Guild Wars 2 Delayed Until At Least 2010: Updated

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Guild Wars 2 Delayed Until At Least 2010: Updated

NCSoft [http://www.ncsoft.net/global/ir/prfile.aspx?ID=46D262B4-9ED2-4B9F-BC36-236B105053E4] is delaying the release of Guild Wars 2 until at least 2010, but isn't saying why.

Not that it's terribly hard to guess, of course. A lack of ready cash is almost almost certainly the reason that Guild Wars 2 is getting shoved into a "2010/2011" release, instead of debuting later this year as was previously planned. While City of Heroes and City of Villains are doing ok, the pricey-to-develop Tabula Rasa is all but dead. NCSoft's Profits were down 40% during 2008, to $20 million. Not a bad haul, but not a great one overall.

Then again, maybe Guild Wars 2's new engine is to blame for the hold up. It, along with a much-requested Z axis, was meant to add to the new game's appeal and help distinguish it from its predecessor.

It will be interesting to see if a similar fate befalls Aion:The Tower of Eternity [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/issues/issue_164/5165-Beautiful-21st-Century], which is also due out by the end of the year though.

Source: Eurogamer [http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/guild-wars-2-suffers-huge-delay]

Update

To our fans,

There have been some published rumors over the past few days about Guild Wars 2 delays, and I'm writing you today to set the record straight.

You've all seen announcements about restructuring at NCsoft West, and it's natural to wonder whether that restructuring impacts ArenaNet's Guild Wars 2 development. In fact, the reason NCsoft West is restructuring itself is so that the company can put all of its focus into its top-tier games like Guild Wars 2. Our team continues to grow, and has the strong support and financial backing we need to achieve our goal of making Guild Wars 2 the best online role-playing game ever created.

On Friday, NCsoft released investor materials that showed a very broad release window for Guild Wars 2, with the explanation that release timing is still "to be announced." ArenaNet has never given a release date for Guild Wars 2 other than "when it's done." NCsoft's investor materials are a reflection of that philosophy.

I know some fans had hoped for a smaller gap between the launch of Guild Wars: Eye of the North and the start of beta testing for Guild Wars 2, but we communicated last summer that it would be some time before we could commit to any beta or launch dates. Guild Wars 2 is a large and ambitious game, and we're going to take the time to do it right.

I'm immensely proud of what our team has accomplished and continues to accomplish with the development of Guild Wars 2. We'll have a lot more to say when we're closer to release. Until then, we thank you for your continued interest and ask you to stay tuned.

Interestingly, the original penciling in was late 2008 [http://kotaku.com/gaming/feature/feature-guild-wars-2-gw-expansion-unveiled-244666.php] for the public beta. Maybe this is just press pipe dreams?

Or maybe not...

We announced the Beta date for the second half of 2008 because we're confident of getting it into Beta for that period. From there, we just have to see where it takes us depending on how well the Beta the going - that is what will determine the release of the game.

Source: Total Video Games [http://www.totalvideogames.com/Guild-Wars-2/feature-10979.html]

Permalink

 

[Davey Woo]

I think they're just trying to give people more time to farm titles, so you can do that character transferring thing with the Hall of Monuments I've been hearing about. Also I think that they''re trying to build up hype.
I honestly don't mind when it comes out as long as I can try it, realise it's poop and then come back to GW1 again. Or I'll try it and love it, but I doubt that.

 

[Dudemeister]

Still looking forward to it.

 

[MsDevin92]

NOOOHOHOHOHO.

...Sorry about that, I'm a plot-lover and I WANT TO KNOW THE STORY *foams at mouth*.

Also, I wanted to make an Asura character so freaking badly. The tonics they released don't cut it for my obsessiveness. Sad faec.

 

[Solo508]

Damn it. That just ruined my year lol.

 

[mattttherman3]

I'm all for delays if it means the game will be that much better! I enjoyed Guild Wars up to and including Nightfall, after a few monthes of that I got bored and stopped playing. I hope GW 2 can have the same type of storyline quests plus other things.

 

[Ballistic Bum]

Damn. I was looking forward to this, too. Now I have to wait and look forward to it for a longer time -_-

 

[TheBluesader]

Guess this gives me more time to play the original Guild Wars, THEN get really mad.

 

[bue519]

Is it just too scared of WoW? Just kidding, I look forward to seeing a new title on the MMO scene.

 

[meatloaf231]

Curse the skies!

I am looking forward to GW2 ever so much.

 

[Teh_Doomage]

I haven't heard much about GW2, but having been a big fan of the first, nice.

 

[Dechef]

Our team continues to grow, and has the strong support and financial backing we need to achieve our goal of making Guild Wars 2 the best online role-playing game ever created.

...wow.
I'm hungering for a new MMO that won't let me down though, so I certainly hope they can pull it off. Delay or not: I won't be playing this untill 2010 anyway, I've learned my lesson about playing MMO's on launch.

 

[Lord_Ascendant]

i......i...........*sobs*

NOOOOOOOO! NOT GUILD WARS 2!!!!!! ANYTHING BUT THAT!!! TAKE ME INSTEAD!


*ahem*

I feel better. I think

 

[Theon Tonarim]

Meh, I'm done with MMO's anyways.

 

[Higurashi]

Aw, that's too bad. But hey, I would rather that they spend time on it; do it properly and thoroughly.

 

[pantsoffdanceoff]

That's okay I convinced my self that this game will release be in a value pack with Duke Nuk'em Forever. So really if this game ever releases I'll be more than happy but it won't so oh well.

 

[ZippyDSMlee]

Will it suck less? Sorry but for me grind=suck. GW had a interesting premise but I want a MMO hybrid that lets you explore as you want, I want to do a area and quests in more of a daibloe style and move on. GW was a bit to restricted and limited in this.

I hope MMOs will become more fun(less grindy and bland)in time but don;t see many trying to change the crappy MMO archetype I loath so much...