Mesoamerica is one of gaming’s favorite places and time periods to go, and now, Guild Wars is heading there too. ArenaNet and co-dev partner studio 2weeks announced that all new content is on the way with Guild Wars Afterlife. Guild Wars Afterlife also marks the first new DLC for the title in 20 years, and it’s exciting to see new content potentially bring people back to the game while also offering players who haven’t left something new to tackle.
Set ot launch January 13, 2027 on PC, Steam, iOS, and Android, Afterlife takes players through the Mists of Tyria to the land of Xotecha, where the Order of Moonless Night seeks assistance in combating the rising tide of Nightmares and the mysterious Cult of Odran that threaten the new, ever-changing dungeon, the Unformed.
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What is coming with Guild Wars Afterlife?
Clearly inspired by Mexica views of the afterlife like Xibalba, this new content will challenge original Guild Wars players in new ways. The main addition in Guild Wars Afterlife is the Unformed, a new dungeon that is never the same run twice.
In this ever-changing dungeon, players select a starting loadout and then face a unique sequence of maps, enemies, and bosses. To make it through this gauntlet, players will engage in a skill-drafting system that lets them choose new abilities after each successful encounter to take them further into the Unformed.
The skills offered during these moments aren’t limited to a character’s primary or secondary professions, allowing for wider, more open-ended build-craft options than ever, including multiple elite skills from different professions. In an almost roguelike structure, this kind of unending content makes it easy to invest time in the 21-year-old MMO.
The new dungeon will take players through jungles, ruins, and cenotes (natural cave formations the Mexica believed were openings to the underworld), all while players discover the history and lore of Xotcha and the Mists.
As players complete runs, they will unlock rewards that affect future dungeon runs, plus permanent rewards they can enjoy outside of Xotecha throughout the rest of the game. As players make further progress, the overarching story of Afterlife will reveal itself, shining light on what exactly is happening in these numinous frontiers.
What is the release date?
Guild Wars Afterlife launches on January 13, 2027. Players can pre-purchase today at a discount ($23.99 USD, varies by platform/location). Additionally, the pre-purchase unlocks ancestral-themed Vestments of the Order costume as a bonus.
