One of WoW’s biggest rivals is getting a sequel, but fans are already criticizing one detail

No MMO has ever truly managed to knock World of Warcraft off its throne. But if any series came close, it was Guild Wars. Released in 2012, Guild Wars 2 still has an active player base that, according to SteamDB, regularly surpasses 5,000 concurrent players. One reason for that is likely its business model: the game does not require a subscription and is free to play apart from expansions.

Fans already knew from a teaser ArenaNet posted on X on June 5 that Guild Wars news would be shown at Summer Game Fest 2026. Many had expected a new expansion for Guild Wars 2. Instead, ArenaNet revealed the announcement trailer for Guild Wars 3.

The first trailer suggests that ArenaNet does not just want to continue the series, but noticeably modernize it – with new forms of open-world exploration, an enhanced combat system and the ambition to create a new kind of MMO experience. That leaves Guild Wars 3 with a difficult task: it has to appeal to new players without alienating long-time fans. And one detail is already being viewed critically.

Many fans feel the art style does not fully capture the typical Guild Wars look

The biggest point of criticism so far is the art style. In the YouTube comments, many users note that Guild Wars 3 does not immediately look like a typical Guild Wars game to them. Some describe the look as too slick, too generic or too far removed from the series’ familiar artistic identity. That could potentially put off existing fans. Apart from that, reactions are broadly enthusiastic, though still cautious – the general tone is: “We’re hyped, but please don’t mess it up.” The main concern is whether Guild Wars 3 can preserve the series’ typical DNA.

No release date yet

So far, there is mainly visual material and a few broad statements, such as “new forms of open-world exploration” and an “improved combat system.” Specific gameplay mechanics, classes, playable races, PvP modes and endgame systems have not yet been explained. There is also no release date yet. What is certain is that Guild Wars 3 is planned for PC, Steam and PlayStation 5 (available on Amazon for around $670). The first beta test is scheduled for fall 2027, meaning a full release should not be expected before 2028 at the earliest.