<s>
Guild	B-Protocol
Wars	I-Protocol
2	I-Protocol
is	O
a	O
free-to-play	O
,	O
massively	B-Protocol
multiplayer	I-Protocol
online	I-Protocol
role-playing	I-Protocol
game	I-Protocol
developed	O
by	O
ArenaNet	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
NCSoft	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Set	O
in	O
the	O
fantasy	B-Application
world	O
of	O
Tyria	O
,	O
the	O
core	O
game	O
follows	O
the	O
re-emergence	O
of	O
Destiny	O
's	O
Edge	O
,	O
a	O
disbanded	O
guild	O
dedicated	O
to	O
fighting	O
Elder	O
Dragons	O
,	O
colossal	O
Lovecraftian-esque	O
entities	O
that	O
have	O
seized	O
control	O
of	O
Tyria	O
in	O
the	O
time	O
since	O
the	O
original	O
Guild	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
(	O
2005	O
)	O
,	O
a	O
plot	O
line	O
that	O
was	O
concluded	O
in	O
the	O
latest	O
expansion	O
End	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Dragons	I-Protocol
(	O
2022	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
takes	O
place	O
in	O
a	O
persistent	B-Protocol
world	I-Protocol
with	O
a	O
story	O
that	O
progresses	O
in	O
instanced	O
environments	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Guild	B-Protocol
Wars	I-Protocol
2	I-Protocol
is	O
the	O
fourth	O
major	O
entry	O
in	O
the	O
Guild	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
series	O
,	O
and	O
claims	O
to	O
be	O
unique	O
in	O
the	O
MMO	O
genre	O
by	O
featuring	O
a	O
storyline	O
that	O
is	O
responsive	O
to	O
player	O
actions	O
,	O
something	O
which	O
is	O
common	O
in	O
single	O
player	O
role-playing	O
games	O
but	O
rarely	O
seen	O
in	O
multiplayer	O
ones	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
dynamic	O
event	O
system	O
replaces	O
traditional	O
questing	O
,	O
utilising	O
the	O
ripple	O
effect	O
to	O
allow	O
players	O
to	O
approach	O
quests	O
in	O
different	O
ways	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
a	O
persistent	B-Protocol
world	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
Also	O
of	O
note	O
is	O
the	O
combat	O
system	O
,	O
which	O
aims	O
to	O
be	O
more	O
dynamic	O
than	O
its	O
predecessor	O
by	O
promoting	O
synergy	O
between	O
professions	O
and	O
using	O
the	O
environment	O
as	O
a	O
weapon	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
reducing	O
the	O
complexity	O
of	O
the	O
Magic-style	O
skill	O
system	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
a	O
sequel	O
to	O
Guild	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
,	O
Guild	B-Protocol
Wars	I-Protocol
2	I-Protocol
features	O
the	O
same	O
lack	O
of	O
subscription	O
fees	O
that	O
distinguished	O
its	O
predecessor	O
from	O
other	O
commercially	O
developed	O
online	O
games	O
of	O
the	O
time	O
,	O
though	O
until	O
August	O
2015	O
a	O
purchase	O
was	O
still	O
required	O
to	O
install	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
16	O
August	O
2022	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
announced	O
that	O
Guild	B-Protocol
Wars	I-Protocol
2	I-Protocol
will	O
be	O
releasing	O
on	O
Steam	B-Application
as	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
10th	O
year	O
anniversary	O
celebration	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Three	O
major	O
expansion	O
packs	O
have	O
been	O
released	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
thus	O
far	O
;	O
Heart	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Thorns	I-Protocol
(	O
2015	O
)	O
,	O
Path	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Fire	I-Protocol
(	O
2017	O
)	O
and	O
End	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Dragons	I-Protocol
(	O
2022	O
)	O
,	O
with	O
a	O
fourth	O
expansion	O
pack	O
in	O
development	O
,	O
announced	O
on	O
March	O
22	O
,	O
2022	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
February	O
2023	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
announced	O
that	O
future	O
Guild	B-Protocol
Wars	I-Protocol
2	I-Protocol
expansions	O
would	O
be	O
adopting	O
a	O
new	O
release	O
model	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
alt	O
=	O
A	O
screenshot	O
of	O
the	O
Guild	B-Protocol
Wars	I-Protocol
2	I-Protocol
character	O
creation	O
system.	O
|thumb|Guild	O
Wars	O
2	O
features	O
an	O
extensive	O
character	O
creation	O
system	O
that	O
allows	O
the	O
player	O
to	O
fine	O
tune	O
the	O
look	O
of	O
their	O
characters.Guild	O
Wars	O
2	O
allows	O
a	O
player	O
to	O
create	O
a	O
character	O
from	O
a	O
combination	O
of	O
five	O
races	O
and	O
nine	O
professions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
five	O
races	O
are	O
the	O
humans	O
,	O
the	O
charr	O
(	O
introduced	O
in	O
Prophecies	B-Application
)	O
,	O
the	O
asura	O
and	O
the	O
norn	O
(	O
introduced	O
in	O
Eye	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
North	I-Application
)	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
sylvari	O
,	O
a	O
race	O
exclusive	O
to	O
Guild	B-Protocol
Wars	I-Protocol
2	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
professions	O
are	O
divided	O
into	O
armor	O
classes	O
:	O
"	O
scholars	O
"	O
with	O
light	O
armor	O
,	O
"	O
adventurers	O
"	O
with	O
medium	O
armor	O
,	O
and	O
"	O
soldiers	O
"	O
with	O
heavy	O
armor	O
—	O
five	O
of	O
the	O
professions	O
make	O
a	O
reappearance	O
from	O
Guild	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Guild	B-Protocol
Wars	I-Protocol
2	I-Protocol
,	O
like	O
Guild	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
,	O
uses	O
a	O
skill-based	O
combat	O
system	O
,	O
whereby	O
players	O
must	O
select	O
only	O
10	O
skills	O
from	O
a	O
much	O
larger	O
pool	O
,	O
introducing	O
an	O
element	O
of	O
strategy	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
unlike	O
Guild	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
,	O
skill	O
slots	O
have	O
predefined	O
roles	O
:	O
the	O
first	O
five	O
are	O
determined	O
by	O
player	O
's	O
weapon	O
and	O
profession	O
,	O
the	O
sixth	O
is	O
for	O
healing	O
,	O
the	O
seventh	O
through	O
ninth	O
will	O
be	O
skills	O
with	O
no	O
defined	O
roles	O
that	O
are	O
unlocked	O
as	O
the	O
game	O
progresses	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
tenth	O
slot	O
will	O
be	O
for	O
an	O
"	O
elite	O
"	O
skill	O
,	O
which	O
is	O
also	O
initially	O
locked	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
a	O
departure	O
from	O
the	O
high	O
number	O
of	O
skills	O
present	O
in	O
Guild	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
,	O
Guild	B-Protocol
Wars	I-Protocol
2	I-Protocol
will	O
focus	O
on	O
quality	O
of	O
skills	O
over	O
quantity	O
and	O
attempt	O
to	O
minimize	O
skill	O
splits	O
across	O
game	O
modes	O
to	O
reduce	O
balancing	O
complexity	O
—	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
most	O
common	O
issues	O
present	O
in	O
MMORPGs	B-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
low	O
level	O
cap	O
of	O
Guild	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
(	O
20	O
)	O
was	O
replaced	O
with	O
one	O
at	O
80	O
,	O
which	O
the	O
developers	O
stated	O
struck	O
the	O
correct	O
balance	O
between	O
allowing	O
for	O
character	O
development	O
and	O
avoiding	O
forcing	O
players	O
into	O
the	O
grind-based	O
gameplay	O
that	O
too	O
often	O
accompanies	O
a	O
high	O
level	O
cap	O
,	O
the	O
elimination	O
of	O
which	O
was	O
a	O
core	O
design	O
principle	O
of	O
the	O
original	O
Guild	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
to	O
a	O
small-scale	O
,	O
tactical	O
combat	O
PvP	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
features	O
"	O
World	O
versus	O
World	O
"	O
,	O
large	O
scale	O
combat	O
taking	O
place	O
in	O
a	O
persistent	B-Protocol
world	I-Protocol
independent	O
of	O
the	O
main	O
world	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Guild	B-Protocol
Wars	I-Protocol
2	I-Protocol
offers	O
eight	O
crafting	O
disciplines	O
,	O
allowing	O
the	O
player	O
to	O
practice	O
two	O
at	O
a	O
time	O
,	O
with	O
a	O
fee	O
for	O
switching	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
There	O
are	O
,	O
however	O
,	O
a	O
small	O
number	O
of	O
achievements	O
and	O
honors	O
earned	O
in	O
Guild	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
which	O
are	O
carried	O
over	O
to	O
Guild	B-Protocol
Wars	I-Protocol
2	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Heart	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Thorns	I-Protocol
expansion	O
introduced	O
raids	B-Protocol
,	O
more	O
difficult	O
endgame	O
content	O
that	O
introduce	O
bosses	O
with	O
several	O
unique	O
mechanics	O
,	O
testing	O
a	O
squad	O
's	O
coordination	O
,	O
damage	O
output	O
,	O
positioning	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
builds	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
There	O
have	O
been	O
several	O
additional	O
raid	B-Protocol
wings	O
with	O
multiple	O
bosses	O
released	O
since	O
,	O
along	O
with	O
Strike	O
Missions	O
,	O
raid-like	O
encounters	O
focusing	O
on	O
a	O
single	O
boss	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
more	O
challenging	O
Challenge	O
Mode	O
encounters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
thumb|The	O
Guild	B-Protocol
Wars	I-Protocol
2	I-Protocol
world	O
map	O
,	O
showing	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
world	O
of	O
Tyria	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
uncover	O
areas	O
of	O
the	O
world	O
map	O
as	O
they	O
play	O
through	O
the	O
game	O
and	O
its	O
expansions.	O
|alt	O
=	O
A	O
screenshot	O
of	O
the	O
Guild	B-Protocol
Wars	I-Protocol
2	I-Protocol
World	O
Map.Guild	O
Wars	O
2	O
takes	O
place	O
in	O
the	O
high	O
fantasy	B-Application
world	O
of	O
Tyria	O
,	O
250	O
years	O
after	O
the	O
players	O
 '	O
defeat	O
of	O
the	O
Great	O
Destroyer	O
in	O
the	O
Eye	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
North	I-Application
expansion	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Five	O
'	O
Elder	O
Dragons	O
 '	O
sleeping	O
beneath	O
the	O
continent	O
have	O
awoken	O
in	O
the	O
time	O
since	O
Guild	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
,	O
causing	O
widespread	O
destruction	O
to	O
Tyria	O
and	O
corrupting	O
its	O
inhabitants	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
advancement	O
of	O
time	O
from	O
Guild	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
is	O
reflected	O
in	O
the	O
changes	O
in	O
culture	O
,	O
including	O
armor	O
and	O
clothing	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
in	O
the	O
advancement	O
of	O
in-game	O
technology	O
and	O
a	O
unified	O
common	O
language	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Guild	B-Protocol
Wars	I-Protocol
2	I-Protocol
features	O
an	O
overall	O
on-going	O
storyline	O
that	O
is	O
added	O
to	O
through	O
expansions	O
and	O
'	O
Living	O
World	O
seasons	O
:	O
replayable	O
live	O
content	O
updates	O
that	O
continue	O
storylines	O
in	O
an	O
episodic	O
format	O
,	O
bridging	O
the	O
gap	O
between	O
expansions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
season	O
begins	O
with	O
the	O
unexpected	O
explosion	O
and	O
crash	O
landing	O
of	O
the	O
"	O
Zephyr	O
Sanctum	O
"	O
,	O
a	O
group	O
of	O
airships	O
populated	O
by	O
the	O
"	O
Zephyrites	O
"	O
,	O
followers	O
of	O
Kralkatorrik	O
's	O
deceased	O
dragon	O
champion	O
and	O
daughter	O
,	O
Glint	O
,	O
who	O
had	O
escaped	O
from	O
his	O
control	O
and	O
had	O
tried	O
to	O
help	O
Destiny	O
's	O
Edge	O
kill	O
him	O
before	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
(	O
see	O
tie	O
in	O
novel	O
,	O
"	O
Guild	B-Protocol
Wars	I-Protocol
2	I-Protocol
:	O
Destiny	O
's	O
Edge	O
"	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Whilst	O
doing	O
so	O
they	O
discover	O
a	O
hidden	O
golden	O
city	O
,	O
Tarir	O
,	O
built	O
after	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
Eye	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
North	I-Application
to	O
incubate	O
and	O
protect	O
Glint	O
's	O
offspring	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
the	O
expansion	O
,	O
the	O
pact	O
commander	O
enters	O
Mordremoth	O
's	O
mind	O
and	O
destroys	O
him	O
from	O
the	O
inside	O
,	O
and	O
as	O
a	O
result	O
,	O
his	O
magic	B-Application
is	O
dispersed	O
across	O
Tyria	O
,	O
some	O
being	O
absorbed	O
by	O
Glint	O
's	O
egg	O
in	O
Tarir	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
thumb|Raids	O
are	O
introduced	O
with	O
Heart	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Thorns	I-Protocol
which	O
tell	O
optional	O
side	O
stories	O
,	O
some	O
of	O
which	O
lead	O
into	O
future	O
releases.	O
|alt	O
=	O
A	O
screenshot	O
of	O
a	O
group	O
fighting	O
the	O
vale	O
guardian	O
raid	B-Protocol
boss	O
from	O
guild	B-Protocol
wars	I-Protocol
2	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
Heart	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Thorns	I-Protocol
introduces	O
raids	B-Protocol
,	O
which	O
together	O
form	O
their	O
own	O
optional	O
side-story	O
,	O
leading	O
into	O
the	O
story	O
of	O
Living	O
World	O
Season	O
3	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Living	O
World	O
Season	O
3	O
is	O
the	O
third	O
instalment	O
of	O
the	O
Living	O
World	O
,	O
picking	O
up	O
a	O
year	O
after	O
the	O
Guild	B-Protocol
Wars	I-Protocol
2	I-Protocol
:	I-Protocol
Heart	I-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Thorns	I-Protocol
story	O
left	O
off	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
humanity	O
struggles	O
with	O
the	O
sudden	O
return	O
of	O
one	O
of	O
their	O
patron	O
gods	O
,	O
the	O
Pact	O
Commander	O
travels	O
to	O
the	O
desert	O
,	O
chasing	O
after	O
Balthazar	O
to	O
stop	O
him	O
before	O
the	O
god	O
's	O
ruthless	O
crusade	O
can	O
upset	O
the	O
delicate	O
balance	O
of	O
magic	B-Application
in	O
Tyria	O
and	O
lead	O
to	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
the	O
world	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Throughout	O
the	O
expansion	O
the	O
commander	O
discovers	O
more	O
of	O
Glint	O
's	O
secrets	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
Aurene	O
's	O
true	O
purpose	O
to	O
replace	O
the	O
Elder	O
Dragons	O
and	O
control	O
their	O
magic	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
Path	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Fire	I-Protocol
,	O
the	O
Commander	O
and	O
their	O
allies	O
must	O
contend	O
with	O
the	O
empowered	O
Elder	O
Dragon	O
,	O
Kralkarorrik	O
threatening	O
Elona	O
,	O
which	O
remains	O
under	O
the	O
thrall	O
of	O
Palawa	O
Joko	O
's	O
Awakened	O
army	O
generals	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
End	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Dragons	I-Protocol
opens	O
with	O
the	O
reappearance	O
of	O
the	O
Aetherblades	O
,	O
a	O
group	O
that	O
have	O
not	O
been	O
seen	O
since	O
Season	O
1	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
capturing	O
Gorrik	O
,	O
the	O
commander	O
leads	O
chase	O
through	O
the	O
mists	O
with	O
Aurene	O
which	O
ends	O
with	O
a	O
crash	O
landing	O
in	O
Cantha	O
,	O
a	O
region	O
of	O
Tyria	O
not	O
visited	O
since	O
Guild	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
Factions	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Since	O
the	O
events	O
of	O
Guild	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
Factions	I-Application
,	O
the	O
Empire	O
of	O
the	O
Dragon	O
severed	O
all	O
bonds	O
with	O
central	O
Tyria	O
and	O
Elona	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
stone	O
sea	O
holds	O
no	O
food	O
—	O
but	O
it	O
's	O
absorbed	O
centuries	O
of	O
magic	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
expansion	O
story	O
deals	O
with	O
the	O
effects	O
on	O
the	O
world	O
due	O
amount	O
of	O
magic	B-Application
that	O
has	O
been	O
released	O
upon	O
the	O
death	O
of	O
the	O
five	O
elder	O
dragons	O
,	O
resolving	O
many	O
plot	O
threads	O
from	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
ongoing	O
storyline	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
players	O
meet	O
the	O
sixth	O
elder	O
dragon	O
,	O
Soo-Won	O
,	O
the	O
dragon	O
of	O
water	O
,	O
who	O
has	O
been	O
cleansing	O
and	O
controlling	O
the	O
released	O
magic	B-Application
,	O
filtering	O
it	O
through	O
her	O
to	O
create	O
Dragonjade	O
,	O
and	O
effectively	O
stopping	O
the	O
planet	O
from	O
collapsing	O
in	O
on	O
itself	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
commander	O
learns	O
that	O
the	O
five	O
other	O
elder	O
dragons	O
were	O
the	O
offspring	O
of	O
Soo-won	O
and	O
used	O
to	O
be	O
benevolent	O
creatures	O
;	O
only	O
becoming	O
corrupt	O
because	O
of	O
greed	O
and	O
the	O
amount	O
of	O
magic	B-Application
they	O
consumed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
an	O
explosion	O
caused	O
by	O
the	O
Aetherblades	O
,	O
Soo-won	O
leaves	O
the	O
reactor	O
and	O
becomes	O
quickly	O
corrupt	O
with	O
magic	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
world	O
then	O
begins	O
to	O
fall	O
apart	O
with	O
the	O
combined	O
magic	B-Application
of	O
the	O
Elder	O
dragons	O
,	O
called	O
the	O
Draconic	O
Void	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Upon	O
the	O
void	O
's	O
extraction	O
,	O
Soo-Won	O
dissipates	O
and	O
Aurene	O
absorbs	O
her	O
magic	B-Application
,	O
replacing	O
her	O
as	O
the	O
filter	O
of	O
magic	B-Application
throughout	O
the	O
world	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Heart	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Thorns	I-Protocol
:	O
Act	O
4	O
October	O
23	O
,	O
2015	O
17	O
Chapters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Requires	O
Heart	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Thorns	I-Protocol
expansion	O
to	O
purchase	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Path	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Fire	I-Protocol
:	O
Act	O
3	O
September	O
22	O
,	O
2017	O
16	O
Chapters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Requires	O
Path	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Fire	I-Protocol
expansion	O
to	O
purchase	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
decision	O
to	O
start	O
creating	O
Guild	B-Protocol
Wars	I-Protocol
2	I-Protocol
began	O
in	O
a	O
design	O
meeting	O
for	O
Guild	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
Utopia	O
,	O
back	O
when	O
the	O
company	O
was	O
releasing	O
campaigns	O
on	O
a	O
sixth-month	O
development	O
cycle	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Work	O
on	O
Guild	B-Protocol
Wars	I-Protocol
2	I-Protocol
began	O
in	O
2007	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
announced	O
March	O
27	O
,	O
2007	O
to	O
coincide	O
with	O
the	O
announcement	O
of	O
the	O
final	O
Guild	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
expansion	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
designed	O
to	O
act	O
as	O
a	O
bridge	O
,	O
in	O
both	O
gameplay	O
and	O
story	O
terms	O
,	O
to	O
Guild	B-Protocol
Wars	I-Protocol
2	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
development	O
team	O
abandoned	O
the	O
early	O
open	O
alpha	O
and	O
beta	O
testing	O
which	O
they	O
had	O
used	O
for	O
the	O
Guild	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
ArenaNet	O
considered	O
that	O
player	O
expectations	O
for	O
open	O
beta	O
tests	O
of	O
MMORPG	B-Protocol
had	O
changed	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
beta	O
was	O
no	O
longer	O
used	O
to	O
test	O
the	O
game	O
but	O
to	O
trial	O
a	O
nearly	O
finished	O
game	O
prior	O
to	O
purchase	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Beta	O
tests	O
scheduled	O
for	O
2008	O
were	O
cancelled	O
to	O
ensure	O
Guild	B-Protocol
Wars	I-Protocol
2	I-Protocol
had	O
maximum	O
impact	O
and	O
appeal	O
to	O
these	O
players	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Guild	B-Protocol
Wars	I-Protocol
2	I-Protocol
uses	O
a	O
heavily	O
modified	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
proprietary	O
game	O
engine	O
developed	O
for	O
Guild	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
by	O
ArenaNet	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
modifications	O
to	O
the	O
engine	O
include	O
real-time	O
3D	O
environments	O
,	O
enhanced	O
graphics	O
and	O
animations	O
and	O
the	O
use	O
of	O
the	O
Havok	B-General_Concept
physics	I-General_Concept
system	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Q4	O
2009	O
shareholders	O
notes	O
further	O
supported	O
this	O
when	O
the	O
CEO	O
stated	O
that	O
"	O
the	O
current	O
development	O
target	O
was	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
2010	O
but	O
,	O
Guild	B-Protocol
Wars	I-Protocol
2	I-Protocol
likely	O
wo	O
n't	O
be	O
released	O
until	O
2011.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
developed	O
for	O
Microsoft	B-Application
Windows	I-Application
with	O
a	O
"	O
very	O
small	O
team	O
"	O
investigating	O
the	O
possibility	O
of	O
a	O
console	O
version	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
23	O
January	O
2012	O
it	O
was	O
announced	O
that	O
Guild	B-Protocol
Wars	I-Protocol
2	I-Protocol
will	O
ship	O
this	O
year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
September	O
18	O
,	O
2012	O
,	O
a	O
beta	O
release	O
for	O
the	O
Mac	O
OS	O
X	O
client	O
for	O
Guild	B-Protocol
Wars	I-Protocol
2	I-Protocol
was	O
issued	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Support	O
for	O
the	O
Mac	O
OS	O
version	O
of	O
Guild	B-Protocol
Wars	I-Protocol
2	I-Protocol
however	O
was	O
subsequently	O
withdrawn	O
in	O
2021	O
,	O
due	O
to	O
the	O
discontinued	O
support	O
on	O
the	O
Mac	O
OS	O
for	O
OpenGL	B-Application
rendering	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Guild	B-Protocol
Wars	I-Protocol
2	I-Protocol
originally	O
received	O
content	O
updates	O
every	O
two	O
weeks	O
,	O
but	O
now	O
plans	O
large	O
releases	O
every	O
few	O
months	O
,	O
with	O
smaller	O
patches	O
and	O
bug	O
fixes	O
between	O
these	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Flame	O
and	O
Frost	O
:	O
Prelude	O
update	O
released	O
on	O
January	O
28	O
,	O
2013	O
,	O
introduced	O
several	O
new	O
features	O
to	O
Guild	B-Protocol
Wars	I-Protocol
2	I-Protocol
,	O
including	O
achievement	O
laurels	O
,	O
guesting	O
and	O
new	O
"	O
living	O
story	O
"	O
content	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
living	O
story	O
in	O
Guild	B-Protocol
Wars	I-Protocol
2	I-Protocol
consists	O
of	O
a	O
series	O
of	O
events	O
and	O
other	O
content	O
that	O
players	O
must	O
progress	O
through	O
within	O
a	O
certain	O
amount	O
of	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Introduced	O
in	O
May	O
2013	O
,	O
the	O
next	O
content	O
update	O
for	O
Guild	B-Protocol
Wars	I-Protocol
2	I-Protocol
began	O
a	O
new	O
living	O
story	O
narrative	O
called	O
The	O
Secret	O
of	O
Southsun	O
,	O
which	O
would	O
continue	O
later	O
in	O
the	O
month	O
with	O
a	O
smaller	O
update	O
titled	O
Last	O
Stand	O
at	O
Southsun	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
episode	O
serves	O
to	O
lead	O
directly	O
into	O
the	O
first	O
expansion	O
,	O
Heart	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Thorns	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
January	O
24	O
,	O
2015	O
,	O
at	O
PAX	O
South	O
held	O
in	O
San	O
Antonio	O
,	O
ArenaNet	O
announced	O
the	O
first	O
expansion	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
titled	O
Heart	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Thorns	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
Path	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Fire	I-Protocol
expansionGuild	O
Wars	O
2	O
:	O
Path	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Fire	I-Protocol
is	O
the	O
second	O
expansion	O
pack	O
for	O
Guild	B-Protocol
Wars	I-Protocol
2	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
expansion	O
introduces	O
new	O
features	O
such	O
as	O
mounts	O
,	O
additional	O
elite	O
specializations	O
for	O
each	O
profession	O
,	O
a	O
bounty	O
system	O
for	O
defeating	O
certain	O
enemies	O
,	O
and	O
access	O
to	O
the	O
areas	O
of	O
the	O
Crystal	O
Desert	O
and	O
Elona	O
(	O
first	O
seen	O
in	O
the	O
first	O
game	O
's	O
Guild	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
Nightfall	I-Application
expansion	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
will	O
also	O
introduce	O
new	O
raids	B-Protocol
and	O
season	O
four	O
of	O
the	O
living	O
world	O
storyline	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
continues	O
the	O
story	O
of	O
Guild	B-Protocol
Wars	I-Protocol
2	I-Protocol
:	I-Protocol
Path	I-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Fire	I-Protocol
,	O
picking	O
up	O
immediately	O
where	O
the	O
story	O
instance	O
Small	O
Victory	O
(	O
Epilogue	O
)	O
left	O
off	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
included	O
six	O
new	O
open	O
world	O
zones	O
,	O
new	O
mounts	O
,	O
raids	B-Protocol
,	O
fractal	O
dungeons	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
new	O
PvP	O
arenas	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
story	O
tells	O
the	O
consequences	O
of	O
the	O
Path	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Fire	I-Protocol
events	O
and	O
a	O
new	O
threat	O
from	O
the	O
Elder	O
Dragon	O
of	O
Crystal	O
and	O
Fury	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
name	O
,	O
Guild	B-Protocol
Wars	I-Protocol
2	I-Protocol
:	I-Protocol
End	I-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Dragons	I-Protocol
,	O
and	O
a	O
teaser	O
trailer	O
were	O
revealed	O
on	O
August	O
25	O
,	O
2020	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
includes	O
a	O
new	O
story	O
and	O
maps	O
set	O
in	O
the	O
southern	O
region	O
of	O
Cantha	O
(	O
first	O
seen	O
in	O
the	O
first	O
game	O
's	O
Guild	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
Factions	I-Application
expansion	O
)	O
,	O
additional	O
elite	O
specializations	O
for	O
each	O
profession	O
,	O
the	O
first	O
multiplayer	O
mount	O
,	O
skiffs	O
,	O
fishing	O
,	O
challenging	O
Strike	O
Missions	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
additional	O
mastery	O
types	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
March	O
22	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
announced	O
that	O
End	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Dragons	I-Protocol
had	O
outsold	O
the	O
previous	O
expansion	O
Path	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Fire	I-Protocol
,	O
with	O
the	O
active	O
player	O
count	O
more	O
than	O
doubling	O
over	O
the	O
last	O
three	O
years	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
February	O
2023	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
announced	O
that	O
future	O
Guild	B-Protocol
Wars	I-Protocol
2	I-Protocol
expansions	O
and	O
content	O
would	O
be	O
adopting	O
a	O
new	O
release	O
model	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
aim	O
of	O
providing	O
more	O
support	O
for	O
popular	O
game	O
modes	O
and	O
making	O
frequent	O
quality-of-life	O
improvements	O
to	O
core	O
gameplay	O
systems	O
such	O
as	O
professions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
first	O
release	O
in	O
the	O
End	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Dragons	I-Protocol
expansion	O
cycle	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
28	O
February	O
2023	O
,	O
exactly	O
one	O
year	O
after	O
the	O
inital	O
End	O
of	O
Dragon	O
's	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
16	O
August	O
2022	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
announced	O
that	O
Guild	B-Protocol
Wars	I-Protocol
2	I-Protocol
will	O
be	O
releasing	O
on	O
Steam	B-Application
as	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
10th	O
year	O
anniversary	O
celebration	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Steam	B-Application
players	O
are	O
able	O
to	O
experience	O
the	O
core	O
Guild	B-Protocol
Wars	I-Protocol
2	I-Protocol
game	O
for	O
free	O
(	O
with	O
the	O
same	O
restrictions	O
applied	O
to	O
free	O
accounts	O
created	O
on	O
GuildWars2.com	O
)	O
,	O
with	O
options	O
to	O
upgrade	O
to	O
Guild	B-Protocol
Wars	I-Protocol
2	I-Protocol
:	I-Protocol
Heart	I-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Thorns	I-Protocol
,	O
Guild	B-Protocol
Wars	I-Protocol
2	I-Protocol
:	I-Protocol
Path	I-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Fire	I-Protocol
,	O
and	O
Guild	B-Protocol
Wars	I-Protocol
2	I-Protocol
:	I-Protocol
End	I-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Dragons	I-Protocol
from	O
day	O
one	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
Steam	B-Application
on	O
August	O
23	O
,	O
2022	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Reception	O
Guild	B-Protocol
Wars	I-Protocol
2	I-Protocol
was	O
released	O
to	O
universal	O
acclaim	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
GameSpot	O
's	O
Kevin	O
VanOrd	O
opened	O
his	O
review	O
with	O
"	O
Guild	B-Protocol
Wars	I-Protocol
2	I-Protocol
is	O
a	O
paradise	O
for	O
explorers	O
and	O
thrill-seekers	O
alike	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
best	O
online	O
role-playing	O
game	O
in	O
years	O
"	O
and	O
gave	O
the	O
game	O
a	O
9.0/10	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Computer	O
and	O
Video	O
Games	O
Games	O
Editor	O
Andy	O
Kelly	O
gave	O
a	O
verdict	O
of	O
8.9/10	O
closing	O
with	O
"	O
An	O
entertaining	O
MMO	O
that	O
combats	O
the	O
dreaded	O
grind	B-Application
with	O
smart	O
design	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Being	O
able	O
to	O
play	O
with	O
friends	O
regardless	O
of	O
level	O
or	O
class	O
is	O
a	O
gigantic	O
leap	O
forward	O
,	O
and	O
one	O
that	O
,	O
when	O
mixed	O
in	O
with	O
all	O
of	O
the	O
other	O
innovations	O
in	O
the	O
genre	O
,	O
make	O
Guild	B-Protocol
Wars	I-Protocol
2	I-Protocol
one	O
of	O
the	O
best	O
MMOs	O
currently	O
available.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
and	O
giving	O
it	O
4.5/5	O
and	O
GameSpy	O
's	O
Leif	O
Johnson	O
wrote	O
,	O
"	O
To	O
Guild	B-Protocol
Wars	I-Protocol
2s	I-Protocol
credit	O
,	O
its	O
issues	O
do	O
little	O
to	O
detract	O
from	O
the	O
immensely	O
rewarding	O
experience	O
of	O
the	O
whole	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
does	O
n't	O
overthrow	O
the	O
conventions	O
of	O
the	O
MMORPG	B-Protocol
,	O
but	O
it	O
presents	O
them	O
in	O
fresher	O
and	O
livelier	O
packaging	O
than	O
its	O
competitors.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Time	O
listed	O
Guild	B-Protocol
Wars	I-Protocol
2	I-Protocol
as	O
the	O
top	O
video	O
game	O
of	O
2012	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Editor	O
Matt	O
Peckham	O
noted	O
that	O
"	O
Guild	B-Protocol
Wars	I-Protocol
2	I-Protocol
is	O
one	O
of	O
those	O
rare	O
games	O
that	O
unexpectedly	O
knocks	O
your	O
life	O
off-kilter	O
,	O
like	O
a	O
meteoroid	O
banging	O
into	O
a	O
satellite	O
"	O
...	O
[	O
It	O
has ]	O
the	O
feel	O
of	O
a	O
living	O
world	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
sort	O
of	O
compulsive	O
anywhere-you-go	O
playability	O
other	O
MMOs	O
only	O
dream	O
of.	O
"	O
</s>
