NCSoft has essentially confirmed that Guild Wars 3 is already in development, albeit still in the early stages, as ArenaNet is trying to shy away from discussions regarding the franchise's latest installment.
ArenaNet said that their focus is currently on Guild Wars 2, including the next expansion, which they will talk about in the near future. The talk about the game's sequel came up in a recent shareholders meeting at NCSoft. The company had effectively announced that the game is in development.
Guild Wars 3 Confirmed to be in Development
(Photo : ArenaNet, NCSoft / Screenshot taken from official website)
This particular confirmation came as NCSoft has once again observed stock pieces dropping while the company is struggling to regain its footing within the gaming industry. It was previously revealed that Guild Wars 3 is being put on the sidelines to prioritize the Guild Wars 2 expansion, particularly for the North American team.
This means that it could still be several years before Guild Wars 3 can actually launch and a lot of details about the game could change from now to then. This is particularly true as NCSoft seemingly continues to flounder while stock prices fall due to mediocre performance, according to MMORPG.
The company's acting chairman, Park Byung-moo, blamed an "unstable" global gaming market for the firm's dropping stock price. NCSoft is responsible for various popular games, including the Lineage series.
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The falling stock prices could be attributed to Throne & Liberty failing to gain traction although it is preparing for a massive Western test later in spring. The company also has many other projects that are being worked on, including a partnership with Sony to develop Project Skyline, which seems to be an MMO game that is set within Guerilla Games' Horizon: Zero Dawn universe.
The development of Guild Wars 3 comes after more than a decade since its predecessor was originally launched. Following the latter's PC debut, the team behind the game has released several expansions and updates. The latest of these has been the Secrets of the Obscure which was released in 2023.
The Future of the Franchise
There are currently two more expansions that are being worked on that are set to launch this year as well as next year. All of the consistent updates and development for Guild Wars 2 is what made the confirmation of a third game in the franchise such a surprise for players and fans, said Kotaku.
While many players are understandably excited about the prospect of Guild Wars 3, there are also those who are worried that it could significantly impact Guild Wars 2's current situation. Some have expressed concern that the new game could steer away from the monetization model of charging players one time and only charging them for expansions afterward.
With scant details about Guild Wars 3 coming from NCSoft as well as virtually no details coming from ArenaNet, it is impossible to surmise what direction the franchise's latest tile would take in terms of monetization and other aspects.
The situation comes as the multiplayer gaming landscape has already shifted dramatically since the release of Guild Wars 2, which makes its successor being entirely different in terms of how it plays, all the more possible, according to GamesRadar+.
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