Guild Wars 2 Defies Misconceptions: End of Dragons Stats Showcase Its Thriving State

As an avid fan of Guild Wars 2 who had previously ventured into the realms of World of Warcraft and Final Fantasy XIV, I can confidently say that End of Dragons exceeded all my expectations and more. This Asian-inspired DLC breathed new life into the MMORPG, and as a result, the Guild Wars 2 player count has soared.

Our review of Guild Wars 2 End of Dragons described the expansion as a “refreshing return” for the long-standing MMO, and I wholeheartedly agree. The stunning new zone and the innovative new trait lines are seamlessly woven into a captivating storyline that, without a doubt, ranks among my all-time favorites in the MMO genre. And trust me, I’ve played my fair share of MMOs.

During an exclusive interview with PCGamesN following the release of the latest content patch, What Lies Within, I had the opportunity to speak with Josh Davis, the game director of Guild Wars 2, about the impact of End of Dragons and the game’s arrival on Steam.

“We’re incredibly pleased with End of Dragons’ performance!” he exclaimed. “It’s remarkable that Guild Wars 2, a game about to celebrate its eleventh anniversary, isn’t just thriving but flourishing! We attribute this success to the End of Dragons expansion and our summer 2022 launch on Steam, both of which revitalized the community by welcoming back numerous veteran players and introducing the game to an entirely new generation of Guild Wars enthusiasts.”

During our conversation, Josh Davis also shared some remarkable and previously unrevealed data. “The launch of End of Dragons in February 2022 propelled us to achieve our strongest Q1 performance since the announcement of Heart of Thorns in 2015, which we consider a tremendous success,” he disclosed.

“But it gets even more impressive! This year, we surpassed that number by an additional 20%, and all this growth occurred without the release of a new expansion. As a result, we were able to expand the size of the Guild Wars 2 development team for the first time in years.”

Furthermore, the game’s introduction to the Steam platform attracted a massive influx of new players. Davis expressed to PCGamesN, “We’ve welcomed over a million new Guild Wars fans to the game! It’s important to note that not all of these new users are joining through Steam. A significant portion of them are discovering Guild Wars 2 through GuildWars2.com, which indicates that Steam has contributed to enhancing the overall awareness of Guild Wars 2, beyond just the Steam platform.”

It’s truly impressive to see such a significant number of new players joining Guild Wars 2, especially considering the misconception that the game is considered “dead” in comparison to its competitors. As we approach the launch of the game’s fourth expansion, which promises a new approach with more frequent and smaller content releases to minimize long waits, the anticipation for what lies ahead in Guild Wars 2 is palpable. As a devoted fan, I am eagerly awaiting the new age that the fourth expansion will bring to Tyria.

In the meantime, if you’re looking to pass the time and indulge in your love for dragons, we have a curated list of the best dragon games to fulfill your draconic desires. Additionally, we’ve compiled a comprehensive rundown of the best fantasy games, ensuring you can immerse yourself in a world of magic and wonder while we await further news about the fourth expansion.