Guild Wars Reforged Launches December 3 with Controller Support, Steam Deck Verification, and Major Visual Upgrades

NCSOFT subsidiary ArenaNet has delivered an unexpected announcement with Guild Wars Reforged, an enhanced version of the classic MMORPG launching on December 3. The original Guild Wars debuted in April 2005 and quickly became a landmark title for the studio founded by former Blizzard developers. Over the years, the game was enjoyed by more than nine million players who collectively spent over one billion hours exploring the world of Tyria.

While ArenaNet eventually shifted its long term focus to Guild Wars 2, a dedicated community continued to support the original experience. With Guild Wars Reforged, the studio signals a renewed commitment to preserving and modernizing the classic title.

The project is being co developed with 2weeks, a small studio founded last year by former ArenaNet developers. Brandon Dillon, co founder of 2weeks, emphasized the personal significance of returning to the franchise:

“It is a real treat to revisit the original Guild Wars. Beginning as a teenager, I have been involved with this franchise from the very start, collaborating with the original studio founders to create the world of Tyria. Partnering with ArenaNet to update and improve the player experience means the game can continue to be a beloved beacon for fans of multiplayer online RPGs for years to come.”

Game Director Stephen Clarke Willson also highlighted the studio’s ongoing commitment:

“Even after two decades, we are still passionate about improving the experience of the original Guild Wars for players. The game has a dedicated group of fans, and with this update to modernize the experience, we hope players new and old will find a reason to continue adventuring through Tyria together.”

Guild Wars Reforged will introduce full controller support, Steam Deck verification, and a range of modern visual and audio improvements. Enhancements include high DPI support for modern displays, updated HD skill icons, improved rendering options with new antialiasing modes, ambient occlusion, enhanced bloom, expanded font scaling options, enriched 3D environmental audio, and a new quest tracker for better navigation.

Reforged will be free for all existing Guild Wars users. New players can purchase the updated version on Steam or Windows PC for USD 19.99, with all major expansions included (Prophecies, Factions, and Nightfall).

Are you planning to return to Tyria with Guild Wars Reforged or experience it for the first time? Let us know your thoughts.