The developers of Guild Wars 2 have announced major changes to their raids for 2026, adding some that are not so new.
Where do the new raids come from? The developers of Guild Wars 2 spoke about the changes to the raids in the MMORPG in an announcement on guildwars2.com. They explain that in the future, strikes and raids will be merged into a single game mode.
The 15 Strike Missions from Guild Wars 2 will in the future be referred to as “Raid Encounters,” while the previous raids will be called “Raid Wings.” Additionally, two new “Raid Encounters” are set to be added with the update. However, it is not just the names that are changing; the game modes are also coming together further.
Much more raiding
What are the developers planning? With the first major update for Guild Wars 2: Visions of Eternity in spring 2026, the developers are introducing a new system that will make it easier to join raids. Players will then be able to jump directly to bosses through a new menu.
By blending strikes and the previous raids, players will have access to many bosses from which they can easily choose to tackle with their group. The previously separate reward systems will also be combined to provide players with an even greater incentive to raid.
Additionally, it should become easier for beginners to gain their first experiences, even without a raid group. While raid groups are not mandatory in the MMORPG, they improve the experience and speed up the time it takes to find a raid. Beginners should be able to easily enter light raids through a player search with the new “Quickplay” feature and start playing right away.
Why the changes? The developers justify the changes with the lack of interest in strike missions. This disinterest is exacerbated by the splitting of the reward systems, as there are fewer reasons for professionals to check out the strikes from time to time. Strikes were originally intended as a quick version of raids and a good starting point for new players, but the data showed that they were played very little.
At the same time, the data revealed that players continue to struggle to get into raids and do not see strike missions as a stepping stone to raids. For the developers, this is enough reason to change the system and encourage new players to raid through the “Quickplay” mode.
With the update, the developers aim to attract more new players and showcase the strengths of Guild Wars 2. However, the exact date is still unknown; only the approximate indication of spring 2026 is provided by the developers. Those who want to start with Guild Wars 2 have a good opportunity right now: The best MMORPGs on Steam are currently on sale, only Amazon is not joining
