Two warring factions, the cultured Luxon and the pirate-like Kurzik, are at each other’s throats, struggling for control of the vast continent of Cantha. Alas, like the famed Great Northern Wall of Ascalon, the war has reached an impasse. Guild Wars Factions is the first stand-alone chapter, or “campaign” for Guild Wars.

There is much new content including a completely new PvE campaign, new gameplay modes for both PvE and PvP (competitive missions, challenge missions and alliance battles), and new skills and armor. Also introduced are two professions; the Assassin is a master of both stealth and speed, while the Ritualist makes effective use of bound spirits, weapon spells, and ashes of the dead.

As with the original, purchase of the game allows unlimted free play. Two free updates were released for the game: Sorrow's Furnace and Gods' Realms. Guild Wars Prophecies was followed by three standalone "campaigns" sold at retail, Guild Wars Factions, and Guild Wars Nightfall. Guild Wars Eye of the North requires one of these previous campaigns to run. A completely new sequel is in the works.