Yesterday, ArenaNet and NCSOFT launched the fourth expansion for Guild Wars 2, called Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure. The expansion adds new gameplay features and adventures centered around the floating Wizard’s Tower, a location that has interested players for over two decades. The expansion is available on Steam and the official Guild Wars 2 website for $24.99. Those who buy the expansion will receive two new explorable maps immediately: Skywatch Archipelago and Amnytas. The expansion also adds two new Strike Missions, a new central hub area inside the Wizard’s Tower, and other new gameplay features.
Watch the launch trailer for Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure below.
One of the new features in Secrets of the Obscure is called Advanced Flight Masteries. This feature introduces a new way to get the skyscale mount, and players who train their skyscale in both the new track from this expansion and the previously released Path of Fire® will earn additional functionality for their skyscale. Two of the new skyscale masteries – in-combat mounting and updraft use – will also apply to the griffon mount.
Another new feature is called The Wizard’s Vault. It’s a new system for daily, weekly, and seasonal achievements across the game that allow players to earn unique items like armor pieces, weapon and mount skins, gold, legendary crafting materials, and more.
Relics: This new equipment slot enables players to choose from a wide variety of rune set bonuses previously found on different rune types. This allows for more customization of special effects and stat bonuses players can use on their characters.
Weaponmaster Training: Now, each of the game’s nine professions can equip the weapons previously reserved for their elite specialization. This unlocks new gameplay and build options for players.
The Heart of the Obscure: This important tool serves as the player’s master key to explore the new expansion. As players make progress in upgrading this mystical stone, they earn the ability to open special doors and reward chests, create support items like leyline and updraft generators, and open and seal the rifts through which the Kryptis threaten the world.
The expansion will release additional content at no extra charge to expansion players throughout the next several months and into 2024. This includes additional weapon proficiencies, a third map, a new Fractal of the Mist encounter, Strike Mission challenge modes, and other new rewards, such as the first-ever legendary armor set attached to player-versus-environment activities.
The all-new story puts players into the shoes of both an erstwhile defender and explorer of the unknown. They race to defend the world from a heretofore unseen threat. The adventure begins with a climb through the floating islands of the Skywatch Archipelago, which are under attack from the Kryptis, a demonic race of malevolent beings streaming through instabilities in the Mists and threatening the fragile peace of the world in the wake of the defeat of the elder dragons. What follows is an epic struggle into the Demon Realm, where the fate of the world rests in the hands of the player and their secretive new allies.
Josh Davis, Guild Wars 2 Game Director, said, “Secrets of the Obscure is an exciting moment for Guild Wars 2. We’re on a brand-new story arc that lets us flex our creative muscles in ways fans might not expect, while exploring a giant magic tower that’s been intriguing players for the last 18 years. We’re thrilled to invite our longtime fans—plus the over 1 million new players who have joined us since we released on Steam last year—on the game’s next great adventure.”
Also, from today, players can listen to the Secrets of the Obscure original score on most major music platforms, including Apple Music, Pandora, Spotify, Amazon, and others.
