At this time is the day that the a lot anticipated Janthir Wilds enlargement lands in Guild Wars 2, with the speak being primarily in regards to the Homesteads, the account-wide participant housing function that could be a cornerstone of this replace.
Over on the Guild Wars 2 website this morning that they had an prep announcement to get gamers prepared and body the plans for the enlargement:
Glad launch day! When Guild Wars 2: Janthir Wilds launches in only a few quick hours, you’ll start a daring journey right into a harmful and untamed wilderness. The denizens of Tyria are decided to get well and construct a brand new future, and cooperation with neighbors is essential. Your mission: befriend the lowland kodan and uncover the mysteries of a land that was as soon as residence to the enigmatic mursaat and their White Mantle followers.
In Guild Wars 2: Janthir Wilds, you’ll embark on a narrative that unfolds throughout 4 main releases, beginning with at this time’s launch and persevering with with quarterly updates by means of the primary half of 2025. Beneath is a high-level view of what’s going reside at this time and our plans for what’s coming within the following three quarterly releases.
There’s a major change to our map content material plans that we’d prefer to convey to your consideration. We had initially introduced that the enlargement would function three open-world maps—two at launch, with a 3rd launched in a quarterly replace that might then be expanded on in a subsequent quarterly launch, like Interior Nayos. Relatively than transport the third map in two components, we are going to as a substitute be releasing a standalone map in each the second and third quarterly releases, every comparable in dimension to Lake Doric. This brings the whole open-world map rely for Guild Wars 2: Janthir Wilds up from three to 4.
As at all times, sport growth is stuffed with surprises, so this roadmap comes with a normal disclaimer that our launch plans might change, regardless of our greatest efforts.
It isn’t only a launch at this time, however a dedication to a content material replace cadence over the following 12 months.
There’s additionally a launch trailer to go together with at this time’s launch.
I’m positive the content material might be appreciated by the core viewers, however as an outsider I’m a bit extra thinking about how the participant housing implementation performs out.
I like participant housing, however solely when it’s accomplished effectively. I do know there are some vocal proponents on the market which might be absolutists on the thought, that any participant housing is best than none, however I really feel should you aren’t going to do it effectively, combine it into the sport, and provides it some sense of being within the context of the world, then it’s best to spend growth time elsewhere.
So I’m very a lot a fan of EverQuest II housing, which was built-in into the sport on day one, which has a myriad of favor and decor choices, and which has a commerce talent occupation devoted to creating furnishings. Properly accomplished, 9/10 rating, at all times do stuff with housing a guild halls after I return and play.
Different makes an attempt haven’t grabbed me. WoW’s garrisons have been impersonal to the purpose of being hideaways, and have been seemingly designed particularly to show that housing takes individuals out of the world, which was the WoW group’s argument about housing up till then.
Likewise, LOTRO’s housing may be very fairly, however indifferent from the world, rigid, and shoved off into distant corners in order that they don’t have any sense of being part of something. I’d have a lot most popular an instanced doorway in a vigorous city like Bree than the instanced neighborhoods of deserted properties throughout the street from a marsh that was the state of issues final I checked in.
So I’m eager to listen to how this new run at participant housing works out.
In the meantime, ArenaNet has different issues deliberate to go together with the launch.
- August 20–August 26: Twitch Drops
- August 26: Guild Wars 2 Anniversary Week
- September 10–September17: Fractal Rush Bonus Occasion
- September 17–September 24: Return to Path of Fireplace Bonus Occasion
- September 24–October 1: WvW Rush Bonus Occasion
- October 1–October 8: Dwelling World Season 4 Bonus Occasion
- October 15–November 5: Shadow of the Mad King Halloween Pageant
So there’s a lot occurring for followers of the sport.
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