A console version of MMO Guild Wars 2 is "in the preparation stage", NCsoft has said.

Speaking in a financial conference call today, reported by Guild Wars Insider, NCsoft executives confirmed - for the first time - a console version of the exciting fantasy online game.

In response to an analyst question about console versions of its games, NCsoft replied: "When it comes to Guild Wars 2 as we have announced already, we are in the preparation stage."

We've had a listen to the call ourselves and the quote is accurate.

Just to be sure, we checked in with our friendly neighbourhood NCsoft representative, who issued us the following statement:

"Currently ArenaNet is focused on making GW2 the best PC MMO ever released."

"Currently..."

While a console version of Guild Wars 2 now seems certain, a launch alongside the PC version - due out some time this year - seems unlikely.

"Realistically speaking I don't think it would be likely that we will be launching the console version [and the PC version] together," an NCsoft executive said on the call.

The PC version's release date will depend on the results of the large scale beta test, currently scheduled for some time in March or April, NCsoft said.