ArenaNet and NCSoft have officially revealed Guild Wars 3, a brand new MMORPG heading to PC and PlayStation 5.
It’s the first numbered entry in the series since Guild Wars 2 launched in 2012, and ArenaNet is pitching it as a “modern evolution” of the genre. Game director and studio head Colin Johanson says the team wants to push MMOs toward a more responsive and rewarding online world.
Guild Wars 3 is a prequel set more than 1,000 years before the original Guild Wars. The location is Orr, a name long-time fans know as the ruined, undead-infested wasteland tied to the Elder Dragon Zhaitan in Guild Wars 2.
Here, Orr is something completely different. Before the Cataclysm wrecked it, the kingdom was a lush, magical frontier filled with wilderness and nature entities called Vael spirits.
Players take on the role of a Vaelwarden, a guild adventurer sworn to protect those spirits and the land itself. The story centers on rival guilds fighting over how Orr’s magical bounty should be used, finally putting “guild wars” back into Guild Wars.
Each player also bonds with a Seeker, a spirit companion that doubles as a mount for traversing the open world.
PC and PS5 with no date yet
The PlayStation 5 announcement is the big platform story. Guild Wars 1 and Guild Wars 2 have always been PC affairs, and Guild Wars 2 has never seen a native console version. A PS5 launch opens the franchise to a much wider audience.
Xbox and Nintendo platforms weren’t part of the reveal. ArenaNet hasn’t confirmed any exclusivity deal, though NCSoft and Sony announced a broader strategic partnership back in 2023.
There’s no release date, no pricing, and no monetization model yet. ArenaNet says more details on beta tests, gameplay systems, and launch timing will roll out across 2026 and into 2027.
Guild Wars 2 and its ongoing expansions remain ArenaNet’s active live-service MMO in the meantime.
