Guild Wars 2 has a new studio update, with a look at the updated spring/summer roadmap. Over the next two months, expect things like balance updates, returning events like Dragon Bash, and an update on WvW rewards.
The new studio update blog has some answers to questions from the community, including about the change over to a new seasonal content model with more frequent, smaller expansion content. “Rather than releasing an expansion every 2–4 years with 1–2 seasons of Living World in between, we’ll be releasing smaller expansions, with a lower price, much more frequently,” they confirm.
There’s also a look into the previous development cycle that helped lead to this new change. One notable reflection also comes in the Q&A, with the major expansions every few years, then Living World for a couple of years in between, “it meant that the core game took a back seat. Meanwhile, the number of features slowly crept upward, without a plan or designated resources to maintain them”. This seasonal pivot means they plan to spend more time to support and polish up the existing systems and features,while still adding fresh content regularly.
Part of what to expect in that next expansion - a big combat-related update that will “further augment the combat options for each profession by adding new tools to their arsenal and by lifting constraints that will unlock an unprecedented number of playstyle customization options”.
As for the spring/summer 2023 roadmap, this month we have a new profession balance patch tomorrow, and a new story chapter and capstone encounter to conclude “What Lies Beneath” on May 23rd. And to conclude End of Dragons entirely. Once that’s completed, expect new peaceful maps to explore, and “our first cooperative adventure featuring the siege turtle”.
In June, there will be new visual effect toggles, an update to World vs. World rewards, and the return of Dragon Bash. Also in late June, expect a Cantha-themed Fractal dungeon and the next major professions balance update.
Overall, there are some other things in the works. Some will have to wait until they can truly get all DirectX 9 related code updated to the new default DirectX 11. Another project teased with no further info is “a rework of an existing core game reward system” that is “months away”. More details will come on this and other plans.
There was another significant tease in the update, an image of concept art for what they're cooking up for the next expansion.
