Guild Wars 2’s player housing will receive significant updates in the upcoming Visions of Eternity expansion, set to launch next month. Players will have the opportunity to upgrade from their existing homestead layouts to a new idyllic island setting. More importantly, the update introduces a mechanism to save and share housing layouts, enhancing community interaction and creativity.

To access the new residential area, players will need to own both the previous expansion and the new one. The transition will involve speaking to Deft Lahar in your homestead to swap your active plot. Existing decorations will be secured safely while the new enchanting location serves as your operational headquarters.

The new plots will feature prefabricated buildings, allowing players to rearrange without the constraints of fixed structures. This enables greater flexibility in customizing homesteads, aligning with seasonal themes like Halloween or Christmas through an easy-to-use template system.

Homestead builds will be stored as XML files on local PCs, facilitating easy sharing among players via file upload into the game. With an in-game alert system in place, players will be informed if they attempt to load designs that require unavailable decorations, making it easier to plan their decor.

As someone who thrives on community engagement, I anticipate an increase in collaborative creativity around housing, empowering dedicated builders to inspire others across the player base. Additionally, the functionality to save designs will extend to guild halls as well. This significant revamp addresses existing limitations, enhancing the social aspects of player housing and presenting exciting new ways to present efforts and finesse.