Release

A release is a game update that introduces content pertaining to a theme or event. These themes include holiday events and narratives that tell a story of the world of Tyria. The releases are often accompanied by other changes to the game, such as bug fixes, profession rebalancing in PvP, new activities, and themed items in the Gem Store.

List of releases

Individual releases are color-coded for clarity:

Release type
Living World story releases
Special events
Expansions
Miscellaneous releases

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Guild Wars 2

Season 1 Season 1
Release	Features
October 22, 2012 Shadow of the Mad King	Special event Halloween event, featuring Haunted Doors, Mad King's Labyrinth zone, Reaper's Rumble and Lunatic Inquisition activities, Mad King's Clock Tower jumping puzzle and Ascent to Madness dungeon Costume Brawl activity Modus Sceleris and Skritt Burglar events Tribulation Caverns, Hexfoundry Unhinged, Hidden Garden and Coddler's Cove jumping puzzles Forsaken Halls and Vexa's Lab mini-dungeons and many new exploration achievements
November 15, 2012 The Lost Shores	Special event Lost Shores Southsun Cove map, including many new events and Under New Management and Skipping Stones jumping puzzles Fractals of the Mists dungeon consisting of several fractals, explorable chunks of Tyria's history in the Mists Ascended rings and backpieces Temple of the Silent Storm map in structured PvP
December 14, 2012 Wintersday: The Wondrous Workshop of Toymaker Tixx	Special event Wintersday event, featuring Snowball Mayhem, Bell Choir Ensemble and Toypocalypse activities, Winter Wonderland jumping puzzle and Tixx's Infinirarium dungeon Breakout events in WvW
January 28, 2013 Flame and Frost: Prelude	Laurel currency Ascended amulets Guesting
February 26, 2013 Flame and Frost: The Gathering Storm	Guild missions, along with new currencies Guild Merits and Guild Commendations Spirit Watch map in structured PvP Ascended accessories
March 26, 2013 Flame and Frost: The Razing	Braham: Help from the Legions → Braham: Eirsson → Braham: Retake Cragstead → Rox: Critical Mission → Rox: The Hatchery World Experience Removal of culling in WvW
April 1, 2013 Super Adventure Box	Special event Super Adventure Box, an activity reminiscent of old school platformers with a special skill set and pixel enemies, featuring Infantile and Normal Modes of World 1
April 30, 2013 Flame and Frost: Retribution	Molten Facility → Braham: Avenger of the Dispossessed → Rox: Avenger of the Dispossessed Molten Facility temporary dungeon Custom Arenas and Spectator Mode in structured PvP
May 14, 2013 The Secret of Southsun	Crab Toss activity Stealth Disruptor and Supply Removal Traps in WvW
May 28, 2013 Last Stand at Southsun	Canach's Lair → Contractually Obligated → Canach's Lair (explorable) Canach's Lair temporary dungeon Island Control meta event and Karka Queen boss fight Angvar's Trove guild puzzle
June 11, 2013 Dragon Bash	Ceremony and Acrimony → Hard Boiled → Every Piece Matters → No More Secrets Dragon Bash festival with the Dragon Ball and permanent Moa Racing activities
June 25, 2013 Sky Pirates of Tyria	Aetherblade Retreat → A Future in Politics Two Aetherblade sites: the Aetherblade Retreat tenporary dungeon and the Not So Secret jumping puzzle Torment condition
July 9, 2013 Bazaar of the Four Winds	Special event Strangers from the Sky Labyrinthine Cliffs zone with the floating sanctuary of Zephyr Sanctum Achievement rewards Belcher's Bluff and Sanctum Sprint activities Skyhammer map in structured PvP
July 23, 2013 Cutthroat Politics	Audience with the Master Support your candidate in the Captain's Council election Candidate Trials, Aspect Arena and Southsun Survival activities
August 6, 2013 Queen's Jubilee	Opening Ceremony The Crown Pavilion is opened, featuring a gladiatorial arena celebrating the human spirit along with the challenging solo boss fight arenas of the Queen's Gauntlet Wallet to hold all account currencies Champion and daily dungeon rewards Daily activity rotation Solo arena queue in structured PvP
August 20, 2013 Clockwork Chaos	Closing Ceremony → Scarlet's Playhouse Scarlet's Playhouse temporary dungeon Scarlet's minion invasions Removal of culling in PvE
September 3, 2013 Super Adventure Box: Back to School	Special event Ketto's Lab Super Adventure Box comes back, updated with World 2 and the extremely difficult and punishing Tribulation Mode Magic Find is removed from equipment and made into an account bonus, which can be increased by achievement rewards and filling the Luck bar Weaponsmith, Artificer and Huntsman crafting disciplines can progress until level 500 to craft ascended weapons
September 17, 2013 Tequatl Rising	Special event Defeat Tequatl the Sunless event is completely redesigned Ruins of Power added to the Borderlands in WvW Looking For Group tool added to the Contacts panel
October 1, 2013 Twilight Assault	One of the paths in explorable Twilight Arbor is replaced by the new Aetherpath
October 15, 2013 Blood and Madness	Special event Halloween event returns World vs. World Season 1 (October 18 – December 6)
October 29, 2013 Tower of Nightmares	The Nightmare Unveiled Tower of Nightmares appears in Kessex Hills Antitoxin Spray healing skill available for all professions
November 12, 2013 The Nightmares Within	Nightmare Chamber → The Nightmare Incarnate Tower of Nightmares is now open
November 26, 2013 Fractured	Fractals of the Mists New fractals: Thaumanova Reactor, Molten Furnace, Aetherblade, Captain Mai Trin Boss and Molten Boss Mistlock Instability in higher levels of Fractals of the Mists
December 10, 2013 A Very Merry Wintersday	Special event The Nightmare Ends → The Dead End Wintersday festivities are back Kessex Hills updated with the collapse of the Tower of Nightmares Armorsmith, Leatherworker and Tailor crafting disciplines can progress until level 500 to craft ascended armor New healing skills for every profession
January 21, 2014 The Origins of Madness	The Origins of Madness Triple Trouble meta event dealing with the three-headed Amber, Cobalt and Crimson Great Jungle Wurm Twisted Marionette Weapon Test meta event concerning the Twisted Marionette
February 4, 2014 The Edge of the Mists	Edge of the Mists Edge of the Mists map in WvW
February 18, 2014 Escape from Lion's Arch	Escape from Lion's Arch Lion's Arch is under attack by Scarlet's forces
March 4, 2014 Battle for Lion's Arch	Battle for Lion's Arch The miasma has dissipated from Lion's Arch; take it back from the control by Scarlet's alliances Scarlet's Prime Hologram boss event and Scarlet's End
March 18, 2014 Battle for Lion's Arch: Aftermath	The Dead End The siege of Lion's Arch has ended WvW Spring Tournament 2014 (March 28 – May 30)

Post Season 1 Post Season 1
Release	Features
April 15, 2014 April 2014 Feature Pack	Feature pack Trait system redesign, 40 new traits Ferocity attribute for increasing critical damage, rune and sigil effects updated Account-wide dye unlocks and wardrobe for armor and weapon skins Account-bound world experience, legendary and ascended equipment PvP reward tracks, PvP Locker merging with the wardrobe Megaserver system for all PvE zones and Heart of the Mists
May 20, 2014 Festival of the Four Winds	Special event Lion's Arch: Honored Guests Return of Labyrinthine Cliffs and the Crown Pavilion

Season 2 Season 2
Release	Features
July 1, 2014 Gates of Maguuma	Disturbance in Brisban Wildlands → Fallen Hopes → Tracking the Master of Peace → Cornered → Prosperity's Mystery Story Journal for living world storylines Prospect Valley in Dry Top and Tangle Root in Brisban Wildlands
July 15, 2014 Entanglement	Scarlet's Secret Room → Discovering Scarlet's Breakthrough → The Concordia Incident → Trouble at Fort Salma → The Machine Uplands Oasis, Unswept Uplands, Cavern of the Shining Lights and Treadrock Uplands areas in Dry Top Ambrite weapons
July 29, 2014 The Dragon's Reach: Part 1	Rallying Call → Uprooting the Iron Marches → The Waypoint Conundrum → Summit Invitations → Plan of Attack Mysterious Vine back item scavenger hunt
August 12, 2014 The Dragon's Reach: Part 2	Party Politics → Recalibrating the Waypoints → Taimi and the Asura → The World Summit Challenger Cliffs area in Dry Top Cultivated Vine and Mawdrey + Mawdrey II scavenger hunts Maguuma Wastes Reward Track in Structured PvP
September 9, 2014 September 2014 Feature Pack	Feature pack Account-bound and colored commander tags Global guilds and megaserver improvements Standard enemy models and Glorious Reward Track in Structured PvP Crafting and leveling refinements Miniatures and finishers moved to the wardrobe Collection achievements Trading Post user interface redesign WvW Fall Tournament 2014 (September 12 – October 10)
October 21, 2014 Blood and Madness	Special event Halloween event returns Halloween Reward Track in Structured PvP Currency Exchange user interface redesign
November 4, 2014 Echoes of the Past	The Ghosts of Fort Salma → Reunion with the Pact → Caithe's Reconnaissance Squad → Hidden Arcana The Silverwastes zone Carapace and Luminescent armor sets (obtainable over this and following 3 story releases)
November 18, 2014 Tangled Paths	Return to Camp Resolve → Tracking the Aspect Masters → Into the Labyrinth Sharp Valley and Tangled Labyrinth areas in The Silverwastes Silverwastes Reward Track in Structured PvP
December 2, 2014 Seeds of Truth	The Newly Awakened → Meeting the Asura → No Refuge Far Silverwastes and Quarrel Gully areas and Drydock Scratch jumping puzzle in The Silverwastes Structured PvP matchmaking, ladder, dishonor and map selection improvements
December 16, 2014 A Very Merry Wintersday	Special event Wintersday festivities return, Warming Grawnk's Heart (Star of Gratitude scavenger hunt) Reworked daily achievement system, login rewards World vs. World Sneak Attack event (until January 13)
January 13, 2015 Point of No Return	Arcana Obscura → Pact Assaulted → The Mystery Cave Vinewrath Tangle area in The Silverwastes with the Mordrem Vinewrath meta event

Heart of Thorns

Release

Features

October 23, 2015 Heart of Thorns

Expansion 16 story steps The Heart of Maguuma jungle region: Verdant Brink, Auric Basin, Tangled Depths and Dragon's Stand zones Adventures Mastery system: gliding, precursor weapon collections, mentoring and others Revenant profession Elite specializations: Dragonhunter, Herald, Berserker, Scrapper, Druid, Daredevil, Tempest, Chronomancer, Reaper Structured PvP: Stronghold game mode and Mist Champions World versus World: Desert Borderlands map, Shield Generator and reworked structure upgrades Guild halls (Gilded Hollow and Lost Precipice), scribing, reworked guild currencies, upgrades, chat and missions Fractals of the Mists fractal selection and scaling rework Map bonus rewards Alacrity combat effect, defiance bar, action camera mode

Post Heart of Thorns Post Heart of Thorns
Release	Features
October 23, 2015 Shadow of the Mad King	Special event Repeat of the Halloween holiday event
November 17, 2015 Spirit Vale	Raid Spirit Vale wing of the Forsaken Thicket raid Enhanced squad UI Legendary axe Astralaria, pistol HOPE, and staff Nevermore
December 1, 2015 PvP Leagues	Competitive PvP League season and division system Guild Challenger League Legendary back item The Ascension
December 15, 2015 A Very Merry Wintersday	Special event Repeat of the Wintersday holiday event
January 26, 2016 Winter 2016 Quarterly Update	Quarterly update Gliding allowed in central Tyria The Shatterer event revamped Squad markers and lieutenants Lunar New Year festival
March 8, 2016 Salvation Pass	Raid Salvation Pass wing of the Forsaken Thicket raid
April 1, 2016 Super Adventure Festival	Special event The return of the Super Adventure Box, with new additions, including Fancy Furniture Coins and daily SAB achievements
April 19, 2016 Spring 2016 Quarterly Update	Quarterly update Reward improvements for Heart of Thorns maps Level-80 Boost World vs. World linking Legendary short bow Chuka and Champawat, and back item Ad Infinitum Lion's Arch Aerodrome (raid lobby) Daily and Daily Fractals achievement changes Scribing adjustments
June 16, 2016 Stronghold of the Faithful	Raid Stronghold of the Faithful wing of the Forsaken Thicket raid

Season 3 Season 3
Release	Features
July 26, 2016 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 Bloodstone Fen zone Chaos Isles Fractal Revenge of the Capricorn Structured PvP map
September 20, 2016 Rising Flames	Taimi's Game → Destroying Destroyers → Igneous Breach → Trip to the Circus → Machine in the Flame → Old Foes, Old Ghosts → Dragon Vigil Ember Bay zone Eternal Coliseum Structured PvP map Legendary mace Eureka
October 18, 2016 Shadow of the Mad King	Special event Repeat of the Halloween holiday event
November 21, 2016 A Crack in the Ice	Precocious Aurene → Journey to Bitterfrost Frontier → Frozen in Ice → Elixir Recipe → Elixir Cookin' → The Bitter Cold → Frozen Out Bitterfrost Frontier zone Nightmare Fractal Legendary shield Shooshadoo
December 13, 2016 A Very Merry Wintersday	Special event Repeat of the Wintersday holiday event
February 8, 2017 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 Lake Doric zone Bastion of the Penitent raid Thaumanova Reactor Fractal reworked Legendary rifle The HMS Divinity
March 30, 2017 Super Adventure Festival	Special event Repeat of the Super Adventure Box special event
May 2, 2017 Flashpoint	Taimi's Pet Project → Arrival and Survival → In Pursuit of a God → Elder Druid Protection → Heart of the Volcano Draconis Mons zone Legendary torch Flames of War, and legendary Perfected Envoy armor
June 6, 2017 June 2017 Competitive Feature Pack	Competitive World versus World: Skirmish reward tracks, Mistforged Triumphant Hero's armor, legendary back item Warbringer, UI and LFG updates Structured PvP: Automated Tournaments, new PvP lobby, 2v2 arena Hall of the Mists, updated Courtyard mechanics (since June 20)
July 25, 2017 One Path Ends	"Where's Balthazar?" → Shining Blade Secrets → On Orrian Shores → The Flow of Magic → The Last Chance Siren's Landing zone Shattered Observatory Fractal Legendary hammer Sharur, sword The Shining Blade, and accessory Aurora Ammunition skill mechanic (since August 8)

Path of Fire

Release	Features
September 22, 2017 Path of Fire	Expansion 13 story steps The Crystal Desert region: Crystal Oasis, Desert Highlands, Elon Riverlands, The Desolation, and Domain of Vabbi zones New guild hall: Windswept Haven Bounties New adventures Mounts: raptor, springer, skimmer, jackal, and griffon Elite specializations: Firebrand, Renegade, Spellbreaker, Holosmith, Soulbeast, Deadeye, Weaver, Mirage, and Scourge Barrier combat mechanic

Season 4 Season 4
Release	Features
October 17, 2017 Shadow of the Mad King	Special event Repeat of the Halloween holiday event, including Lunatic Inquisition
November 28, 2017 Daybreak	Champion's Dawn → Convincing the Corsair → The Hero of Istan → The First City Domain of Istan zone Twilight Oasis Fractal Hall of Chains raid Legendary focus The Binding of Ipos and ring collection Coalescence I: Unbridled
December 12, 2017 A Very Merry Wintersday	Special event Repeat of the Wintersday holiday event
March 6, 2018 A Bug in the System	Tracking the Scientist → The Test Subject → A Kindness Repaid → The Road to Rata Primus → The Charge Sandswept Isles zone Legendary dagger Claw of the Khan-Ur
March 29, 2018 Super Adventure Festival	Special event Repeat of the Super Adventure Box special event
June 26, 2018 Long Live the Lich	Seized → Forearmed Is Forewarned → Tactical Triage → I'm Brave, You Know → Be My Guest Domain of Kourna zone Roller Beetle mount Deepstone Fractal Legendary warhorn Verdarach
July 24, 2018 Festival of the Four Winds	Special event Return of the Festival of the Four Winds, with new bosses in the Queen's Gauntlet, races and treasure hunt
September 18, 2018 A Star to Guide Us	A Shattered Nation → Chaos Theory → Legacy → From the Ashes → Storm Tracking Jahai Bluffs zone and the Sun's Refuge personal instance Mythwright Gambit‎ raid Legendary scepter Xiuquatl
October 16, 2018 Shadow of the Mad King	Special event Repeat of the Halloween holiday event, with returning Reaper's Rumble and the new Mad King's Raceway
December 11, 2018 A Very Merry Wintersday	Special event Repeat of the Wintersday holiday event, with the new Secret Lair of the Snowmen temporary raid-like instance

See also

• List of new features in each release: Release/Features
• Plot summary of the story so far: Story summary

Notes

• When a new release launches, ArenaNet publishes official release notes on the News and Announcements forum in a new post. Subsequent patches are added to the post for the most recent major content update, which has almost always been an official release.
• When a Living World season is active, its releases are launched every 2 to 4 months.
• The company generally refers to non-release updates as hot fixes, updates, or patches.

External links

• Releases on official site
• News and Announcements forum