NC is injecting a staggering 120 billion KRW into ArenaNet, the studio currently hard at work on Guild Wars 3.

NC shed some light on the current state of Guild Wars 3 during its Q2 2026 earnings call on the 11th. Co-CEO Park Byung-moo noted, "While last year was focused on core development, we have transitioned into mass production this year," adding that the company is currently pouring in resources to bolster the game's overall content volume ahead of its release.

The roadmap currently targets two rounds of closed beta testing in the latter half of 2027, followed by an early access launch. Ditching their proprietary tech, the team is building this with Unreal Engine 5, with NC lending its technical expertise to the process.

In a first for the franchise, the game will hit consoles, specifically the PS5, alongside its PC debut. PC players will have access via both Steam and ArenaNet's own launcher. Unlike its predecessor, which leaned heavily into Western markets, the strategy here is global. With a simultaneous worldwide release in sight, the Asian market will be serviced through NC's Purple platform, complete with full localization including Korean.

Guild Wars 3 has already turned quite a few heads. Shortly after its reveal at Summer Game Fest 2026 this June, it soared to second place on the Steam wishlist charts. Meanwhile, Guild Wars 2 is enjoying its best three-year run in terms of monthly active users (MAU) and revenue. Co-CEO Park Byung-moo remains unbothered by potential cannibalization, stating, "The recent MAU and revenue figures for Guild Wars 2 are a testament to the franchise's resilience."

As the project gathers steam, NC has committed to a massive financial lifeline. During a board meeting on the 11th, the company approved a loan of 120.785 billion KRW (approximately 85 million USD) to ArenaNet. The funds are slated to be distributed in installments between August 31, 2026, and May 31, 2028, covering development progress and marketing costs. Given the maturity date follows the testing phases, the launch window seems to be aligning with that timeframe.

This cash infusion is a necessary move to address ArenaNet’s dire financial straits. A look at the public financial filings reveals that as of 2025, the studio is in a state of complete capital impairment with a negative equity of 77.3 billion KRW. With total liabilities reaching 137.3 billion KRW against 60 billion KRW in total assets, and an annual net loss of 56.4 billion KRW, the company's annual revenue has also seen a sharp decline, dropping from 133.4 billion KRW in 2023 to 87.7 billion KRW in 2025.