Well, we knew we would get an announcement from ArenaNet during today’s Summer Game Fest stream. And I think a lot of people guessed that it would be Guild Wars 3. Well, these people were right – even if that rightness came from pure hope.

The developer revealed the game during the keynote livestream today, noting that this will be the studio’s first new game since 2012. They describe the new games as more than a new era for the company and IP, but “for MMORPGs as a whole.” It will, according to Colin Johanson, game director of Guild Wars 3 and head of the ArenaNet studio, offer fans “new, modern experiences” and “propel MMORPGs forward to create an online gaming world that feels credible, rewarding, responsive and innovative, while respecting players’ time and providing a positive, supportive space to build a community and enjoy new stories.”

Despite the “3” in the game’s title, it is not a sequel. Rather, it takes place a thousand years before the original Guild Wars game, in a vast wilderness frontier region called Orr. The region is full of magic and filled with natural creatures known as Vael spirits. Guilds fight over the region, either to protect it or to exploit it.

ArenaNet plans to launch the game’s first beta test sometime in fall 2027. So there is a certain waiting time. But considering it’s an MMO, that’s not surprising. The ArenaNet team plans to share more details about the game in articles and streams in the near future. So keep an eye out.