Guild Wars 2: Homesteads and New Elite Specializations Q&A

At Gamescom 2025, I had the opportunity to engage with ArenaNet representatives Sarah Davies, Senior Gameplay Engineer, and Cal Cohen, Lead Competitive Designer, at the NCSoft booth to discuss key elements of the upcoming Guild Wars 2: Visions of Eternity expansion. This exciting expansion, set to launch on October 28, introduces significant upgrades to the Homesteads feature along with innovative Elite Specializations.

Fantasy island scene with floating rocks and a spiral-shaped portal near the ocean. — Our new decoration layout system allows players to save and share their custom decor layouts locally on their devices. This feature enhances gameplay by providing more creative freedom.

Enhancements to Homesteads

What can players expect from the Homesteads improvements in Guild Wars 2: Visions of Eternity?

Sarah Davies: Building on the introduction of personalized player housing in the previous expansion, Janthir Wilds, we are excited to introduce an entirely new map alongside additional refinements. Players will still require the Janthir Wilds expansion to access the new Homesteads map, which is set on a magical private island featuring a stunning ley line volcano. This enchanting destination includes tranquil fishing nodes, picturesque waterfalls, and mystical pools, all set against a serene backdrop of otherworldly landscapes.

The new Homesteads map invites players to explore unique features, including vibrant fungi, luminous pools, and gravity-defying water effects, enhancing its magical ambiance. Additionally, players can harvest wood and ore resources in designated areas, while the nostalgic auto-harvest feature returns with the Harvest Collection Box.

Feedback from the previous expansion indicated a desire for greater customization options. In response, we have made the default house entirely made of decorations. This allows players to remove the default structure completely, start from scratch, and enjoy a truly personalized experience.

New Functionalities for Homesteads

One of the standout features I’m thrilled about is the new ‘place duplicate’ skill. This enhancement enables players to duplicate decorations effortlessly, simplifying the process of crafting intricate designs. Instead of struggling with precise alignments, players can quickly populate their spaces with consistent decoration. The new layout system will significantly enrich the creative potential for players, as you can now save and switch between designs seamlessly.

Importantly, all layouts are stored locally on your machine, allowing you to create an extensive library of designs to share with others. While this is notable, it’s important to remember that these files will not sync across devices.

Fantasy island landscape with glowing portals, palm trees, and mystical mountains under a starry sky. — If you prefer not to manually edit files, an in-game method allows you to easily save and load layouts with party layout saving, expanding the sharing possibilities.

Integration of Player Feedback

Sarah Davies: We actively took into account feedback from the Janthir Wilds, particularly around the restricted customization of the default house. Furthermore, players expressed a need for more structural pieces, which we’ve addressed in this expansion by introducing new decorative walls and roof elements.

Another exciting enhancement is the introduction of a system that allows guests to save and load Homestead layouts, expanding the collaborative potential of our community. This addresses earlier challenges players faced when visiting others’ creations, and by streamlining sharing layouts, we hope to foster greater community engagement.

A glowing cave with luminescent plants, stalactites, and a reflective pool in a surreal landscape. — Player engagement in Homesteads has proven significant enough to warrant continued enhancements, indicating a vibrant community desire for this feature.

Introduction of New Elite Specializations

Can you share insights about the new Elite Specializations?

Cal Cohen: Certainly! One of the newly introduced Elite Specializations is the Luminary for the Guardian. Inspired by the Charr, this specialization embraces the attributes of light and flame, equipping players with a unique skill set that includes a powerful Radiance Shroud. Depending on the weapon equipped—Hammer, Staff, Sword, or Shield—players will have access to a diverse range of combat styles, from aggressive damage dealing to supportive healing roles.

Additionally, the Paragon Elite Specialization for the Warrior introduces a robust support role that aligns well with the existing classes. Launching with a focus on Motivation mechanics, it allows players to harness powerful Chants that provide various boons to allies, while also using burst skills to maximize their effectiveness.

Community Feedback and Future Directions

Cal Cohen: Feedback from players is invaluable. Our beta events encourage robust interactions with the community, allowing us to refine and enhance the specialization mechanics prior to launch. We are monitoring balance closely to ensure that new builds can compete effectively with existing options.

Looking towards future updates and expansions, we aim to keep addressing player concerns akin to our previous expansions. We recognize the importance of staying attuned to community needs as we refine existing and new specializations.

Ultimately, the aim of Guild Wars 2: Visions of Eternity is to enhance the player experience and broaden gameplay possibilities, ensuring it resonates well with both seasoned veterans and new players alike.