Though ArenaNet's Guild Wars 2 is now lined up to launch on PC this year, it's still early days for the console edition. "Console edition?" you may ask. It's been quietly mentioned a few times before with no concrete details, and that's apparently still the case, but work is continuing.

Read more: ArenaNet "fully dedicated" to making PC version "kickass" »

"When it's done" - three little words that infuriate some and delight others, and three words which no longer stand in for Guild Wars 2's release date. The subscription-free MMORPG will launch on PC "later this year," developer ArenaNet announced today, preceded by the beta testing ramping up.

Read more: Beta plans detailed »

There's a lot to be excited for in 2012, and the Shacknews staff each have five games on their radar. The editorial team at Shacknews outlines their most anticipated games of 2012 individually. Lastly, here's senior editor Xav de Matos and his list of 2012 titles.

Metro: Last Light

There's something about Metro 2033 that just spoke to me. It was dark and complex, it didn't pander to its audience, and it was equal parts incredible and insane--with variations of good and bad between both. Metro: Last Light looks to continue with these trends. Based on what I've seen, developer 4A Games looks to build upon the foundation of the first game to bring players an even more intense experience with Metro: Last Light.

Read more: The rest of Xav's picks for 2012 »

Though word leaked earlier this week that the final Guild Wars 2 profession revealed would be Mesmer, all we had was a video without any explanation. Today, developer ArenaNet officially unveiled GW2's take on the returning class, with heaps of details and a few screenshots.

The announcement comes just in time as ArenaNet revealed that a closed beta is starting this Friday.

Watch: The magnificent Mesmer in action »

Due to the fact that "someone jumped the gun" on embargoed information, ArenaNet has confirmed that the eighth and final profession for Guild Wars 2 will be the Mesmer.

The masters of illusion and control have been a staple in the Guild Wars series since the game was first released, which was eventually referred to as the "Prophecies" campaign.

Read more: Embargo break brings the info early »

Guild Wars 2 developer ArenaNet is celebrating the Gamescom show with a whole host of festivities, including details on the subscription-free PC MMORPG's revamped PvP, a glorious five-minute trailer, and great gobs of new screenshots.

Watch: The Gamescom trailer »

Guild Wars 2 developer ArenaNet is shining the spotlight on its playable plant people in a week of videos and articles. The Sylvari race might have similarities with the elves seen in every fantasy game under the sun but, thankfully, they seem far a more interesting take on the idea of wise and noble forest-dwellers, and not nearly as tiresome.

Watch: Two Sylvari trailers »

Shacknews receives a slew of new screenshots and trailers for upcoming games everyday. The most anticipated titles receive their own post, because we know you're eager to see that content. For the rest, we have the Daily Filter, a place to feature all of the media we add to our enormous database on a daily basis.

Today's Filter features a race unveil for Guild Wars 2, a Gamescom 2011 trailer for Risen 2: Dark Waters, a motion capture documentary for Resistance 3, a developer diary for Machine Gun Jetpack, a motion capture behind the scenes trailer for F.E.A.R. 3, a new trailer for Ridge Racer Unbounded, a Gamescom 2011 teaser trailer for Might & Magic Heroes VI, a new trailer detailing the universe of Assassin's Creed: Revelations, and new screenshots for The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword.

Read more: Check out today's Filter »

The penultimate Guild Wars 2 character class to be announced is the crafty Engineer, unveiled today. The canny ranged fighter will bring firearms, turrets, explosives, flamethrowers, and other gadgets to ArenaNet's subscription-free MMORPG.

The Engineer will be able to deploy a variety of different turrets, including plain old rifle turrets, AoE turrets and healing turrets. 'Backpack kits' will also offer a similar amount of variety, with different kits granting abilities with grenades, bombs, mines, meds and more. A bomb kit, for example would give the Engineer smoke, concussion, and fire bombs. It's a damage/support class, then. Read more »

NCSoft has revealed that a beta test for its upcoming massively multiplayer online title, Guild Wars 2, will begin in the second half of 2011.

According to Eurogamer, the announcement was made by company CFO Jaeho Lee during a conference call. Lee reportedly "heavily" hinted at a 2012 release for Guild Wars 2, before noting the game "will go into beta testing stage in the second half of this year." In what form the beta would see release was not specified. Read more »

Fans of the Guild Wars Factions Assassin profession might be pleased that developer ArenaNet and publisher NCSoft today announced a similar-sounding class for Guild Wars 2, the Thief.

The Thief is described in as "a master of stealth and surprise," able to set traps, "travel through the shadows, vanish into thin air, or steal items from their opponents and use them as weapons." Of course, as per the rules of RPGs, such a skillset means they're lightly armoured. Read more »

It's shaping up to be a fine day for Norse-loving RPG fans. Hot on the heels of the first in-game Skyrim trailer come new screenshots and a trailer showing off Guild Wars 2's Nordic race, the Norn.

The eye candy comes as part of ArenaNet's 'Norn Week,' during which the developer has revealed a great many details on the shape-shifting barbarians. Lore fans will want to dive in for their fill of information on everything from Norn society to the theory that they might be a de-evolving branch of a anthropomorphic polar bear race who live in iceberg fortresses. Read more »

Shacknews receives a slew of new screenshots and trailers for upcoming games everyday. The most anticipated titles receive their own post, because we know you're eager to see that content. For the rest, we have the Daily Filter, a place to feature all of the media we add to our enormous database on a daily basis.

Today's Filter features new media for The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, Star Trek Online, Guild Wars 2, Dream Trigger 3D, Salem, Final Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection, Dead Space 2, Moon Diver, The Kings' Crusade, Pirates of Black Cove, The Sims Medieval, Radiant Historia, Mytheon, NASCAR The Game 2011. Read more »

2011 is shaping up to be a great year for video games. Here at Shacknews we've pored over the treasure trove of titles coming this year and each picked out a select few games to highlight. It's up to Garnett to close it out with his most anticipated of 2011.

Guild Wars 2: Guild Wars earned a loyal following for being the online multiplayer RPG that wasn't trying to be World of Warcraft (WoW). Buy the game, create your character, and play with friends without forking over a monthly fee. Adventures all took place in instances, unique versions of the world created for your group, as opposed to the massive world of WoW. And the game did a nice job of creating both a rich set of PvE quests and PvP arenas. Read more »

Shacknews receives a slew of new screenshots and trailers for upcoming games everyday. The most anticipated titles receive their own post, because we know you're eager to see that content. For the rest, we have the Daily Filter, a place to feature all of the media we add to our enormous database on a daily basis.

Today's Filter features media for Bulletstorm, LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars, Killzone 3, Trials HD, Dead or Alive Dimensions, Dive to the Titanic, Breach, Guild Wars 2, Crusader Kings II, Swarm, Shift 2 Unleashed, and Rift. Read more »