Frequently asked questions
Is Guild Wars 2 shutting down?
No. ArenaNet has said nothing about ending Guild Wars 2, and it was still shipping content when Guild Wars 3 was announced. A sequel announcement is not a shutdown notice — the original Guild Wars is still running twenty years on, and in fact relaunched as Guild Wars Reforged in December 2025.
Do I need to play Guild Wars or Guild Wars 2 first?
No. Guild Wars 3 is set centuries before both, so it is the earliest point in the timeline rather than a continuation. Knowing the older games changes what the setting means — you know how Orr ends — but nothing about the plot requires them.
Is there a subscription?
No. ArenaNet committed to no subscription fees and no pay-to-win in its philosophy post: you buy the game, and expansions are sold separately. See the fact sheet for the exact wording and the source.
Can I sign up for the beta?
Not yet. Beta is targeted for autumn 2027 and no sign-up exists. Any site selling or giving away keys today is making it up — details on the beta page.
What classes are there?
None have been revealed. Guild Wars calls them professions, and ArenaNet has not announced a single one. The profession pages on this site are labelled concept and are invented by us to show layout — see how we grade facts.
What species can I play?
Four, three of them announced: humans, asura, and kodan — playable for the first time in the franchise. The fourth is deliberately unrevealed. Species carry no stat differences. Full detail in the species article.
Is it on console?
PlayStation 5 and PC are confirmed. No Xbox or Switch announcement.
When does it come out?
No release date. Beta is targeted for autumn 2027, which makes a launch before 2028 unlikely. Anything more specific is speculation.