The developers of Guild Wars 2 have presented their roadmap for the rest of the year. In addition to the usual events, there are also two major changes affecting the WvW, a mass PvP mode. This has been particularly well received by fans.
What has been announced? In a roadmap, ArenaNet, the developer team behind the MMORPG Guild Wars 2, shares what is still coming this year. The game is freshly launched on Steam, which is why the multitude of events is particularly exciting for new players.
For veterans, extensive balance changes in PvE and WvW await, a new strike mission, and the next beta of the new WvW features. Especially the latter is very well received by fans. Some would even return just for that. You can read the complete roadmap and all information directly at Guild Wars 2 (via Guild Wars 2).
There was also a new trailer for the Steam release:
What exactly is the WvW? Before we delve into the details, it is important to clarify what the mentioned WvW actually is. The abbreviation simply stands for World versus World. A mass PvPvE mode that has been around for a long time in Guild Wars 2 and enjoys great popularity.
In this mode, three servers compete against each other in matches lasting 7 days on a special map. Points are earned by holding specific buildings, control points, and towers. You must capture these with siege weapons.
Not only the enemy players stand in your way, but also strong NPC opponents defending the buildings for their team. The excitement occurs when two or even three groups of players clash. This can result in battles with over 200 players, making the mode very popular, even beyond the MMORPG’s player base.
Restructuring is finally coming, entering the 6th test phase
What was the issue in WvW? Many players have long been bothered by the fact that in WvW, servers truly compete against each other. This sounds strange to fans of other MMORPGs, but in Guild Wars 2, it makes perfect sense because the server you play on is irrelevant outside of WvW.
Thanks to the mega-server technology used by GW2, players from all servers can always play together. This makes server selection irrelevant, and communities, guilds, and friendships form across different servers.
However, it becomes problematic when those people want to play WvW. Suddenly, your server does matter, and you may not be able to play with the people you always play with. In the worst case, you might even have to play against them.
This has led to a player decline in WvW over the years, which is still noticeable today. A restructuring was announced years ago that should allow server-crossing alliances to be established and compete in WvW.
What is happening now? For years, there has been silence about the planned changes in WvW, but in 2020, they began to take shape. So far, 5 betas have taken place regarding the extensive restructuring, and the 6th beta is set to start in October.
If this goes well—at least some fans think—we could be looking at a big update in 2023. Coinciding with the beta, Guild Wars 2 will also implement major balance changes to classes that will affect WvW.
The well-known GW2 YouTuber MightyTeapot has analyzed the WvW changes in detail if you want to dive deeper into the topic:
Fans are looking forward to the update – “If they do it well, I will immediately stop playing BDO”
How are the fans reacting? If you take a look around on reddit, it’s quickly clear that people are genuinely looking forward to the restructuring. However, some approach it with skepticism. Often, it’s not the changes themselves that are doubted.
Much more, the release is uncertain. Previous betas have often gone awry or had to be canceled. Nevertheless, everyone agrees on the fact that the changes would be great when they finally arrive.
Some comments in a reddit thread that covers the topic provide a deeper insight:
- Huge_Chocolate says: “If they do the restructuring right, they could pull a lot of players from ESO and BDO. The modes in those games have massive player shortages because the developers barely care. This could be really interesting.”
- KittenSpronkles writes: “I would immediately return for a bit of WvW action. I’m just not playing Guild Wars 2 right now because my server in WvW isn’t very active.”
- Vaeiy92 says: “I would leave Black Desert immediately if ArenaNet finally brings the right WvW update.”
Other changes are also well received: In addition to the WvW, further notes in ArenaNet’s roadmap are praised. About every 3 weeks, an update for Guild Wars 2 is set to be released. Old events will return, a brand new strike mission for 10 players will debut, and some balance changes are in the works.
What do you personally think about it? Feel free to let us know in the comments here at MeinMMO.
Also, the balance updates are urgently needed, as one single class is currently dominating the MMORPG – “I would play something else, but it’s pointless”
