Guild Wars just got “Reforged” for $19.99—Deck-ready at last, but don’t call it a remaster

Guild Wars Reforged brings a classic to the couch-finally

Guild Wars is about to be the rare MMO that gets modernized without asking longtime players to rebuy the game. On December 3, ArenaNet and co-dev 2weeks will launch Guild Wars Reforged on Steam and Windows PC, bundling the original campaigns for $19.99, adding full XInput controller support, and earning Steam Deck Verified status. Existing players? You get all the UI and rendering upgrades for free. That’s the part that matters: this is a genuine quality-of-life upgrade that makes a 2005 classic playable on modern screens and comfy on a couch.

Key takeaways

• Reforged focuses on modernization: controller support, high-DPI scaling, HD skill icons, new antialiasing options, ambient occlusion, enhanced bloom, and 3D environmental audio.
• Steam Deck Verified plus a new quest-tracker and larger font options make couch play viable for the first time.
• The $19.99 package consolidates the original Guild Wars campaigns (Prophecies, Factions, Nightfall); the update is free for existing accounts.
• Don’t expect a ground-up remaster-this is polish and accessibility, not a visual overhaul. One big question: is Eye of the North included?

Breaking down what’s actually new

The headline feature is controller support-proper XInput integration rather than a clumsy keyboard emulation hack. That’s a big shift for a game built around an eight-skill bar, target calling, and hero micromanagement. Paired with Steam Deck verification, Reforged is clearly aiming at the “MMO on the sofa” crowd. ArenaNet’s also updating the experience where it always needed help: high-DPI support so the UI isn’t ant-sized on 1440p/4K displays, more font size options for text, and a proper on-screen quest-tracker so you’re not living in the quest log or squinting at the compass.

Under the hood, Reforged adds new antialiasing options, ambient occlusion, and enhanced bloom. Expect cleaner edges, better depth in environments, and a punchier look—still recognizably Guild Wars, just less jagged and washed out. The note about enhanced 3D environmental audio is intriguing too; if done well, it could add presence to zones like the Echovald Forest or the Desolation without rewriting the soundscape.

It’s not all visuals. HD skill icons are a small but meaningful nod to clarity on modern displays. The new quest-tracker is a smart addition for TV play, especially combined with controller navigation. All of this lands December 3 on Steam and directly from ArenaNet, and the update is free if you already own the game.

Why this matters now

Guild Wars carved its niche by ditching subscriptions and doubling down on buildcrafting: eight skills, hard counters, and tight instanced missions. It’s a different flavor than today’s open-world grinds. But the friction of playing a 2005 PC UI on a 2025 setup kept a lot of people from revisiting. Reforged removes that barrier. Steam Deck verification alone puts Tyria into a form factor where drop-in sessions make sense—do a mission on your lunch break, knock out a few quests in bed, or run a hero team from the sofa.

This caught my attention because it’s not trying to resell nostalgia with a battle pass or “Founders” packs. ArenaNet and 2weeks (a studio formed by former ArenaNet devs) are doing the unsexy but necessary work: UI scaling, input modernization, and performance tweaks. That’s the kind of care old MMOs need to be playable in 2025, not just “preserved.”

About that “Reforged” name—temper expectations

Let’s be clear: this isn’t a full remaster. ArenaNet isn’t promising new story content or rebuilt assets beyond HD skill icons. The engine-level options (AA, AO, bloom) will help, but don’t expect contemporary textures or revamped character models. It’s more like a compatibility and comfort pass. As someone who still remembers wiping at Thunderhead Keep and getting lost in Kaineng’s alleys, I’m fine with that—just don’t go in expecting a visual remake.

The Eye of the North question

The messaging says the $19.99 package consolidates the original campaigns—Prophecies, Factions, Nightfall. It also mentions “expansions,” which is muddy since Eye of the North is an expansion, not a standalone campaign, and it’s the bridge to Guild Wars 2 via the Hall of Monuments. The press details spotlight the campaigns, not EotN. Until clarified, assume Reforged focuses on the campaigns and double-check whether Eye of the North is part of the bundle. For many returning players, that inclusion matters.

Controller support: promising, with caveats

Guild Wars’ combat actually lends itself better to a gamepad than you might think—eight skills map cleanly to bumpers and face buttons with modifiers, and target cycling can work on a stick or d-pad. The big unknowns are the fiddlier systems: flagging heroes, pinging skill chains, inventory management, and chat. If those get thoughtful radial menus and sensible shortcuts, couch play could be great. If not, you’ll be reaching for a keyboard for anything beyond combat. Steam Deck Verified gives me hope, because verification usually fails if core UI navigation isn’t up to snuff.

Value check and community impact

At $19.99 for three full campaigns, the value is easy to recommend. Each campaign offers dozens of hours of story, unique regions (Tyria, Cantha, Elona), and distinct mechanics—plus the joy of tinkering with builds until your bar sings. Making the update free for existing players is the right move and a goodwill win. If anything can spark a return wave of veterans and curious GW2 players, it’s a low price, couch-friendly play, and a smoother UI on modern displays.

The co-dev credit to 2weeks, a team formed by former ArenaNet staff, also reassures me this isn’t a cynical cash-in. They know the game’s texture—what to change and what to leave alone. As game director Stephen Clarke-Willson put it, the team’s still passionate about improving the original, and you can feel that in the focus areas chosen for Reforged.

TL;DR

Guild Wars Reforged modernizes a classic with controller support, Steam Deck verification, high-DPI UI, and rendering/audio tweaks—free for existing players and $19.99 for newcomers. It’s not a remaster, but it makes Tyria genuinely comfortable to play in 2025. The only open question: does Eye of the North make the cut?