Guild Wars 2 is a long-running online role-playing game with a free-to-play core game and paid expansions. The latest expansion in the release chronology is Visions of Eternity, released October 28, 2025; its latest listed update, Code of Creation, arrived September 15, 2026. New players can try the core game before deciding whether to buy an expansion, while returning players can compare the newest Castora content with Janthir Wilds.
What is Guild Wars 2?
Guild Wars 2 is an online role-playing game that launched on August 28, 2012, initially with a buy-to-play model. A free-to-play route to the core game became available on August 29, 2015. Paid expansions add further regions, story, systems, and encounters; the free core game and paid expansions are distinct parts of its access model. The release chronology lists Janthir Wilds as the fifth expansion and Visions of Eternity as the sixth.
Is Guild Wars 2 free to play?
You can begin with the free-to-play core game. The chronology establishes free access to that core game, not free access to paid expansion content. If you want the regions and features introduced by an expansion, you need to consider that expansion separately. This makes trying the core game a way to see whether the game suits you before spending on additional content.
What does Visions of Eternity add?
Visions of Eternity takes players to Castora, a remote island. It launched on October 28, 2025, with two open-world regions; the product description says two more maps would open as the story proceeded over a year. The expansion adds three mastery tracks, including an updated Skimmer mount track, new relics and legendary rewards, and an elite specialization for each profession. The product description says: “A new elite specialization for each profession will unlock new traits, profession mechanics, and healing, utility, and elite skills.” The expansion product description also describes raid encounters with challenge modes and a legendary mode, a Convergence, and a Fractal with challenge mode.
#1 Best Overall
![Guild Wars 2, Gems - 2000 - [Online Game Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51FqSbAHa6L._SL160_.jpg)
- Easy to Redeem—Simply log in to your Guild Wars 2 account, open the in-game Gem Store, and enter the unique code.
- Safe & Secure—No need to enter credit card info in the game; just use the prepaid code.
- Spend Gems Your Way—Use gems to buy outfits, boosters, mounts skins, storage upgrades, and more.
- Redeemable on Standard (Client) Accounts—Not compatible with Steam or Epic Games Store-based Guild Wars 2 accounts.
Release and update timeline
| Date | Update | Listed content |
|---|---|---|
| October 28, 2025 | Launch | Initial story arc; Shipwreck Strand and Starlit Weald zones. |
| February 3, 2026 | Raids and Wardrobe | System and wardrobe update; Guardian’s Glade raid encounter. |
| May 12, 2026 | The Only Way | Story continuation; Eternity’s Garden zone. |
| September 15, 2026 | Code of Creation | Story conclusion; Leyspring Hollows zone; Nexus of Eternity encounter and additional challenge modes. |
The listed chronology distinguishes announced expansion features from content later recorded as released. For the dated update details, see the Visions of Eternity chronology.
How does Visions of Eternity compare with Janthir Wilds?
Choose based on the features and setting you want. Janthir Wilds is associated with its Janthir region, Homesteads, land spear combat, and an updated Warclaw progression path. Visions of Eternity adds Castora, profession elite specializations, new mastery tracks, and later encounters. It also expands Homesteads for owners of both expansions.
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![Guild Wars 2: Visions of Eternity- Standard Edition [Online Game Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/517nhZw3j4L._SL160_.jpg)
- Discover the island of Castora – You’ll explore a remote island flowing with magic as you investigate suspicious Inquest activity.
- Tyria United elite specializations – Nine new elite specializations bring a new theme and playstyle to each profession with an updated profession mechanic and new utility skills.
- A year of adventure and rewards – Over the year of content, you’ll explore 4 brand-new maps, fight in new raid encounters and challenge modes, earn legendary rewards, unlock a new homestead map, and more.
- Comes with 1 Level 80 Booster & shared inventory slot – If you can’t wait to see the expansion content, this Booster will put you at max level so you can start your journey in Guild Wars 2: Visions of Eternity right away!
| Expansion | Release | Distinctive additions listed |
|---|---|---|
| Janthir Wilds | August 20, 2024 | Homesteads, land spear use, new lands, a new Warclaw unlock route, and a Warclaw mastery line. |
| Visions of Eternity | October 28, 2025 | Castora, an elite specialization for each profession, three mastery tracks, new relics and legendary rewards, and additional encounters. |
The available descriptions do not establish that owning one is required to play the other’s main story, so do not assume a prerequisite from this comparison alone. The Janthir Wilds product description and the expansion chronology provide the listed features and dates.
Homesteads and owning both expansions
Janthir Wilds introduced Homesteads. Owners of both Janthir Wilds and Visions of Eternity can unlock a Castoran Homestead map. Visions of Eternity also introduces Layouts for saving, loading, sharing, and editing decoration arrangements; its release summary says players can switch between Janthiri and Castoran Homestead maps. These particular benefits are tied to owning both expansions, unlike the general feature comparison above. See the expansion feature reference.
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Rank #3
![Guild Wars 2 Gems Card 4000 Gems - PC [Online Game Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51av3-rIGGL._SL160_.jpg)
- Easy to Redeem—Simply log in to your Guild Wars 2 account, open the in-game Gem Store, and enter the unique code.
- Safe & Secure—No need to enter credit card info in the game; just use the prepaid code.
- Spend Gems Your Way—Use gems to buy outfits, boosters, mounts skins, storage upgrades, and more.
- Redeemable on Standard (Client) Accounts—Not compatible with Steam or Epic Games Store-based Guild Wars 2 accounts.
Where can you buy Visions of Eternity?
The listed purchase routes are the Guild Wars 2 online store and the in-game Black Lion Trading Company panel. Check the live publisher store for current availability and the account or platform details that apply to your purchase; the available product reference does not establish third-party inventory.
Can your PC run Guild Wars 2?
The Janthir Wilds product copy lists the following minimum Windows requirements. It warns that requirements may change, so treat these as the listed figures in that product description, not a guarantee of current compatibility or performance. Recheck the live product requirements before buying or upgrading hardware.
Rank #4
![Guild Wars 2: Janthir Wilds™ - Deluxe Edition - PC [Online Game Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51eTm+HZGgL._SL160_.jpg)
- Upgrade to the Deluxe Edition- get the expansion along with the Wayfinder's Versatile Table, Eldritch Gathering Tools, 3 Black Lion Glyph Selection Containers, Character Slot, Identity Repair Kit and a Level 80 Booster that will put you at max level.
- Befriend new allies in Janthir —a dangerous land that was once home to the strange mursaat and their White Mantle sycophants in the time of the original Guild Wars. Explore, fight, and learn more about the mysteries of Tyria’s past.
- Build your own homestead, an account-wide personal instance with a structure and land for you to decorate and cultivate. Homesteads will share unlockable features with your home instance, such as gathering nodes and gardening plots.
- Wield a new weapon type for land combat: the two-handed spear. Initially designed exclusively for underwater combat, Janthir Wilds gives you the opportunity to freely swap between aquatic and terrestrial weapon slots, each with unique weapon skills.
- Master your updated warclaw mount, featuring its own Mastery line and a new path to obtaining it. Armed with a broad range of abilities, this formidable companion will help you take down some of the most ferocious enemies.
| Component | Listed minimum |
|---|---|
| Operating system | 64-bit Windows 7 or better |
| Processor | Intel i3 3.4 GHz or AMD Athlon X4 3.8 GHz or better |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 or AMD Radeon HD 7970 |
| DirectX | DirectX 11 |
| Storage | 70 GB available space |
| Other | Broadband connection; keyboard and mouse |
These requirements come from the Janthir Wilds product description; they are not a performance test of a particular computer.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to decide where to start
- Try the free core game if you are new and want to see whether the game appeals to you before buying additional content.
- Look at Janthir Wilds if Homesteads, land spear use, or the Warclaw update are the features that interest you.
- Look at Visions of Eternity if you want the newer Castora setting, profession elite specializations, mastery tracks, and its later story and encounters.
- Check the store and system requirements before purchasing, since availability and product requirements can change.
Release history confirms continued expansion updates through September 2026, but it does not establish player counts, review consensus, or how well the game performs on a specific PC. Decide from the features you want and your own compatibility check rather than assuming popularity or performance from the release timeline.
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Quick Recap
Best Value
![Guild Wars 2 Gems Card 8000 Gems - PC [Online Game Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/512j-EDU7iL._SL160_.jpg)
- Easy to Redeem—Simply log in to your Guild Wars 2 account, open the in-game Gem Store, and enter the unique code.
- Safe & Secure—No need to enter credit card info in the game; just use the prepaid code.
- Spend Gems Your Way—Use gems to buy outfits, boosters, mounts skins, storage upgrades, and more.
- Redeemable on Standard (Client) Accounts—Not compatible with Steam or Epic Games Store-based Guild Wars 2 accounts.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
