Guild Wars 3 reveals four playable races at launch, fans disappointed

ArenaNet confirmed that Guild Wars 3 will launch with four playable species, one fewer than its predecessor Guild Wars 2. The confirmed races are Humans, Asura and the newly introduced Kodan, while a fourth, still secret, is described as a new race whose history is closely linked to the ancient kingdom of Orr. The developer hinted the unknown race may be elf‑like, filling the role previously held by the Sylvari.

The information leaked after a brief blog‑post error, prompting the link to be taken down and scheduled for a proper release on 6 August. Fans expressed disappointment because expected races such as Sylvari, Charr, dwarves or tengu were absent, fearing reduced diversity at launch.

The announcement sets expectations for the game's initial content and highlights ArenaNet’s strategy to balance new lore with familiar elements.