After 21 years, Guild Wars Reforged now lets you name yourself like a World of Warcraft character, so now I'm just John

The gift of Guild Wars Reforged just keeps on giving. That is, if you’re the type to fixate on naming your fantasy roleplay characters something super-specific – or love to find creative ways to link your name to something that’ll make grown adults chuckle like Beavis and Butthead. It’s a good time to be an immature idiot, let me tell you!

Speaking of endlessly quotable 90s cartoon characters, that’s exactly the focus of the latest Guild Wars Reforged update. Well, it’s my focus with this week’s Guild Wars update. Are these things weekly? I’ve had next to no time to play the game I was certain would clog my 2026 gaming calendar when it was announced, but I’m cheering for this still-stellar MMORPG all the same – especially now that I can name my legendary hero (who dies an awful lot) John. That’s it – just John. Or Ray. Jay?

Yes, the latest Guild Wars Reforged update just used a Romeo and Juliet quote to herald the relaxing a long-standing rule that once dictated that a player character be known by their first and last name. 21 years after the release of the base game, players are finally free to express themselves with names like Gary without having to source a suitably dull surname.

The announcement even goes on to clarify that existing dual-named characters can drop one or the other with a purchased ‘Character Name Change’ item from the shop. No, there’s no discount for that service, Nord PvM via Steam (ah), why would they do that?

Anyway, it’s an interesting time for the game. Sure, it’s not the only retro MMORPG out there coming back with a few changes, but it’s nice to see the re-release coming with a stable commitment to refresh the whole experience beyond being nostalgia bait.

While the last few patches have seen them refresh the gloriously green “Pre-Searing” areas with some alt-timeline combat scenarios and exploration zones, ArenaNet is giving the post-searing world a little alt-timeline attention next week instead. April 28 sees the release of the Tunnels of the Forsaken dungeon – a riff on the Pre-Searing Forsaken dungeon, Forsaken Tunnels, added at the start of the month. Wait, that was fast… Anyway, you’ll find it in the Depths of Tyria, Bort.

You can make your mark as Boris in Guild Wars Reforged for $19.99 / £17.99. Grab it on Steam, and you’ll have an easy way to play one of the best MMORPGs of the early 00’s on your couch. The big Reforged update gave it pretty decent controller support and even made it Steam Deck Verified. I don’t think I’d have made it out of school (or even to school) if I had this on a handheld back in the day. What a world.