Shaun Savage
Story Highlights
- Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure, the fourth expansion to the award-winning MMORPG, is set for release on August 22, 2023, and explores the ancient mysteries surrounding the floating Wizard’s Tower.
- The expansion offers new explorable areas, Strike Missions, gameplay features, and an adventure set in the Skywatch Archipelago.
- Post-launch, the expansion will provide additional content at no extra cost, including a new map, a Fractal of Mists encounter, Strike Mission challenge modes, and new rewards.
The highly anticipated fourth expansion to the critically acclaimed MMORPG Guild Wars 2, titled ‘Secrets of the Obscure’, was officially announced today by ArenaNet and NCSOFT. This expansion, set for release on August 22, 2023, promises an array of new gameplay features and riveting adventures set above Tyria’s surface, aiming to delve into the enigmas of the floating Wizard’s Tower that have piqued the curiosity of players for over two decades.
“The idea of finally revealing the secrets of the Wizard’s Tower has floated around the studio for many years,” remarked Josh Davis, Guild Wars 2 Game Director. “With Secrets of the Obscure, we are delving into Tyria’s lore like never before. The expansion brings new areas of the world, new characters, enemies, and twists to the core combat gameplay.”
Players will embark on a journey that commences with a climb through the Skywatch Archipelago, the first of two new maps introduced on the release day. These floating islands are besieged by the Kryptis, a malevolent demonic race that is threatening the world’s fragile peace following the defeat of the elder dragons. The player’s quest morphs into a heroic struggle within the Demon Realm, where the fate of the world rests on the shoulders of the player and their enigmatic new allies.
New Features, Activities, and Storylines
‘Secrets of the Obscure’ is set to broaden gameplay possibilities with a bunch of new features, activities, and storylines. Two new maps, the Skywatch Archipelago and Amnytas, will be available on release day, with another to follow in a future update. The mysterious Wizard’s Tower serves as the hub area from which players will explore Secrets of the Obscure, and will tie them to the main characters and events of the expansion.
As the Kryptis invade Tyria, players can join a band of adventurers known as the Astral Ward to protect the world, undertaking monster hunts and bounty contracts throughout the game to earn new rewards and abilities. The ‘Heart of the Obscure’, a crucial tool, will be the player’s key to explore the new expansion. As players make progress in upgrading this mystical stone, they’ll earn the ability to open special doors and reward chests, create support items, and seal the rifts for the Astral Ward.
The expansion also introduces two challenging 10-player instanced encounters, the Cosmic Observatory and the Temple of Febe. Challenge Modes for these Strike Missions are planned for future releases. Furthermore, the Wizard’s Vault will offer Astral Acclaim for completing various achievements, which can be traded for unique items like armor pieces, weapon and mount skins, and more.
The expansion also brings along a slew of new rewards, including the game’s first set of legendary armor earned through open world PvE activities. Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure is available for pre-purchase today, and includes a bundle of bonus items.
A special beta event will take place from June 29 to July 2, inviting all Guild Wars 2 players to explore the new Weaponmaster Training feature. Once logged in, players will be given a special beta character slot to explore the myriad character build possibilities this new feature affords.
‘Secrets of the Obscure’ will retail at $24.99, with future content set to be introduced at no extra charge. With the promise of an enriching experience awaiting players in the subscription-free world of one of the most enduring and cherished PC games of all time, the stage is set for another thrilling chapter in the Guild Wars saga.
