Publisher NCSoft has released the first trailer for ArenaNet's subscription-free PC MMORPG Guild Wars 2, first showing animated backstory then lavish in-game footage.

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A whole shedload of screenshots and gorgeous concept art also arrived, along with further details on the sequel set 250 years after the original Guild Wars games.

Chief among Guild Wars 2's changes are the shift to a persistent world, though instances will still remain for certain story elements. The long-awaited ability to jump also arrives, and players will even brave water for the first time... Read more

Following word from publisher NCsoft that Guild Wars 2 would not be released earlier than 2010, the co-founder of Guild Wars developer ArenaNet has responded to the news on the game's official website, saying that the team "has never given a release date" for the game.

"On Friday, NCsoft released investor materials that showed a very broad release window for Guild Wars 2, with the explanation that release timing is still 'to be announced,'" said ArenaNet's Mike O'Brien.

"ArenaNet has never given a release date for Guild Wars 2 other than 'when it's done.' NCsoft's investor materials are a reflection of that philosophy."

Beta testing for Guild Wars 2 was originally planned to begin last year. In June, ArenaNet updated its official FAQ with news that the test would not start in 2008 as scheduled.

"I know some fans had hoped for a smaller gap between the launch of Guild Wars: Eye of the North and the start of beta testing for Guild Wars 2, but we communicated last summer that it would be some time before we could commit to any beta or launch dates," said O'Brien. "Guild Wars 2 is a large and ambitious game, and we're going to take the time to do it right."

The sequel to ArenaNet's popular MMO Guild Wars won't launch until 2010 at the earliest, according to an NCsoft earnings release obtained by VE3D.

According to the document, Guild Wars 2 is now slated for a 2010 or 2011 release. The MMO sequel was announced in March of 2007, and was originally expected to enter beta testing in 2008.

NCSoft's newest MMO, Aion: Tower of Eternity, has also been pushed back to a fourth quarter release in the United States. The NCsoft Seoul-developed title was released in Korea last November.

While NCsoft's 2008 revenue of $248.6 million represents a 5% year-over-year increase, the company's profits plummeted 40% to $20 million due to the late release of Aion.

The latest Guild Wars 2 Q&A can be found at Computer & Video Games. ArenaNet founder Jeff Strain and lead designer Ben Miller talk about their plans for the game.

Eurogamer is the latest website with a Guild Wars 2 Q&A, asking designers Ben Miller and Eric Flannum about the online action RPG followup.

About.com's games section has a new Guild Wars Q&A, asking ArenaNet's Jeff Strain and Mike O'Brien about the recently announced Guild Wars 2 and Guild Wars: Eye of the North expansion pack.

NCSoft has issued this press release, officially announcing the development of Guild Wars 2 and the Guild Wars expansion pack Eye of the North. The press release pretty much confirms what showed up online last week. Here's a bit on Eye of the North, which will require either Prophecies, Factions, or Nightfall to run

And for those looking even further down the road at Guild Wars 2, Guild Wars: Eye of the North will provide a Hall of Monuments where players' accomplishments are memorialized and eventually inherited by their Guild Wars 2 characters, unlocking exclusive items and bonuses in Guild Wars 2.
"It's the payoff we hope players will appreciate as we continue to build on the Guild Wars franchise," said Strain. "We're excited to announce these two new products and we want players to know that Guild Wars has an extremely exciting future in the months and years ahead."

We have six Eye of the North screenshots, and the Guild Wars 2 logo if that's really exciting to you.

There's an article format Guild Wars 2 interview on Kotaku, also offering information on the Eye of the North expansion for the original game.

This Guild Wars Guru forum thread (thanks Blues News) is filled with Guild Wars followup information, all gathered from the most recent issue of PC Gamer. ArenaNet is planning to ditch the Chapter format for the game, and is instead focusing on an expansion pack called Eye of the North, as well as a proper sequel.

The Eye of the North expansion pack is set for a holiday 2007 release, and will cost less than the previous chapter additions. It features no new professions, but will include new armor sets, new skills, new heroes and new areas to explore. Its storyline will bridge the gap between the first game and Guild Wars 2.

Guild Wars 2 meanwhile, will feature four new races, and "radical" changes to many game elements including PvP play and the NPC companion system. It also sounds like there will be less instancing, and the level cap will be either really high or non-existant. The game will also remain fee-less. A beta is expected to start in 2008. For much more, go here.