Hey

If Any one has any up to date info on GW2

please reply here

it would be much appreciated

eg. Release dates, Z-axis, new races etc...

thanks

There's already a thread about GW2 a few threads underneath/above yours :)

Guild Wars 2
From Guild Wars 2 Wiki

Guild Wars 2 is the sequel to the Guild Wars series, and is currently in development by ArenaNet. The game will feature a new game engine, changes to character development and the PvP system. Guild Wars 2 is expected to go into beta test just before its release but no information on dates is currently available. No release date has been announced.

All released information regarding it has been compiled below. If you have a specific question in mind, do check our FAQ first.

Contents
 

* 1 Technical
o 1.1 Controls
o 1.2 Graphics
o 1.3 Persistence
* 2 Characters
o 2.1 Races
o 2.2 Companions
o 2.3 Original Guild Wars characters
* 3 Setting
* 4 PvP
o 4.1 World PvP
o 4.2 Structured PvP
* 5 Features under consideration
* 6 Notes
* 7 External links

Technical

There will be no monthly fee associated with Guild Wars 2 to keep up the tradition of Guild Wars. Mike O'Brien has stated that expansions or mini-expansions are more likely than standalone campaigns, but a final decision hasn't been made yet.

Guild Wars 2 will be designed to run on computers with moderate specifications, but will have higher requirements than Guild Wars.

The original Guild Wars will continue to be supported after release of Guild Wars 2. This will include continued holiday events and tournaments.
 

Controls

The control system is going to be significantly changed (in particular mouse movement in the form "click to move" will be removed from the game), however target locking will still function. Guild Wars 2 will introduce a Z-axis to the game which will allow characters to jump over obstacles. Actions which have characters interacting with the environment, such as sliding and swimming, will also be introduced.
[edit] Graphics

James Phinney indicated in his "Imagining Guild Wars 2" article that polygon counts and texture allowances have been increased so he expects it to look beautiful and "like a whole new game". Gaile Gray has indicated the game will support DirectX 10, but not require it to play.
 

Persistence

The game will be on multiple servers or "worlds," but players will not be bound to a world and may therefore change worlds as they would districts, except that they encompass the entire game, instead of just an outpost.

There will be changes to instancing system used. Persistent areas, similar to those traditionally used in other online multiplayer games, will be introduced to Guild Wars which may allow players to meet and interact while exploring.

Instances will still be used for missions and dungeons.

An "Event System" will be used to notify players of big events in the world, the return of a dragon, for instance.
 

Characters

A character can be used to play any game mode available in Guild Wars 2; PvE, Structured PvP and World PvP. A player may still have multiple characters.

The level cap will be raised. It has been suggested that this could be as much as 100 or even unlimited. There will be a plateau of power, where each level no longer adds as much to the power of the character. A sidekick system has been mentioned which would allow characters of a lower level to play with high level characters without disadvantage.

The skills system will be modified. There will be fewer, less complex skills which may behave differently in different situations, such as if the character is jumping or is surrounded by monsters. A system similar to the limited 8 skill system will be used.

The professions are being designed to be viable for both solo and group play. A primary and secondary profession system will be used. It is currently not known if any professions from the original Guild Wars will return, and the profession count is unknown, however, as of June 2007, all ten professions from the original Guild Wars were under consideration.
 

Races

Guild Wars 2 will introduce several new playable races. The five playable races announced so far are:

* Asura
* Charr
* Human
* Norn
* Sylvari

Different races will have different advantages and disadvantages, for example the Norn will be able to shapeshift into a half-bear half-human, with increased health and melee damage. It is presently not known what advantages other races will have.
 

Companions

The system of companions and allies is being reworked. Companions will have customization similar to Heroes. Players will be allowed to bring a single companion with them, who will not take up a party slot and are considered an extension of the character. When a player chooses not to bring a companion, their character will instead be buffed so that they will not be disadvantaged by not bringing a companion.
 

Original Guild Wars characters

Characters from the original Guild Wars campaign will not be migrated to play in Guild Wars 2. Guild Wars 2 will be a fresh start. Some of the items and titles will be available to players of Guild Wars 2 through a Hall of Monuments which is available to players who have Guild Wars Eye of the North. Names will also be reserved through this system.
 

Setting

The Guild Wars 2 story is set about 250 years after the events in the Eye of the North expansion. The world of Tyria is drastically changed from its original form. These changes are caused by ancient dragons resurfacing after millenia of slumber. The first of the dragons, called Primordus, awoke during Eye of the North and proceeded to take over the underground network of Asuran tunnels under Tyria, driving the Asuras to the surface. Other dragons also resurfaced during the intervening centuries; one rose about the sunken holy city of Arah in the ruined kingdom of Orr, and severed the sea route between Kryta and Cantha; another arose to the south of the Crystal Desert, cutting off the link to Elona; a third arose in the Far Shiverpeaks and pushed the Norn south into land previously controlled by the Dwarves.

The human faction is much reduced. The resurfacing dragons caused massive floods that destroyed many coastal cities in Kryta, including its capital city, Lion's Arch and the PvP Battle Isles. The humans have established a new capital in Divinity's Reach after moving north from the coast. They're governed by a constitutional monarch and senate which attempts to balance all the human factions there. Many refugees flocked to Kryta from the rest of Tyria; most importantly, the humans from Ascalon. Ascalon now belongs entirely to the Charr apart from a single fortress, Ebonhawke. Ascalon City itself is a ghost town, populated by the vengeful spirits of its former citizens who slay all who dare enter.

Besides the humans, the other sentient races have a comparatively better time. The Norns and the Charr continue to honor their peace formed from a mutual respect. The Asuras spread through all cities, maintaining a network of teleportation gates but also remaining strictly neutral. The Charr achieve victory over Ascalon and settle into the former human capital of Rin. A new race, the Sylvari, appear fully formed from the mysterious tree that the centaur Ventari tended to until his death.

The Dwarves, who pursued the Destroyers deep and long at the end of Eye of the North, are now deathless creatures of stone; the few who remain watch the ages go by, interacting little with the other sentient races, if at all.

Lion's Arch has been rebuilt from the floods and is the new portal into the Mists; it takes the place of the Battle Isles.

In Cantha, the successor of emperor Kisu defeats the Kurzick and Luxon factions and reunites Cantha under one banner. Cantha then became much more isolationist; all non-human races were pushed out and the borders fortified. With the ancient dragon's undead corsair fleet disrupting travel, there has been no contact with mainland Canthans for a generation.

In Elona, Palawa Joko, successfully rebuilds his undead army and lays siege to Elona. Vabbi is all but destroyed, its former splendor ruined by a famine caused by Joko diverting the river Elon. The Sunspears are broken by Joko's armies. The land bridge between Elona and the Crystal Desert is blocked by Joko's minions and the dragon, and the only news that slips through is carried by the Order of Whispers, who are now spread over all of Tyria.

Guild Wars 2 PvE will still tell a story but will depart from a single monolithic storyline. It will instead use smaller story arcs - allowing the player more of a sandbox environment to play in.
 

PvP

There will be two types of PvP available in Guild Wars 2; World PvP and Structured PvP.
 

World PvP

World PvP will allow you to play characters of any level, using the skills that you have in your possession at that particular time. It is intended to be a more relaxed bridging point between PvE and structured PvP. It will be on a larger scale than the original Guild Wars PvP with large battles which could take place over a long period with people coming and going.

Each battle will have a number of different objectives which can be met such as taking guard towers or defending choke points or joining a larger battle to take a castle. Battles will take place in the Mists.

Victory in World PvP will confer benefits to your world. This may include improved drop rates, better energy regeneration or other bonuses.
 

Structured PvP

Structured PvP is similar to Guild Battles in Guild Wars 1. It will allow you to enter the game at maximum level with all skills, races, items and classes automatically unlocked.

Great info lonesamuai1 and you can find this info in the gw homepage wiki. Lonesamurai had most of the info here but if you need to see the rest check the wiki out on www.GuildWars.com.

Here's a link to the Guild Wars 2 Wiki too. For those of you who're too lazy to just google it.