Especially with raid content. We very clearly heard that people think we have a very fun combat system. Minute-to-minute it's exciting, but there are not enough creatures in the game that force you to use that whole skill bar or take advantage of that combat system. PVP has that, but if you love PVE you don't really get to experience that in the core game. So we're addressing that in Heart of Thorns. But that is all I can say today."

I also asked how they plan on getting players to level 80, since you need to max out to play the new Heart of Thorns content: "We haven't discussed anything specific as to how we're going to help new players. Tying in to a previous point there's a compelling reason to go back to old content. With our sidekicking system you can also go back and play with lower-level players. In other words, there will always be people to play with. I think the jungle as a goal will be a great thing for people to work towards. We do have a lot of accou??nt-based systems, so we think it's okay to ask people to go back and level-up new characters."

I also touched on the concept of the Revenant, noting that there's a propensity to claim that new classes are overpow?ered to entice players to level-up new characters and keep playing -- so I asked how they plan to balance it head-on. "I love that question! Even before we showed it people on our fan forums said it was overpowered which is amazingly funny. I think it's balanced because it has a balanced armor rating and balanced range. It has a lot of movement in combat, but outside of combat it has a tough time getting between battles. One of the things you can do to counter the Revenant is outrange it. It doesn't have a lot of blocks or c??ounters. It can also be interrupted. It also has to control its energy bar constantly, which limits its skills despite the fact that it has more skills than most professions."

I tried to get in a secret announcement for a new race, but had no such luck: "We looked at races but they don't really have a huge point in Guild Wars 2?? from a gameplay standpoint. The content n?eeds are much tougher, like more starting zones and voice-work. That doesn't give us a lot of content for the time we put in. There's some ones our fans would love to see, but I don't think that adds much gameplay-wise."

Switching gears to PVP, I asked about the MOBA influences that the new Stronghold mode wore on its sleeve. Johanson was enthusiastically stated "Yeah! MOBAs and Dota-lites definitely were influences. Fort Aspenwood in Guild Wars provided some inspiration. We tried to take all of those ?things and put our own unique twist on it."

When asked if there will be any disparity between World vs. World and Stronghold modes in terms of rewards, Johanson replied, "No, we're aiming to really strike the balance between the two. It will really depend on your personal skill level. For? instance if you find a great guild for World vs. World, you'll likely reap more benefits than Stronghold. World vs. World has its own progression system, so there's that to keep into account."

I continued to press PVP, asking if ArenaNet was interested in more "micro" type PVP modes similar to League of Legends' Dominion, and Johanson was pretty excited at the strong? reception to PVP so far. "Definitely. We're looking at more modes like Stronghold, where people have roles to play, where everyone can help their team win, but you can constantly change roles. It has to be approachable. People in the office who didn't? even play PVP were into Stronghold, so that's something we're looking at."

All things said, I'm happy with the direction Guild Wars 2 is taking. Expect more coverage as Heart of Thorns as the year goes on.

_{[Both lunch and dinner were provided at the event in ArenaNet's offices in Bellevue, Washington.]}

The post ArenaNet: Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns ‘is like Metroid and Zelda slammed together’ appeared first on Destructoid.

No new level cap, just 'Masteries'

Guild Wars 2 is an ambitious project. While ArenaNet's initial offering of Guild Wars was more of a social dungeon crawler than an MMO (the company called it a CORPG,? or competitive? online role-playing game), the sequel was a bonafide massive experience.

The kicker? ArenaNet was still able to cut out the subscription fee, effectively making Guild Wars 2 buy-to-play and allowing players to r??eturn at any time.

Here we are over two years later with the Heart of Thorns expansion on the horizon, and the developer continues to find ways ??to innovate.

Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns (PC)
Developer: ArenaNet
Publisher: NCsoft
Released: TBA 2015
MSRP: TBA

At ArenaNet's offices last week, I had the chance to g??et some hands-on time with the expansion, and I'm pleased with what I've seen so far. There's an all-new zone, a new "Masteries" level?ing system, the Revenant class, and another PVP mode titled "Stronghold."

The heart and soul of the expansion is the Maguuma Jungle, an area that picks up mere "days" after the story in the original game. For those who aren't caught up, all of the combined armies in the land took off via airships to chase down the Elder Dragon Mordremoth, and the expedition ended in flames -- literally. The jungle came to life and tore the fleet apart, leaving most for dead. You'll start the Heart of Thorns content right after that, provided you have a level 80? character. Yep, you'll need ??to be max level to stand a chance in the new zone.

Masteries are the new way ArenaNet is tackling progression, because there will not be a level cap increase. Instead, players will earn Mastery Points, which they can put into skills like additional creature languages, or more mobile skills like gliding or mushroom riding. For instance, I earned my first point at the start of the demo, and gained the pow??er to use mushrooms as bounce pads to leap to new areas. Later on the tree may evolve to allow me to eat said mushrooms to gain a boost in speed, and so on.

ArenaNet co-founder and president Mike O'Brien states that this is the ideal way to tackle an expansion, because typically in MMOs you'll leave way too much behind. He elaborates on the c??oncept, stating, "With a new level cap, you'll instantly find new gear and items to replace. Saying goodbye to the old and in with the new can be great, but players are often attached to their old conquests. We didn't want to invalidate that, so I'm really excited about Masteries. It pertains to jungle-specific progression, but you can still go back to the old world and have fun."

Masteries can be equipped to level them up individually, so if you're keen on becoming a better glider while roaming about the world, you can do that. Right now I'm excited for the concept, but I didn't see enough Masteries to convince me they will stay interesting for the long haul. When confronted about this, O'Brien noted that more Masteries ??will be added over t??ime, which is great news.

You'll need those new powers to get around in the jungle, because based on the demo, the difficult?y has been ramped up. According to O'Brien, the jungle is "really vertical, and not like any other area in the game. With the vertical setup we really have a way to build it unlike any zone before, allowing players to get into the depths of the game world into more frightening areas."

Lead designer Colin Johanson commented on the enhanced difficulty, stating, "playing with others is supposed to be fun. We're doubling down on that challenge in Heart of Thorns." I was able to see that in action with a wyvern mini-bo??ss fight at the end of the demo, which required a decent amount of strategy and dodging typically not seen in other world events.

I was able to tackle that challenge head-on with the new Revenant class, which is basically an undead warrior of sorts. Classic Guild Wars fans will be excited to know that according to O'Brien, the developer is excited to "bring back old lore and mechanics that we weren't previously able to add to Guild Wars 2." He goes on to say that "it's different than the other eight professions in ?more ways than one" -- a?? statement that I can definitely agree with.

The Revenant has two different "states" -- one based on DPS (Demon), and the other, more tanky (Dwarf). You can instantly switch between them with a mouse click (or F1), which you'll need to do to maintain its energy levels to power its skills. The kicker? Both states do not share cooldowns, and it has two heals between t?hem. It was a rush to switch to the tank and lay down a buff shaped like a spiritual pathway, then switch back to lay down some damage.

Aesthetically, the profession looks unlike anything else in the game, with a very cool demonic feel complete with mist effects and a badass headband that extends over your eyes. It's easily my favorite class so far, and I will be leveling one as soon as Heart of Thorns ;hits. To alleviate any concerns, I do feel like the class is bal?anced -- and this is before users even give their feedback. Right now Revenants are scheduled to use the hammer, mace, and axe weapon types -- but Rytlock (an NPC) is wielding a sword, so we'll see.

PVP is also getting a lot more enticing in my mind with Stronghold. To be blunt, over time I lost interest in the massive World vs. World scheme in the original Guild Wars 2. It just became too much to keep track of, and often times I'd be running around withou??t a skirmish in sight for up to 10 minutes. It wasn't action-packed enough, and Stronghold will fix that issue.

In short, it's a MOBA-like experience that aims to be 10-15 minutes in length. Ther?e are two teams that each have a lane with troops to go down, and a base at the end with a "Lord" to protect, who is behind two doors. If one team's Lord dies, it's game over. To facilitate your attack, you can embed yourself in random map events like the acquisition of a hero character (which buffs you while you're in proximity to them), or grabbing "supply" materials to create archer or doorbreaker units.

Archers will help clear out the path to each door, and doorbreakers actually bust them down. Of course, players can attack either of them, and you'll definitely want to do so for the latter to prevent your Lord from becoming vulnerable. Because of the way it's set up, there's action at every turn. Whethe??r it's battling over supply or doing some actual laning work, the map is small enough where you'll always find someone to fight. I'm sold.

ArenaNet isn't done revealing what Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns will entail, but that's the gist of what you can expect. If you're interested in getting some hands-on time, the expansion will be available to play at PAX East. ArenaNet is also planning a?? number of different beta events just like the core game, so you'll have plenty of chances to try before you buy.

_{[Both lunch and dinner were provided at the event in ArenaNet's offices in Bellevue, Washington.]}

The post Guild ??Wars 2: Heart of Thorns seeks to redef??ine MMO endgame progression appeared first on Destructoid.

Eat your heart out GTA

Typically, MMOs are third-person affairs and for good reason. Whenever you find yourself in any dangerous persistent world, you want a good idea of what'??s around you to have the best possible view of the battlefield.

Well, some aren't content with that. Some just want to have it all. And for those who want it all, ArenaNet has announced that Guild Wars 2 will be adding a first-person camera view on March 10. Players will be able to get a preview of this new visual mode on Friday during the studio's Ready Up livestream on Twitch.

Here's a?? breakdown of the c??hanges happening in March according to ArenaNet:

• First-person Camera
  Zooming in all the way will allow players to experience a first-person view. First-person mode is available while standing in place, walking, running, jumping, playing PvP and just about anything else. There aren’t any restrictions on where first-person can be used.
• Field of View
  A much requested feature, the field of view slider is a setting that will allow players to adjust how much can be seen in the game world. Players can use a slider to shrink or enlarge the field of view.
• Position Slider
  The Position Slider has been split into two different options, horizontal position and vertical position. The horizontal position slider will offset the camera to the left and right. An ‘over-the-shoulder’ view can be created as well to keep the center of the screen clear. The vertical position sets the maximum height the camera can go when the camera is at maximum distance from a character. The actual camera height will adjust the more you zoom in to ensure that your character is always on the screen.
• Collision Sensitivity
  When enabled, this setting will adjust how much stuff (trees, walls, rocks, etc.) needs to be between a player’s character and camera before the camera snaps in.
• Character Height
  No matter the race or size, the camera will now focus on a character’s head. This is going to give norn players a relatively taller feeling than their asura-playing friends. This change might affect players who frequent jumping puzzles, so to counteract this, there is an adjust camera to character height toggle. When unchecked, the camera will move to a consistent position above the character’s feet, regardless of how big or small the character is.

The post Guild Wars 2 adding first-person mode appeared first on Destructoid.

I'm excited to jump back in

I've said it many times before, but one of the best things about Guild Wars 2 is the fact that you can jump back in anytime without needing ?to subscribe or feel like you missed anything. Monthly fees definitely still work for MMOs and aren't dead by any means, but the buy-to-play strategy has paid off for developer ArenaNet.

With this new video you can get a look at the Heart of Thorns expansion, set to arrive at some poi??nt in the future. Stay tuned for some hands-on impressions next month.

The post ArenaNet shows off some Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns ?fo?otage appeared first on Destructoid.

I've needed this for a while

Guild Wars 2&nbs??p;is a pretty great MMO. It's buy-to-play, which means you have?? to purchase the initial package first, then there's no subscription fees or nasty progression-hindering microtransactions. You buy the game, and it feels like a full game.

Over the past few years though I feel like I've done everything that interests me personally, so I'm glad that developer ArenaNet just announced the expansion Heart of Thorns, that will be playable at PAX East this year. It will take place in a jungle-heavy realm, and will allow players to earn new skills, as wel?l as access new "Specializations" that entail cool new abilities like hang gliding.

The main draw is the brand new storyline, which will have players go up against the elder dragon Mordremoth. New maps, another competit?ive mode, Guild Halls, and extra world events will also await.

Oh, and the base game is $10 temporarily.

The post ArenaNet unveils Guild Wars 2’s first expansion, Heart of Thorns appeared first on Destructoid.

Your next MMO?

As a casual MMO player, I've always liked the Guild Wars series -- no monthly subscription fits my lifestyle, you know? I don't have to feel guilty about wasting money by not playing "enough," whatever that is. If you're of a similar mindset, this weekend's Guild Wars 2 sale is for you.

The game will be 75 percent off, which amounts to $9.99 for the Digital Heroic Edition. Worth it. Look for the deal to activate at 8:00am Pacific on January 24. You'll then have until 11:59pm Pacific on January 25 to make your purchase. And if you can finish downloading Guild Wars 2 in time, ArenaNet is also offering double experience points for all players ?this weekend.

Also, with this being PAX South weekend, expect news on the possible expansion Heart of Thorns??.

This Weekend: Guild Wars 2 at PAX South, an Unpreced?ented Sale, and Double XP for All [Guild Wars 2]

The post At $10, yeah, Guild Wars 2 is worth playing appeared first on Destructoid.

September 25 - October 1

On Thursday, ArenaNet will kick off a week-long trial for Guild Wars 2. You'll be able to play the MMORPG for free from 12:00am Pacific on September 25 until 11:59pm?? P?acific on October 1.

Trial accounts can be opened ahead of time, so I'd suggest you go take care of that now to maximize your time. Note: there are some restrictions placed on trial players.

Just last week, community member Solar Pony Django put up a blog to generate interest in potentially starting a Destructoid guild. Take a look. Keep forgetting I own this game.

The Guild Wars 2 Free Trial Wee?k begins September 25 [Guild Wars]

The post Guild Wars 2 is throwing a free trial week soon appeared first on Destructoid.

China DO care, to the tune of almost 4 million

Guild Wars 2's Chinese publisher had the MMO at 760,000 players on launch day. Two months later, it's reporting 3.8 million Chinese players. Guild Wars 2's first year sales, before the Chinese launch, were at 3.5 million, so total sales are at leas?t over?? 7 million. 

Not bad, not bad. 

[Via NeoGAF]

The post China really likes Guild Wars 2 appeared first on Destructoid.

The end of the current storyline is the end is nigh

ArenaNet is paving the way for the end of the current main storyline. Origins of Madness is the first big event of the year for Guild Wars 2. It's coming out ??on January 21 and this will see players fighting again?st Scarlet Briar once again.

One of Scarlet's big new monsters is the Twisted Marionette, a giant robot of mass destruction. A?long with that? is the new Great Jungle Wurm, a hug multi-headed creature that will require multiplayer players to take it down. 

The post Guild Wars 2’s Origins of Madness out on January 21 appeared first on Destructoid.

Just pledge your allegiance for a chance to win

In one of the more spirited giveaways I've seen in recent years, NCSoft and ArenaNet are giving away 5,000 copies of Guild Wars 2 to folks willing to ple??dge their undying loyalty to the game on camera.&n?bsp;

For a chance to win a copy of the game's Heroic Edition, pledges will have ??to read the Guild Wars 2 Oath. The oath, which can be filled out Mad Libs style, shou?ld allow for quite a few creative entries. Don't wait too long, as entry for the contest ends December 3 at 11:59 PST.

Those who are little camera shy, NCSoft is also offering both the Deluxe and Heroic edition of the game for 40% off ??till the end of the contest d??ate.

So haven't taken the plunge into Guild Wars 2 yet? Really, what's wrong with you? Well in any case, a complete list of rules for the contest can be found here. 

Enter the Great Migration Contest [Guild Wars 2]

The post NCSoft giving away 5,000 copies of Guild Wars 2 appeared first on Destructoid.

Fastest-selling Western MMO, according to developer

With the one-year anniversary for Guild Wars 2 rapidly approaching, ArenaNet has plans to host a free trial weekend soon. That'll kick off on Friday, August 23 at 12:?01am Pacific and carry t??hrough Sunday, August 25 at 11:59pm Pacific.

If my fondness of the game despite an inability to enjoy essentially all other MMORPGs is any indication, this will be worth taking a look at even if you aren't usually into these types of online experiences. Guild Wars 2 has done quite well for itself, with ArenaNet claiming it to be the fastest-selling Weste?rn MMO thanks to three million sales in its first nine months.

Granted, there's no monthly subscription, and that's definitely a factor -- ?but I'm not about? to hold that against the game.

The post Play Guild Wars 2 for free next weekend appeared first on Destructoid.

How Bazaar! How Bazaar!

Time to dust off that Tyrian merchant hat and polish up all of your excess junk that you don't want -- I mean, quality product that you would hate to part with -- because the Bazaar of the Four Winds content for Guild Wars 2 has been released.

In this latest content update, players will have the chance to explore the Zephyr Sanctum, a large airship populated by the very entrepr?eneurial and resourceful Zephyrites. Along with their other fine wares, the Zephyrites have also brought their magic crystals that utilize the powers of Wind, Sun, and Lightning to help players to compete in both the Sanctum Sprint and the Scavenger Hunt.

A number of new achievements and mini-games have been added as well, such as the Belcher's Bluff for those Omnomberry connoisseurs out there. Seems like a lot of great content, but I'll be honest, I haven't launched Guild Wars 2 in a few months, and with the Steam sales going on right ?now is probably not the best time to jump back in.

The post Bazaar of the ??Fours Win?ds content live for Guild Wars 2 appeared first on Destructoid.

'Not something that we're actively pursuing'

At one point, Guild Wars 2 on consoles may have been a thing, as ArenaNet did some initial testing for it, but it ??appears as if the project has been scrapped. Speaking to Eurogamer, Lead content designer Mike Zadorojny explained, "Development for console was something that we did experiment with and try. But we were always committed to making sure that we were PC platform first. And especially as we move towards this living world strategy where we're trying to release content as fast as we are -- trying to do that on a console is extremely difficult."

Given the recent announcement of bi-weekly content updates and the concept of an ever-changing game world, that makes perfect sense. Eurogamer points out that although there may be some issues with console MMOs in the current market, the future may be looking brighter, as Sony has allowed more lee-way for F2P, and Elder Scrolls Online and Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn are launching next year on consoles.

Zadorony says that he's "curious" to see whether or not that works out for them??. So am I!

What happened to Guild Wars 2 on consoles? [Eurogamer]

The post This is why Guild Wars 2? is not coming to consoles appeared first on Destructoid.

The studio is still wholly committed to the game

Do you still play Guild Wars 2? I do, and ArenaNet is listening to the folks who want more updates. Specifically, it looks like they're goin??g to target updates every two weeks instead of a three week ?timeline.

Speaking to Gamerzines, ArenaNet's Mike Zadorojny noted that even though they're currently updating the game in three week inc??rements, they're "pushing to two weeks." He went on to explain that "it's a marathon, not a sprint, and we've been getting better with each of our releases, in terms of how we budget, how we plan it out, and how we manage personnel. Now we have four full 'Living World' teams that are building these content updates."

Selling Guild Wars 2 as a ??"pay once," then free-to-play MMO was a risky move, but it appears to have payed off. ArenaNet hopes that more constant?? updates will pull people back in the game more often, rather than the occasional "check up." With this much dedication, I think it may just work.

ArenaNet targeting [Gamerzines]

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Every bit helps

Despite not playing as much Guild Wars 2 as I'd like to, that's okay -- it's not costing me anything. I can continue not playing free of guilt, which is the only way I can do MMO gaming any more, I've rea?lized. ArenaNet has kindly shifted the price of the game down by $?10. Rad.

That's $49.99 for the Standard Edition and $69.99 for the Digital Deluxe. The latter includes additional in-game bonuses, such as a miniature Rytlock, the Mistfire Wolf Elite summon skill, a Golem Banker, and a couple of one-time boosts. With the continued free content updates, it's as good of time as any to get into Guild Wars 2.

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Doesn't have the timing locked down yet

[Update: Clarifying the comments made during the NCSoft earnings call, a representative reached out to confirm that ArenaNet is still "taking a wait-and-see stance" with regards to a possible Guild Wars 2 expansion. It is, as e?xpressed previously, under consideration.

"We are eva??luating the performance of the game and deciding on when would be the best time to launch an expansion," reads a statement. "But right now, our Living Story approach is very successful in keeping players engaged with new and exciting content. Launching boxed expansions are a great way to package content, but if we can do this on a more regular basis, something we’ve been doing since launch, it provides players with new content to explore and experience every time they log into the game."]

During NCSoft's earnings report, the publisher noted that there is a Guild Wars 2 expansion in the works at developer ArenaNet. Previously, the studio expressed interest in possibly doing ?an expansion??, though it was far from a sure thing based on the wording used.

"We are preparing an expansion pack, but in terms of when we will actually launch it, it's something that we're still monitoring the situation on??," stated NCSoft managing director Nah Seong. "We're looking at the performance of the game and deciding when it would be the best time to do the launch, and that's still something we're thinking about."

Frankly, it seemed inevitable this would happen. And I don't think there's anythin??g wrong with that, either -- ArenaNet has built a fair a??mount of goodwill with its free content updates so far.

[Via Dual Shockers]

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Rytlock's Critter Rampage

For April Fools' Day, ArenaNet devised Guild Wars 2's Super Adventure Box update that went into the actual game as content folks could play. Part of the joke involved a commercial which briefly featured a kid playing an old-school platformer. Terrific stuff, really -- and now you can be that kid! The team went all out, creating an actual playable version??.

It's called Rytlock's Critter Rampage, which is an absolutely fitting name. You can play it in your browser for free over here should you not be strictly opposed to kicking rabbits in the face until they explode. While? this is a fairly straight?forward little game, it's a cool gesture on ArenaNet's part.

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MMO standard coming later in 2013

If you were put off by having to manually locate a band of fellow adventurers in Guild Wars 2 without a third party add-on, it appears as if a late 2013 target has bee??n set for an official "looking for group" tool.

"As we’ve announced previously, we’ve got a team working on an in-game LFG tool to be released later in 2013" said Guild Wars Director Colin Johanson on the official forums.

I remember a?sking ArenaNet about this helpful add-on close to launch, and I'm glad to see it's finally coming to fruition! This should help some people jump back into the game and get into the action in moments.

Is LFG even on the radar? [Guild Wars 2 Forums]

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April Fools' Day done right

There are some companies who can make coming up with great April Fools' Day jokes look effortless and ArenaNet has secured itself on my personal list with Super Adventure Box, an update for Guild Wars 2. Watch the commercial above and prepare for commercial-based nost????algia.

"It started out as a fun side project idea," explains game director Colin Johanson. "Originally, we were going to have a laugh with a fake 8-bit update, but the more the team worked on it the more we realized we had something really cool on our hands. We figured; the gaming community are really going to love this, let's expand on the concept of the Living World in Gw2 and make it for real."

Not only is the commercial fun in and of itself, the? fact that the gag is an actual thing we can experience in-game simply goes a step ahead. Nice work there, ArenaNet.

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