NCsoft and ArenaNet announced that the Guild Wars franchise of online roleplaying games has surpassed five million units sold in Europe, North America, and Asia.
The Guild Wars franchise consists of the original Guild Wars, Guild Wars Factions, Guild Wars Nightfall, and the recently released expansion, Guild Wars: Eye of the North. Since the release of the original campaign in April of 2005, its subscription-free business model have created a large and loyal following that is anticipating Guild Wars 2.
This spring NCsoft and ArenaNet celebrate the fifth anniversary of Guild Wars with Guild Wars Beyond, an ongoing campaign that expands upon the Guild Wars storyline by focusing on key characters and events that are destined to make history leading up to Guild Wars 2. The first such event, the War in Kryta, sweeps players up in a savage struggle between the oppressive White Mantle zealots and the Shining Blade rebels for the fate of Kryta.
Guild Wars Beyond allows players to experience the War in Kryta from the very beginning to its fateful finale through an intriguing viral campaign, a website that enhances the storyline, and with gripping new in-game content. They’ll join the battle for Kryta by participating in exciting quests, taking part in decisive battles, and by purchasing the new White Mantle and Shining Blade costumes for their character. Guild Wars players will literally take part in history, as the War in Kryta has a profound effect on the world of Guild Wars 2.
Within the war, players help the Shining Blade rebels oppose the White Mantle, a militarised cult that rules Kryta, in the hopes of restoring the Krytan monarchy and installing Princess Salma as queen. The legacy of these deeds carries 250 years into the future, where Salma’s descendent Queen Jennah leads the embattled humans in Guild Wars 2. In addition to Salma’s storyline, the War in Kryta also focuses on several key characters that are destined to make history - Gwen, a brooding, beautiful mesmer, and Lieutenant Keiran Thackeray, a charr-hunting ranger. Gwen and Lt. Thackeray are destined to marry and establish the human city of Ebonhawke, a key location in Guild Wars 2, and their descendent, Logan Thackeray, is one of the iconic characters in Guild Wars 2.
In the coming months, Guild Wars Beyond will continue to unveil important Guild Wars 2 information and content via the current Guild Wars live game.
More articles about Guild Wars