The new World vs. World (WvW) Borderlands map in Guild Wars 2 is now available for beta testing. It is the first entirely new borderlands map for the game mode in a decade, and the test will run until December 8. On Friday, November 13, an upcoming game update will take the War Score rework out of beta and introduce several quality-of-life improvements for WvW players.
Ascalon Borderlands beta replaces all other Borderlands maps until December 8
Inspired by Ascalon before the Searing, the new map brings one of Tyria's most historically significant locations to WvW. Throughout the beta period, it will be the only available Borderlands map for the next few weeks, meaning players who usually fight in the Borderlands will spend most of their time exploring and battling on this new battlefield.
The development team chose this approach to concentrate the player population on a single map and collect feedback and gameplay data from a broader, more diverse group of players. The beta is already open, and players can access it at any time.
Gray-box map design means changes are still possible
The new Borderlands map is not finished yet. When the beta was announced, the developers explained that it was still in a gray-box state. Its basic structure and layout are in place, but several elements can still be improved or changed based on player feedback.
As a result, the map currently available for testing may differ from the final version.
Guild Wars 2 War Score rework leaves beta on November 13
The revamped War Score system, which has been developed and tested over an extended period, will officially leave beta with Friday's update. The changes are designed to encourage active gameplay and give PvP encounters greater influence over the balance between points earned through combat and those gained by capturing and holding objectives.
Defending and upgrading objectives will continue to award points. The main difference is a greater emphasis on kills and revives, which will carry more weight in the scoring system.
The developers will monitor War Score performance after its full release and make further adjustments if necessary.
New WvW rewards and quality-of-life improvements
The new skirmish reward system is already live. Meanwhile, the updated match reward system will arrive with Friday's game update. According to the development team, these WvW changes follow several rounds of testing and opportunities for community feedback.
The update will also introduce the following quality-of-life improvements:
- Simplified auto-loot functionality.
- An upgrade all option for WvW abilities.
Have you tried the new Borderlands map in Guild Wars 2? Share your thoughts on the beta and the revamped War Score system in the comments.