Guild Wars Afterlife launches January 13, 2027

Guild Wars Afterlife has been announced. It is the first new premium DLC for the original Guild Wars in nearly 20 years, and it launches on PC and mobile on January 13, 2027. Pre-purchase is open now.

ArenaNet revealed the expansion on November 3 with co-development partner 2weeks. It is built around an ever-changing dungeon and a new skill-drafting system.

What is Guild Wars Afterlife?

Afterlife is new paid content for the 2005 original. Eurogamer notes that the last major addition was Eye of the North in August 2007. ArenaNet then moved its focus to Guild Wars 2, while keeping the first game's servers running.

The story takes you to the isle of Xotecha, deep within the Mists, to join the Order of the Moonless Night. The Order watches over the Unformed, a jungle of shared dreams where memory takes shape. Spirits that linger in their pain for too long risk turning into Nightmares, beings of pure rage, and the mysterious Cult of Odran is stirring things up.

Pocket Gamer describes Xotecha as a South American-inspired jungle realm that looks very different from anything Guild Wars players have seen before.

How does the Unformed dungeon work?

The heart of Afterlife is the Unformed, a dungeon that changes every time. ArenaNet says no two runs are the same. You pick a starting loadout, then face a unique lineup of maps, enemies and bosses, through jungles, cenotes and floating ruins.

The standout feature is skill drafting. After each successful encounter you choose a new ability, and the choices are not limited to your character's primary and secondary professions. That means you can run multiple elite skills from different professions on the same bar, a big change for a game known for its strict build rules.

Rewards and co-op

You play with your existing characters. Completed runs unlock rewards that affect future runs, plus permanent rewards you can use outside Xotecha. The story unfolds as you keep returning. You can tackle the dungeon with friends or with henchmen, and new foes include Ancient Golems and powerful Nightmares.

Why does Guild Wars Reforged matter?

Afterlife requires Guild Wars Reforged, the updated version of the 21-year-old game. ArenaNet says it offers full controller support and all the expansion content at one price, and it is the studio's first release on mobile. Eurogamer points out that Reforged launched late last year and added a new dungeon in April.

According to ArenaNet, Guild Wars has welcomed more than nine million players and over a billion hours of play. It made its name as an MMORPG without a subscription fee, and Afterlife's roguelike-style structure is a clear attempt to bring that legacy to a new audience.

If you love the genre, see our list of upcoming MMORPG games and our guide to the best MMORPG games.

Frequently asked questions

When does Guild Wars Afterlife come out?

ArenaNet says Guild Wars Afterlife launches on January 13, 2027 on PC, Steam, the App Store and Google Play. It requires Guild Wars Reforged.

How much is Guild Wars Afterlife?

Pre-purchase costs 23.99 USD/EUR (it may vary by platform and region) and includes the Vestments of the Order costume. At launch the price returns to 29.99 USD/EUR, and Eurogamer lists the UK price as £25.99.

Can you play Guild Wars Afterlife on mobile?

Yes. The DLC is coming to iOS and Android as well as PC, since Guild Wars Reforged is already available on mobile.

Sources

• ArenaNet (GuildWars2.com): Announcing Guild Wars Afterlife
• Games Press: Enter The Mists in Guild Wars Afterlife (ArenaNet press release)
• Eurogamer: Guild Wars gets its first major gameplay update in almost 20 years
• Pocket Gamer: Guild Wars gets its first DLC in 20 years