Guild Wars 1 and 2 will continue to get updates even after Guild Wars 3 is out: ‘We are not replacing your favorite games’
ArenaNet has announced that Guild Wars 1 and 2 will continue to receive new updates indefinitely, even after the studio launches Guild Wars 3. This represents a significant shift from ArenaNet’s previous strategy, marking the first time the developer has committed to supporting multiple generations of its flagship franchise simultaneously.
In a video statement, ArenaNet head Colin Johanson stressed that Guild Wars 3’s arrival will not signal the end for its predecessors. “We are not replacing your favorite games. We’ll be supporting them,” he said, emphasizing that “we know this is not the norm, but it’s something our studio has been preparing for.”
The announcement directly addresses lessons learned from the franchise’s history. When Guild Wars 2 launched, it effectively ended active development on the original Guild Wars, with the final expansion Eye of the North serving as a narrative closure and bridge to the sequel. This time, ArenaNet is taking a different approach.
The commitment represents an increasingly rare stance in live-service gaming, where new sequels typically absorb player attention and resources from earlier titles. By maintaining parallel support for Guild Wars 1, 2, and 3, ArenaNet aims to preserve communities while allowing veteran players to continue enjoying their preferred entry point in the franchise.