Living World

The Living World in Guild Wars 2 is ArenaNet's official term for updates to the game intended to bring the world of Guild Wars 2 to life. Updates are added in the form of episodes, grouped within seasons similar to television. Each episode includes story missions and other content that tell the story of Tyria's ongoing evolution. The episodes serve as the ongoing storyline between expansions, detailing the effects of the previous expansion and leading into the next. Although the first season of the Living World was largely temporary, new episodes were made permanent starting in season 2 and could be replayed at any time.

Initially, Living World releases were a mix of new story and new features. In Season 2, new features were dropped from Living World updates and were bundled together in releases like the April 2014 Feature Pack. Starting in Season 3, this has been reverted and new features are bundled into an update whenever they are ready.

Starting with season 2, Living World episodes can be tracked in the Story Journal tab of the Hero panel.

Summaries

The Living World is divided into seasons. A summary of each season can be found on the following pages:

• Living World Season 1
• Living World Season 2
• Living World Season 3
• Living World Season 4

Unlocking Living World episodes

Personal storyline section

Episodes of the Living World must be unlocked in order to play them. Unlocked episodes can be accessed by any level 80 character on your account. There are two methods for unlocking episodes. Episodes can be unlocked for free simply by logging in to any character during the episode's original release window. This lasts until the next episode is released; for Season 4, episodes are on a cadence to be released three months apart. After the release window, players can unlock the episode for 200 . The journal will indicate this with a "lock" icon and a "Buy Now" button.

Story Steps

Season 1

Unlike the episodes of Living World Season 2 and onward, the content comprising season 1 was temporary and is not available for replay. Following the conclusion of season 2 and the rebuilding of Lion's Arch, players can learn some of the details of season 1 by completing the Story Journal chapter Remembering Scarlet's War. For a player-written summary of season 1, please see Living World Season 1.

Season 2

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Living World Season 2 storyline

Gates of Maguuma	Disturbance in Brisban Wildlands → Fallen Hopes → Tracking the Master of Peace → Cornered → Prosperity's Mystery
Entanglement	Scarlet's Secret Room → Discovering Scarlet's Breakthrough → The Concordia Incident → Trouble at Fort Salma → The Machine
The Dragon's Reach: Part 1	Rallying Call → Uprooting the Iron Marches → The Waypoint Conundrum → Summit Invitations → Plan of Attack
The Dragon's Reach: Part 2	Party Politics → Recalibrating the Waypoints → Taimi and the Asura → The World Summit
Echoes of the Past	The Ghosts of Fort Salma → Reunion with the Pact → Caithe's Reconnaissance Squad → Hidden Arcana
Tangled Paths	Return to Camp Resolve  → Tracking the Aspect Masters → Into the Labyrinth
Seeds of Truth	The Newly Awakened → Meeting the Asura → No Refuge
Point of No Return	Arcana Obscura → Pact Assaulted → The Mystery Cave
← Previous: Personal story • Scarlet's War Next: Heart of Thorns →

Season 3

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Living World Season 3 storyline

Out of the Shadows	Eir's Memorial in Hoelbrak → Research in Rata Novus → Blood and Stone → Reaper of Magic → A Shadow's Deeds → Confessor's Stronghold
Rising Flames	Taimi's Game → Destroying Destroyers → Igneous Breach → Trip to the Circus → Machine in the Flame → Old Foes, Old Ghosts → Dragon Vigil
A Crack in the Ice	Precocious Aurene → Journey to Bitterfrost Frontier → Frozen in Ice → Elixir Recipe → Elixir Cookin' → The Bitter Cold → Frozen Out
The Head of the Snake	A Meeting of Ministers → Eyes on Lake Doric → Sabotage Fort Evennia → Breaking the Siege → Regrouping with the Queen → Confessor's End
Flashpoint	Taimi's Pet Project → Arrival and Survival → In Pursuit of a God → Elder Druid Protection → Heart of the Volcano
One Path Ends	"Where's Balthazar?" → Shining Blade Secrets → On Orrian Shores → The Flow of Magic → The Last Chance
← Previous: Heart of Thorns Next: Path of Fire →

Season 4

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Living World Season 4 storyline

Daybreak	Eye of the Brandstorm → Under the Stars → Champion's Dawn → Convincing the Corsair → The Hero of Istan → The First City
A Bug in the System	Tracking the Scientist → The Test Subject → A Kindness Repaid → The Road to Rata Primus → The Charge
Long Live the Lich	Seized → Forearmed Is Forewarned → Tactical Triage → I'm Brave, You Know → Be My Guest
← Previous: Path of Fire

Trivia

• The Living World was originally introduced as the "Living Story", but ArenaNet switched to "Living World" and stopped using Living Story partway through Season 1 (confirmation in July 2013). However, players often continue using Living Story to refer to the Living World releases.

See also

• Release — lists past, current, and scheduled storylines for the Living World
• Side Stories - small living world events that occurred during Seasons 3 and 4
• Story characters

External links

• The Living Story in Guild Wars 2 | GuildWars2.com
• Living World in Guild Wars 2 | GuildWars2.com
• Recap: The Living World of Guild Wars 2 | GuildWars2.com

References

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Guild Wars 2

Games	Guild Wars 2
Expansions	Heart of Thorns Path of Fire
Living World	Season 1 Season 2 Season 3 Season 4
Other	Merchandise

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Story summaries

Guild Wars

Prophecies • Factions • Nightfall • Eye of the North • Beyond

Novels

Ghosts of Ascalon • Edge of Destiny • Sea of Sorrows

Guild Wars 2

Personal Story • Living World Season 1 (journal) • Living World Season 2 (journal) • Heart of Thorns (journal) • Living World Season 3 (journal) • Path of Fire (journal) • Living World Season 4 (journal)