Guild Wars 1 dead, reforge not brought magic 🪄

    Reforged hasn't moved the needle as a lot of us had hoped. That doesnt necessarily mean the game is dead, but I do agree that 2weeks and SCW haven't been able to capitalise on the initial hype.

    Naively, 2weeks/SCW probably didn't think that GWR would get the associated hype and didn't have a strong enough product/content roadmap to offer the new/returning player base (evidence of this is the retoactive game modes in Alpha/Beta mode - which are still in Alpha/Beta mode, and skill balance patch which were great but from an implementation perspective (Nature Rituals) weren't done properly and had very little testing it seemed). That being said, are they waiting for the Anniversary to release what they have been working on (if anything) behind the scenes?

    My issue is no communication - vagueposting on social media doesn't count. Communication keeps the players engaged. Lack of it, implies that they are just milking the cow - which is a shame. Huge missed opporunity I feel - so I understand some of the sentiments in this thread.

    [米秩] IGN: Prophecies I

    Edited once, last by Ascalon (March 23, 2026 at 4:15 PM).

    I don't hate the players who are staying, nor do I hate Anet; what I hate is being sold something that looks amazing on paper only to see that the result is pathetic. It's that contrast that makes me hate it.

    When the community reacted to the announcements about Melandru, thinking it was a new elite zone, or about Devona, expecting a new dungeon in the Pre-PvP zone.

    You can really see both the players’ high expectations and the disappointment that followed when reality set in.

    As for the beta-alpha modes—it’s been almost four months now? It’s a huge joke. Not to mention that the Melandru mode was created by the players. They didn’t need to hold 50 meetings to come up with that idea.

    In conclusion, the game belongs to whoever wants to invest in it, and for now, aside from a few minor updates (graphics, interface), the game belongs to the players—it hasn’t belonged to Anet for nearly 13 years.


    External Content youtu.be
    Content embedded from external sources will not be displayed without your consent.
    Through the activation of external content, you agree that personal data may be transferred to third party platforms. We have provided more information on this in our privacy policy.


    Edit:

    Theories on Content Recycling in GW1 (or Why You'll Never Get Truly New Content in GW1)


    Originally, Anet developed Guild Wars: Prophecies without any immediate plans for a sequel. It was NC Soft that later commissioned Factions and Nightfall (I don't have any information regarding EOTN).

    Starting with (Factions), many elements were reused in terms of textures. There are countless examples, from the Lich becoming Stone Rain to various other reused NPC models and armor designs. There are also duplicate skills. The javelin, which already existed in the 2003 E3 demo (before the graphical overhaul), was reused in Nightfall. I’d even go so far as to speculate that Melandru’s elite zone was supposed to be Urgoz, but that—perhaps due to a lack of time or to simplify development—it was added as an elite zone in Factions. The EOTN dungeons, which have the same maps but with different branching paths, which can be confusing at times. The PvE Elites, recycled from Utopia. Reforged: recycling of Anet moderator badges, reintroduction of character selection screensavers. Etc, etc. In short, the list would be far too long. Not to mention the additions that aren’t really additions: adding NPCs with existing skins to an instanced zone, a few ambient texts—in short, “Fedex” quests (Devona in the Pre).

    It’s clear from the GW1 expansion process that Anet wanted to evolve its game, but that the GW1 code base was no longer sufficient, and that development time and costs led them to recycle—for better or worse—existing content. Interactions with the environment (jumping, for starters) and the addition of features found in competing games (auction house, mounts, real-money store, etc.) would have left them in the dust if they had released Utopia and more. Because it’s important to remember that between the release of Factions and Nightfall, persistent rumors of at least one new campaign being added each year in the future had taken hold.

    Starting in 2007, they announced EOTN as the final “campaign” and the last major update for GW1. After that, events like the addition of Dhumm, War in Kryta, and Winds of Change served as a test model for the duo: free content updates paired with costumes available in the store. This model would later be adopted in GW2. In short, Dhumm and the Ministry of Purity skin are the last additions of original textured models to the game after EOTN (if I’m not mistaken).

    Anet reached those limits with this game almost 20 years ago. To think that 2weeks in 2026 will resume developing original textures and content using the GW1 code is pure fantasy. Why would Anet revive a concept that’s been abandoned for all this time—especially given the financial risks—and pay an outside company to recreate that mistake today? And from a marketing standpoint alone, it doesn’t hold water. No video game franchise would dare to advertise what Reforged was trying to sell us without first highlighting the best of what it had to offer. By that I mean that if real content were to be released, it would have been announced first, and only then would minor elements have followed that content. And if I’m wrong on this point, it would mean that if the potential content is anything like their marketing, it’s absolute garbage.


    I'll just say at the current place we are with the updates... i'd prefer if skill updates were kept to reforged mode. Like another split similar to the pvp/pve split.

    At least none of the changes so far have broken any combos i use, and one skill became slightly better, but i'd rather nothing changed unless i opted in to reforged mode.

    ꚛꚙꚛ Ouch My Assassin | Raise R Bladez ꚛꚙꚛ

    • Official Post
    Quote from Neutral_CH

    In conclusion, the game belongs to whoever wants to invest in it, and for now, aside from a few minor updates (graphics, interface), the game belongs to the players—it hasn’t belonged to Anet for nearly 13 years.


    Seems like expectations in today's day and age are usually a lot higher than what gets promised, for any game. There's been some gems that released over the past few years, but it seems like people are expecting more than what they get. I agree with this though, the game will live on because of the players and I doubt anything Anet does from this point forward is going to change that unfortunately (especially with the small amount of devs actually contributing). Maybe we'll get a few more weeks with that that new area that was live streamed a few months ago:/?

    Maybe I’m wrong, I feel a bit more hopeful still. I think this is more a case of high expectations of a small team who weren’t going to deliver the level of content people (perhaps unreasonably) wanted right away. Or a marketing issue - I think this the most reasonable criticism.

    Piken square is clearly set up for more. I have confidence we will see more complex content come through as more tools are recovered. I’ll feel more pessimistic if the anniversary falls flat though.

    PS: I haven’t posted here in years, but like many others these little things they have done have caused me to keep half an eye on the game updates on the wiki and write this, so it can’t be all doom and gloom :)

    • Official Post
    Quote from trademeimfamous

    well they did say that they were still working on getting the tools back to a usable state. but yes the reforged momentum seems to be over

    I think Reforged got way more attention than they expected and they have put out more content in a short moment than I had expected them to do.

    However, scaling up to really create new content, that takes a while. They already added things that I would consider to be real content, like a new quest.
    I expect more like that is coming and I am pretty sure that new content will bring back players and boost the game up again.

    It is absolutely normal for hype levels and momentum to die down a little between (content) updates, that happens for every game. It is all about how new updates bring back players.

    Quote from Iaerah
    Quote from trademeimfamous

    well they did say that they were still working on getting the tools back to a usable state. but yes the reforged momentum seems to be over

    I think Reforged got way more attention than they expected and they have put out more content in a short moment than I had expected them to do.

    However, scaling up to really create new content, that takes a while. They already added things that I would consider to be real content, like a new quest.
    I expect more like that is coming and I am pretty sure that new content will bring back players and boost the game up again.

    It is absolutely normal for hype levels and momentum to die down a little between (content) updates, that happens for every game. It is all about how new updates bring back players.

    I'd guess there is a non-zero chance Reforged mode will have *other areas* with added foes other than just the northlands in presearing... it just takes time to implement and test.

    ꚛꚙꚛ Ouch My Assassin | Raise R Bladez ꚛꚙꚛ

    • Official Post

    Last time they actually added new content (as in: new cosmetics) was in 2015 with the Balthazar weapons. It was mentioned back in the day that it was a huge challenge to get the art tools up and running again.

    I can imagine if you actually want to create new content, getting those tools working, making concept art and turning those in actual in game items, that would probably take a few months to get it done right the first time.
    That is if you want to actually create new content, that is.

    But I expect that the GW1 team has more up in their sleeves that they haven't shared, yet.

    Quote from Iaerah

    Last time they actually added new content (as in: new cosmetics) was in 2015 with the Balthazar weapons. It was mentioned back in the day that it was a huge challenge to get the art tools up and running again.

    I can imagine if you actually want to create new content, getting those tools working, making concept art and turning those in actual in game items, that would probably take a few months to get it done right the first time.
    That is if you want to actually create new content, that is.

    But I expect that the GW1 team has more up in their sleeves that they haven't shared, yet.

    I mean that as just adding additional mobs to existing instances in postsearing proph, and other campaigns with time, when Reforged mode is on. Just using existing npc models, like the Northlands just added more grawl and charr.

    It's just a guess based on what they've shown they can do so far.

    ꚛꚙꚛ Ouch My Assassin | Raise R Bladez ꚛꚙꚛ

    • Official Post
    Quote from manuS

    Looks like reforged broke GWs neck. Look at compass. eee fully dead. Just 1 afk person with me.

    As someone who hails from Europe, the European servers have been dead for 15+ years, everybody just plays on the USA servers. GW1 is lag insensitive enough to not be an issue.

    That being said, Embark Beach has never been a good measure for how busy the game is. Kamadan or Pre-Searing Ascalon are a way better measure.

    I think its awesome they made some changes, but apart from the better definition skill icons (I can actually see what they meant to be now lol) They did not really add something for me. I'm not playing pre searing at all and I like to do Iron mode but I wouldnt make a new character for the icon. I hope some things are on their way. I always hoped the Melandru statue and other statues would get their new own FoW or UW world. They could also have made a harder Hardmode version of the game, with a new title to vanquish and new goals like completing the campaigns and elite missions that way. But thats just me

    ~ Bzz

    Quote from The Honey Bee

    I always hoped the Melandru statue and other statues would get their new own FoW or UW world. They could also have made a harder Hardmode version of the game, with a new title to vanquish and new goals like completing the campaigns and elite missions that way.

    I’d love new elite areas too, but only once they’ve worked out how to do it so it’s not a disgusting bug fest. That’s worse than nothing imo. I think gw2 shows that new ‘areas’ really bring very transient interest in the game and require a lot of effort to get right.

    I think harder hard mode (missions, then vq, in campaign order) and more hard mode iconic quests over time could be the best way to get a regular cadence of ‘new’ content without major risks. With new rewards in the form of skins/collector stuff like destroyer gauntlets with new trophies ofc.

    Quote from Jonast
    Quote from The Honey Bee

    I always hoped the Melandru statue and other statues would get their new own FoW or UW world. They could also have made a harder Hardmode version of the game, with a new title to vanquish and new goals like completing the campaigns and elite missions that way.

    I’d love new elite areas too, but only once they’ve worked out how to do it so it’s not a disgusting bug fest. That’s worse than nothing imo. I think gw2 shows that new ‘areas’ really bring very transient interest in the game and require a lot of effort to get right.

    I think harder hard mode (missions, then vq, in campaign order) and more hard mode iconic quests over time could be the best way to get a regular cadence of ‘new’ content without major risks. With new rewards in the form of skins/collector stuff like destroyer gauntlets with new trophies ofc.

    Yeah I totally agree on the fact that buggy new content wouldnt help. I think a harder hard mode would keep returning players busy and entertained for quite a while actually!

    ~ Bzz

    Above all, this new content (original content, not just NPCs placed in instances) needs to be strategically different.

    Aside from the bosses in elite zones (and certain effects in those zones), no real strategy is required in PvE, other than “smash” enemies in one fell swoop, after positioning your group on the map so as not to aggro everyone.

    Making the game harder won’t change the strategy. Don’t confuse the three types of difficulty in a video game:

    - Time. (Not necessarily hard, but takes time).

    - Knowledge. (Requires trials, but once figured out, it gets easier).

    - Competitive. (PvP, which will remain difficult because players adapt and change strategies, unlike enemys in PvE).


    I can imagine the disappointment if an elite zone or dungeon were added and most players had already run through it and created a SC after just a few hours. The rewards associated with that would then also be insignificant/common.

    Unless, strategically speaking, the entire current game is overhauled in Reforged Mode. For example, all enemies could have two classes, as in War in Kryta.