In the fantasy MMORPG Guild Wars 2, there is currently a mood of crisis. The reason for this is not an invasion by dark forces, nor are Scarlett Dornstrauch or various ice dragons to blame this time, but the problems are self-made.
Everything could have turned out so well for ArenaNet. In April, a major feature patch was on the agenda for Guild Wars 2. Moreover, they are currently in the process of tapping into the huge Chinese market, but complaints about the recently introduced mega-servers are increasing.
Guild Wars 2 is looking for a boost
Although things have been a bit quieter around GW 2 in recent months and further competition is on the way with some high-profile MMORPG debuts, the game remains an attractive title.
According to Google Trends, a barometer of public sentiment, Guild Wars 2 is still clearly ahead of competing titles like Star Wars: The Old Republic or Final Fantasy XIV, at least in Germany. But times are getting tougher. World of Warcraft has been distant in the last 90 days, and the hype triggered by the release of The Elder Scrolls Online makes the small leap of the April update of GW2 look insignificant.
The mega-servers dominate the official forum
Of course, Guild Wars 2 could have used a boost in April as well, but the positive effect that was hoped for from the feature patch seems to have evaporated now. Yes, worse still, it has been replaced by a negative sentiment. For the patch brought many cosmetic changes as well as the mega-servers. The concept did not resonate well with many players. We have already reported on the problems.
In the official forum for Guild Wars 2, there is a large complaint thread with over 1000 posts and 30,000 views in the German section. A dimension that is unusual for the forum there.
In the forum post, numerous players complain that they have communication difficulties with their often French or English-speaking teammates. In addition, the zones are overcrowded, the general climate has become more hostile, and guilds and friends now have problems finding each other.
What bothers the members represented there the most is ArenaNet’s silence on the issues. Aside from a soothing statement that they will address the problems and are still fine-tuning, little has been heard from the operators.
However, players who speak positively about the mega-servers and praise their cross-cultural effect across language barriers should not be overlooked here. But the voices seem to be in the minority in this thread at least. In contrast, reports from players who speak of empty friend lists and openly harbor thoughts of leaving are increasing.
Whether this is just a storm in a teacup or whether the consequences of the mega-server will have lasting negative effects on the game in Germany remains uncertain at the moment. Especially since the China expansion is on the horizon and Guild Wars 2 seems to be focusing on other, larger markets, many players are left with the impression that ArenaNet is neglecting or merely ignoring the problems the mega-server brings to Europe.
