A few months ago, we announced that Guild Wars 2‘s Living World experience was launching on a path that would result in our story-and the whole world of Tyria-reaching a point of no return. We’ve since ventured into the heart of Glint’s lair, discovered secrets in the depths of the Durmand Priory, witnessed the fall of the leader of the Zephyrites, recovered the last known dragon egg only to have it stolen out from under us by a longtime friend, and searched through the first memories of the sylvari race in our hunt to find her.

Our story now finds the Pact’s fleet of airships poised to launch their assault into the jungle, and our band of heroes standing before a sealed cave marked with ancient runes. On January 13, Living World Season 2 will return to take you beyond that seal, and you’ll discover moments that will forever change the course of Tyria.

Holiday Events

As we count down to January 13 and enjoy the holiday season, we’ll feature a number of exciting events across our core game modes in Guild Wars 2. On December 16, our annual holiday festival, “A Very Merry Wintersday,” will make its return at its new home in Divinity’s Reach. Queen Jennah has graciously agreed to host the event to celebrate the Pact Fleet’s coming assault into the jungle, and to lighten the burden on Lion’s Arch during its rebuilding efforts in the wake of the city’s destruction.

Starting December 16, and running through January 13, we’ll host our first-ever test ladder season in Player vs. Player! Using our new matchmaking and ladder formulas, you can battle your way to the top of the ladder in PvP for the next four weeks to earn prestige, honor, and prizes!

Hot on the heels of our inaugural World Tournament Series finale event in Beijing, we’ll be bringing you more top-tier PvP action with the first-ever ESL monthly championship. Join us on December 10 to watch top teams in North America and Europe compete for over $3,000 (USD) in prizes, broadcast live from the ESL HQ studios in Los Angeles and Cologne. This marks the beginning of a partnership with ESL that will continue to bring you exciting monthly championship events from the top PvP teams and PvP shoutcasters in the world.

In World vs. World, from December 16 to January 13, we’ll feature our first non-tournament WvW event, the WvW Sneak Attack. Join us as we turn the rules of WvW upside down for four weeks. Every player you kill in WvW will gain your world a point. Earn an extra point by using a finisher while your world has Borderlands Bloodlust. Objectives under attack will not display their customary white sword, and the Mist War Summons buff will give you an extra +15% WXP gain, +50% Magic Find in WvW, and +15% experience on kills in WvW. If all goes well, this will be just the first of many special events in WvW.

The Final Countdown

Exciting events and content are coming to Guild Wars 2 over the holidays as we count down to the pivotal moment of Living World’s second season on January 13. We hope you’ll join us for the ride; you won’t want to miss it.

We’ll see you in Tyria!