NCsoft hints at Guild Wars 2 beta in 2010, launch in 2011

by Rubi Bayer Nov 10th 2009 at 12:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, News items, Guild Wars 2

Fans of Guild Wars have been waiting for well over two years for Guild Wars 2, ever since ArenaNet fired up the hype machine in a big way back in March of 2007. Anet announced Guild Wars 2 and Eye of the North at the same time, and anticipated that the beta for GW2 would arrive in the second half of 2008.

Since the announcement, the Guild Wars player base has become intimately familiar with various versions of the phrases "We haven't released that information" and "TBA", punctuated occasionally with new information.

While the bits of information given here and there add up to something relatively substantial, fans are still asking the big question: When? Obviously the planned 2008 beta didn't happen, and now fans will have to wait a bit longer.

CEO Jaeho Lee referred to GW2 and Blade and Soul in a recent conference call with investors: "I believe there will be certain public events in the year 2010... at least a closed beta test for those titles. Commercialisation will be expected, at this point, probably some time in the year 2011."

At least fans have plenty of time and motivation to finish filling their Hall of Monuments. Silence and delays aside, when Guild Wars 2 finally arrives, most fans trust ArenaNet to give them something well worth the wait.

Tags: arenanet, beta, guild-wars, guild-wars-2, GuildWars, gw, gw2, jaeho-lee, ncsoft

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Archipelagos said on 12:03PM 11-10-2009

Someone give the concept artists a raise, seriously.

Jess said on 12:57PM 11-10-2009

That's a long-ass time. I have no doubts it will be worth it though.

And I also agree on ArenaNet's concept art. It's unrivalled imo.

Follisimo said on 1:01PM 11-10-2009

This sounds about right. They need to milk Aion as long as they can before people bore of it.

Follisimo said on 1:01PM 11-10-2009

Sounds about right....they need to milk Aion before it becomes a total boredom.

Pingles said on 1:02PM 11-10-2009

Yikes, the Beta MAY start in 2010? *sigh*

Utakata said on 11:10PM 11-10-2009

I rather it be far away so they can get it right.

Hardy said on 1:05PM 11-10-2009

Just give me another amazing trailer or two next year and I'll be satisfied till the year after. :P

Dirame said on 1:13PM 11-10-2009

Seconded.

Poozle said on 1:38PM 11-10-2009

Thirded, I've still got loads of the higher end content to get through in GW and that doesn't even include working on some of my alts.

Jess said on 4:01PM 11-10-2009

Watching that now-famous GW2 trailer is better than playing most currently released MMORPG's.

Vulturion said on 1:49PM 11-10-2009

Hmm; that's a lot of time to fill... if done right or done soon are the only options though (and a few recent MMOs suggest so), I'd rather have it done right.

Blast said on 2:27PM 11-10-2009

Anet knows how to keep their game face on, and I do too. They do a stellar job at giving players what they need as opposed to what players want. Anet knows the direction their game is headed, and there isn't any competition in their market. GW veterans will be back on day one of GW2. Can't wait to be blown away!

Dirame said on 4:06PM 11-10-2009

AMEN BROTHER!! AMEN! *cries tears*

Bigwig said on 4:49PM 11-10-2009

announced in early 2007... released in 2011.

damn.

pogger said on 5:08PM 11-10-2009

Whew! Gives me enough time to run through GW1 a couple of more times.

Metroid said on 6:51PM 11-10-2009

Earlier than I though it would be, but still 2 years after they said it would be :P I hope Anet can pull it off well and keep it going longer than GW1.

mailhierher said on 7:17PM 11-10-2009

I hoped this game would make it in 2010 but they should take all the time they need.

Sophie Deadbones said on 8:45PM 11-10-2009

Oh please. Of course it's not worth the wait. YEARS? No game is worth that long. Baldur's Gate was such a great game but we waited years and years and Dragon Age is no where near as good.

Obviously, Arenanet is having financial problems and can't get the game done in a timely manner. Let's hope EA doesn't pick up the rights to GW for cheap in a few years and make it their way. It'll be as weak and user unfriendly as Dragon Age.