A new job listing has effectively hinted at what technology the still-unannounced MMO could be built on.
In March 2024, Park Byeong, NCsoft’s interim president, revealed at an investor meeting that ArenaNet, the Bellevue-based subsidiary, had already started development on Guild Wars 3. The studio wasn’t ready to make an official announcement, so the public line was that it remained focused on new updates and expansions for Guild Wars 2 (which have been released annually since 2023). That wasn’t confirmation – but, crucially, it wasn’t a denial either.
Nearly two years later, a fresh job posting has surfaced. The listing is for a contract senior writer / narrative designer on an unannounced project, which strongly suggests it’s not tied to new Guild Wars 2 content. The most telling part is where ArenaNet spells out the expertise it’s looking for: MMOs and Unreal Engine. The former is yet another nudge toward Guild Wars 3 (or whatever the next entry ends up being called), while the latter points to the studio potentially moving away from its proprietary tech and toward Epic Games’ engine. So what, exactly, are they asking for?
BA degree in Literature, Creative Writing, Screenwriting, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience. Five years of experience as a professional writer or copyeditor with an applicable portfolio, including two years of experience developing MMORPGs and open-world games. Experience shipping one or more AAA-quality products or non-game equivalents in a writing or editing capacity. Understanding of general writing and narrative design concepts. Dramatic writing skills, preferably in writing for games and at least one other narrative medium (e.g., screenwriting, playwriting, or prose). Copyediting skills.
Practical and philosophical editing and writing knowledge. Understanding of breaking serialized stories at the season and episode levels. Experience with interactive and nonlinear storytelling using non-traditional and nonverbal delivery systems (e.g., environmental storytelling and in-engine storytelling without cutscenes). Knowledge of character creation, story arc design, and dialogue writing. Ability to learn and use proprietary tools to create content. Familiar with gameplay systems. Experience using Unreal Engine. Possesses excellent written and verbal communication skills. Possesses excellent organizational skills. Can work independently and as part of a team. Understands and can use The Chicago Manual of Style. Familiar with video game narratives, preferably MMOs. Familiar with narrative game systems.
ArenaNet has been posting job ads for a new online game since 2022, so an official reveal may not be that far off – even if it’s impossible to say when it will happen. And with new Western AAA MMORPGs almost entirely absent from the horizon, Guild Wars 3 could end up being one of the few real hopes in sight.
Source: WCCFTech, Greenhouse
