Guild Wars Reforged launched on Wednesday as a free update for existing players and a $20 option for newcomers, and the remaster’s debut pushed more users into the game than ArenaNet expected. Concurrent player counts on SteamDB charts climbed above 5,000 during the initial surge. That spike corresponded with reports of slow downloads and longer queues for players who did not use Steam.
ArenaNet posted about the situation on X and said in a statement, “Demand for Guild Wars Reforged blew past our projections, causing long downloads for some non-Steam players. We’re adding servers & exploring new options to fix this before the weekend. Thanks for your patience!”
Demand for Guild Wars Reforged blew past our projections, causing long downloads for some non-Steam players. We’re adding servers & exploring new options to fix this before the weekend. Thanks for your patience!
— Guild Wars (@GuildWars) December 4, 2025
The original Guild Wars has always occupied a different niche than traditional subscription MMOs, and the remaster’s mix of shared hubs, dual-class systems, and story-driven missions likely drew both returning fans and curious newcomers. Many players have already shifted attention to the franchise’s more MMO-style sequel, as covered in Guild Wars 2 update notes, but Reforged proved there is still appetite for the original experience. ArenaNet said its immediate responses included provisioning additional servers and evaluating other technical fixes to reduce download times and stabilize login traffic. Players reported variable experiences during the rollout, with some completing installs quickly and others waiting through extended download periods on launch day.
Servers and patch distribution problems are a familiar wrinkle when older games get renewed attention, and ArenaNet’s quick public acknowledgement aimed to set expectations while work continued behind the scenes. The remaster remains available for those who already own the original, and new players can buy access for $20.
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Guild Wars: Reforged
Developed by ArenaNet®
