2019 was not a good year for the MMORPG Guild Wars 2. However, 2020 could be better. Our author Alexander Leitsch writes his personal wish list to the developer ArenaNet.
Why is there this post? I love Guild Wars 2. Despite all the ups and downs since the release, this MMORPG has always captivated and convinced me.
Since 2006, I have been actively following the “Guild Wars” franchise and regularly playing either the first or the second part. For me, Guild Wars 2 still counts as one of the best MMORPGs on the market.
However, my love was put to the test in 2019. There were layoffs, content droughts, a monetization of build templates, and many little things that just didn’t fit.
But the first insight into the roadmap for 2020 makes me optimistic. It seems that the developers have a plan, even if not everyone likes it.
And since I also have some suggestions for improvement, here is a small wish list of what could excite the developers.
Bring more quests to the open world
What are the problems of the open world? With each new episode of the Living World, Guild Wars 2 introduces a new area. This is great and greatly expands the game world. The downside is when there is little to do in these areas.
To this day, I prefer to spend time in the meta events, whether world bosses in the base game or map-wide events in Heart of Thorns. That’s why I was so excited in May, when the events in Path of Fire were adjusted.
However, the new maps have become quite deserted after just a few days or weeks. Usually, this is because there are just no tasks on the maps.
What do I wish for? I wish for maps where the events matter and where I am kept busy for a long time. The map Dragonfall was a big step. Now something even bigger needs to come.
The easiest way to entice people is with rewards and shared tasks. This worked well back in the Silverwaste.
But it seems that ArenaNet is already partially responding to this wish. With Episode 2, no new map is coming in January, but the Bjora Marshes will be expanded. There, Drakkar is also expected to be waiting, a new world boss. Hopefully, this will be a real challenge!
Fulfill your promises
What am I talking about? In February 2018, ArenaNet announced a major overhaul in PvP “World vs. World”.
For the current Icebrood Saga, ArenaNet announced new content that would otherwise be saved for an expansion.
Both promises have not yet been fulfilled, which I and other players hold against the developers. Because so far, it doesn’t look like any implementation will happen at all.
What do I wish for? I wish for class expansions like the elite specializations in the expansions Heart of Thorns and Path of Fire. I wish for a mastery system that has an impact on my character, just like gliding or mounts.
Even though I don’t play WvW myself, I hope that alliances will come soon. After all, many players are waiting for it. It would also be important for the community if such a promise were finally fulfilled.
Also think of fans of instances
What is the problem with instances? ArenaNet has not released any new instances apart from the strike missions for a long time. However, these rather serve as an introduction to complex mechanics instead of really challenging veterans.
ArenaNet is going in the opposite direction here. First, they brought the raids, then the preparation for the raids, because they realized that players had issues with the increasing difficulty.
This approach, however, has left raid fans in the dry for a long time. The last raid, the Key of Ahdashim, appeared in June 2019 and was also far too easy. Raiders have been waiting for a real challenge since the Hall of Chains. This was released on November 28, 2017.
What do I wish for? As beautiful as strike missions are, a little challenge would be important for everyone. Guild Wars 2 has some hardcore players who have been bored for a while. However, they also provided guides for bosses, the meta, and fun live streams.
An exciting race for the World Firsts, as we had at the end of 2017, garnered attention even outside the GW2 bubble. The “Elitist Raiding Party”, a community raid event, continually generates a lot of enthusiasm.
I hope that a raid is actually being worked on and I really wish that it becomes extremely hard.
Competitive players also need love
Why do competitive players feel unloved? Guild Wars 2 made the same mistake they are currently making with raids and strike missions: in PvP.
We had an eSports scene in GW2 from 2014 to 2016, where over $100,000 was played for. The viewer numbers were okay but not outstanding. This was also due to the poor PvP system.
For solo players, there were no real content, no good ranking system, and no rewards. For newcomers, there wasn’t even a tutorial. All that came only in 2017 when the competitive scene was already crumbling. This was also due to ArenaNet, as they stopped the expensive prize money.
What do I wish for? The days of eSports are long gone and won’t return. But there is still hope for a successful PvP.
To achieve this, however, ArenaNet would have to consistently ban botters and flamers, better balance the game, and create new incentives that make PvP worthwhile.
And with “World vs. World”, Guild Wars 2 actually has a system that could also be further promoted and made more competitive. Don’t forget about players of the modes, ArenaNet!
Keep communicating with us
My last wish is personally the most important to me: Talk to us! For years, you have had a strong community that has gone through thick and thin with you, that continuously sends you cakes and organizes beautiful events.
Even though there is often destructive criticism and you are seen as the absolute evil by some. For a large part of the community, you are heroes who created a world they love more than anything. And they wish for nothing more than to know where they stand.
If you are no longer developing raids or fractals, if there are problems or employees are missing, talk to us. So that we know what to expect in 2020 and what we can look forward to!
