ArenaNet announced that the first beta test for Guild Wars 2’s new World vs. World borderlands map begins on November 10. The test marks the first new WvW borderlands map in over a decade, following the team’s initial announcement that the map was in development in June.
Gray-box testing for early player feedback
During the first beta, the map will be in a gray-box state, meaning the art and assets will not be final. ArenaNet said this approach makes it easier to make changes. The team noted that with the earlier Desert Borderlands map, it did not show the map to the community until it was mostly final, which limited its flexibility to respond to feedback. This time, the map is being built alongside the players who play WvW, and ArenaNet is involving them much earlier, similar to how it handled the Push PvP game mode.
For the first beta there will be no new map mechanics, unlike the Desert Borderlands, which added controllable elemental shrines for special bonuses and an energy cannon event in the oasis. Instead, the first beta will focus on gathering feedback on map and objective layout: how it feels to navigate, where battles occur, and how long it takes to get from place to place. The team can alter map layout and objective placement, which affects travel time and combat flow.
Alpine Borderlands replacement and Ascalon setting
During the beta, all Alpine Borderlands will be replaced with the new gray-box map to maximize play time on it. Eventually the new map will permanently replace the current Green Alpine Borderlands, so each borderlands map has a distinct theme. The new map is set during the Searing in Ascalon, one of the most iconic areas of Tyria, and will cover pre-Searing and post-Searing areas with ties to both humans and the charr.
The WvW beta arrives as part of ArenaNet’s broader Guild Wars plans. After the first beta there will be more beta tests before the map releases to the live game, with changes based on player feedback and potentially new map and objective mechanics. ArenaNet will open a feedback thread on the official forums closer to the beta.
