Guild Wars Reforged brings the classic from 2005 back to modern times. For those who prefer to play just like in the old days, the developers have now added the perfect graphic option – and it’s not just an April Fool’s joke.
What is this update? On April 1, 2026, ArenaNet, the team behind the Guild Wars games, released a brand new update – and not for the latest installment, but for the Reforged version of the first game.
The MMORPG classic aims to become more modern and accessible with Reforged, after all, the game was released around 20 years ago, in 2005. However, the timing of this announcement initially left fans puzzled. April 1 is known for playful antics from some game developers.
At first glance, the patch really does seem like an April Fool’s joke: In addition to a new dungeon and a new heroine, there is also a new nostalgia mode. When activated, the game looks as if it is running on an old CRT monitor – and in “glorious 800×600 resolution”.
The update is real – and fans love it
Is this an April Fool’s joke? This question was on the minds of many fans after the announcement. Under a post by the developers on X.com, user Slaydra writes: “HOLD UP this real or April Fool’s?” The devs only reply to this question is a simple, but enthusiastic “Yes!”
In a post on Steam, the developers emphasize once again that the update is real. “There are no fake release notes today,” they write. The nostalgia mode is indeed an April Fool’s joke, but it is a real option in the game – and you can still activate it.
To do this, simply go to the game’s graphic options and activate the nostalgia mode. You can experience the game just like in the old days if you want to. A user from X has already joyfully shared a screenshot of the nostalgia mode:
A small joke could only be discovered by players on April 1. Those who activated the nostalgia mode that day saw a “Guild Wars Deforged” logo upon logging in.
What do the fans say? After initial skepticism about the authenticity of the update, it has been warmly received by fans. Especially the fact that Devona can now accompany you as a heroine is very well received. And the nostalgia mode is a nice added feature that brings a lot of… well, nostalgia.
Guild Wars Reforged aims to capture the atmosphere of the classic while being more accessible than the original. And for some older MMORPGs, modernizing the game is certainly helpful. MeinMMO author Nico Scheibel still remembers well how he had to resort to an unusual tool in an old MMORPG: An old MMORPG was so cumbersome that I could only reach my highest level with a magazine
