Guild Wars Reforged Announced: ArenaNet Finally Gives the Classic a Glow-Up
After twenty years of waiting, it is finally time to dust off those minipets and return to pre-Searing Ascalon.
It is hard to believe it has been two decades since we first stepped into Prophecies, but here we are. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the franchise, ArenaNet has decided that the original game deserves a little more love than just a pat on the back. They have officially announced Guild Wars Reforged, and the best part is that we do not have to wait long for it.
The update drops on December 3, and it is looking like a substantial overhaul for the classic RPG. This isn't just a texture pack thrown together by an intern; they have partnered with a team called "2weeks," which is made up of former ArenaNet staff with over 14 years of combined experience on the original game. It sounds like the game is in hands that actually care about it.
Looking Good for Its Age
The biggest changes here are technical, and they are very welcome. The game is getting a visual facelift with dynamic sky bloom effects, new ambient occlusion, and lighting updates that actually use modern GPUs. They are also refining textures to clean up the visuals, which is great because 2005 textures can look a little rough on a modern 4K monitor.
Audio is getting a pass too, with new positional audio support to make the world feel a bit more immersive. But the real winner for me is the hardware compatibility. Guild Wars Reforged is officially Steam Deck verified and includes native support for modern controllers. Being able to farm ectos while lying in bed is a dangerous proposition for my sleep schedule, but I am here for it. They have also redesigned the UI with larger text options and high DPI support, so I won't have to squint to read my skill bar anymore.
The Price of Nostalgia (It’s Surprisingly Cheap)
Usually, when a "Reforged" or "Remastered" edition gets announced, I clutch my wallet in fear. However, ArenaNet is being surprisingly generous here. The new package brings Prophecies, Factions, and Nightfall together for £17.99.
Here is the kicker: if you already own even one of those three campaigns, the rest get unlocked for free through the Reforged update. That is a massive win for anyone who might have fallen off the wagon after the first expansion. And no, there are still no subscription fees, so you can jump back in without a monthly bill hanging over your head.
Not Just a One-Off
The team at ArenaNet made it clear that this is not just a dump-and-run update. They plan to keep collaborating with 2weeks to make further improvements in the future. It is refreshing to see a studio commit to their legacy title rather than just letting it rot on a server somewhere.
If you want to see it in action, they are hosting a livestream tomorrow, November 19, at 11 a.m. Pacific Time on their Twitch channel. I will definitely be tuning in to see if my muscle memory for Monk healing still works or if I'm just going to embarrass myself. If you have never filled up your Hall of Monuments, now is probably the time to start.
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