{
  "id": 5361653,
  "title": "Guild Wars 3 is a lot smaller scale than Guild Wars 2 because of the new approach to combat and movement: 'You would probably see about 20 players in a large combat scenario'",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/guild-wars-3-is-a-lot-smaller-scale-than-guild-wars-2-because-of-the",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-03T16:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "PC Gamer",
    "slug": "pc-gamer",
    "url": "https://www.pcgamer.com/games/mmo/guild-wars-3-is-a-lot-smaller-scale-than-guild-wars-2-because-of-the-new-approach-to-combat-and-movement-you-would-probably-see-about-20-players-in-a-large-combat-scenario/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "At Gamescom, developers unveiled Guild Wars 3 and discussed its scaled-down combat and movement systems compared to its predecessors. ArenaNet's game director Colin Johanson revealed that in large combat scenarios, you would likely see around 20 players. The developers aimed to create a high-fidelity experience that allows players to see and understand everything happening, as going beyond this number would diminish the visceral sense of gameplay. Johanson explained that once player numbers reach a certain high point, the action becomes more spectacle than understandable. While he appreciates big player numbers, he believes that the current cap ensures the intended experience in Guild Wars 3's open-world combat. The MMO will feature more seamless gameplay with fewer loading screens and a constant flow of players meeting each other. Cities and towns will have no player cap, making social spaces busier. Players can still play with their friends in parties of four, but the party size limit might cause some issues for regular game groups. Despite this limitation, the developers' non-traditional approach to sequels has made Johanson more receptive to Guild Wars 3's smaller scale compared to Guild Wars 2.",
  "summary": "Expect more clarity, but no more 100-player boss fights.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "PC Gamer",
        "title": "Guild Wars 3's approach to combat and movement is like nothing I've ever seen in an MMO before: 'One of our big goals when we make a new game in the Guild Wars franchise is to set out and try new things'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/guild-wars-3s-approach-to-combat-and-movement-is-like-nothing-ive",
        "published": "2026-09-03T13:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Polygon",
        "title": "Guild Wars 3 is the First MMO for Fans with ‘Real-Life Schedules’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/guild-wars-3-is-the-first-mmo-for-fans-with-real-life-schedules",
        "published": "2026-09-03T13:00:14.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}