Guild Wars Afterlife FAQ

These are the twelve questions that come up most often about Guild Wars Afterlife, answered from ArenaNet's announcement and the Steam listings. Short answers first, then the detail.

1. How much does it cost?

$23.99 during the pre-purchase window, $29.99 once it launches. The euro price is quoted at the same numbers, €23.99 and €29.99, and ArenaNet notes that the discounted price may vary by platform and location. The discount is 20%, or $6.00 off.

The full entry cost, then, is $43.98 during the pre-purchase window: $19.99 for the base game and $23.99 for the DLC. If you already own Reforged, only the second number applies.

2. Do I need Guild Wars Reforged?

Yes. The Steam page calls Afterlife downloadable content and states that it requires Guild Wars Reforged to play. Reforged is $19.99 and includes Prophecies, Factions and Nightfall. A first-time buyer pays $43.98 for both during the pre-purchase window, or $49.98 afterwards.

3. When exactly does it launch?

January 13, 2027, according to ArenaNet's announcement. The Steam pre-purchase promotion is also marked as ending January 13. From November 5, 2026 that is 69 days.

The four storefronts appear in one sentence in the announcement; the Steam page adds Windows only, with no macOS or Linux build.

4. Which platforms is it on?

PC, Steam, the Apple App Store and Google Play. ArenaNet names all four in one sentence and gives them one date. The Steam version needs the Steam version of Reforged, so buying base game and DLC from different stores is a mismatch to avoid.

5. Is there a Chinese language option?

The store lists nine languages: English, French, Italian, German, Spanish (Spain), Japanese, Korean, Polish and Russian. Six have full audio — English, French, Italian, German, Spanish and Korean. Chinese is not among them.

6. Can I play it on a phone or tablet?

Yes. Afterlife is listed for the Apple App Store and Google Play. Reforged is already live on mobile: Google Play shows 100K+ downloads and a 3.8-star rating from roughly 3,470 reviews. Steam login on mobile arrived in July 2026.

7. Can I play solo?

Yes. The store page lists single-player, and the announcement says runs can be done with friends or with henchmen. Henchmen are NPC allies added in a town or outpost through the party window; they fill a party without other players.

8. Do my existing characters carry over?

Yes. The announcement says you adventure into Xotecha with your existing characters, and that permanent rewards can be used outside Xotecha on them. You are not levelling a new character for this DLC.

9. What happens to my gear inside the Unformed?

Character progression and inventory evaporate in the Unformed Mists, according to the store page. You enter with a starting loadout you choose, then draft new abilities during the run. Gear and inventory return when you leave.

Gear and inventory return when you leave, and the permanent rewards you earn inside apply to the character you brought. Which is why the announcement can promise rewards you enjoy outside Xotecha while the store page takes your equipment away for the run.

10. Is there a subscription?

No. The official site leads with "play with no subscription fee", the model since 2005. Reforged is a one-time purchase; Afterlife is a one-time DLC purchase.

11. Does it support controllers?

Yes. The store lists full controller support, and the base game is Steam Deck Verified. ArenaNet tuned controller and mobile auto-targeting in September 2026 and joystick movement in October 2026, while leaving mouse and keyboard unchanged.

The Deck compatibility report for Reforged returns Verified with the full test set: default controller configuration functional, glyphs matching the device, interface text legible, and the game running under the default configuration.

12. How do I get the pre-purchase costume?

Buy Afterlife during the pre-purchase window, apply the Vestments serial key, then speak to the Costume Maker. Every character on the account can collect a copy, and the item cannot be traded.

What the DLC adds, in one line

No new profession — drafting pulls from the ten existing ones. Enemies come from the Nightmare and Ancient Golem families rather than a named cast of villains. The new content is a region, a shifting dungeon, a story and two reward tracks.

If your question is about price versus content, read is it worth it. If it is about the dungeon itself, read the Unformed dungeon.

Checked 2026-11-05 against ArenaNet's announcement (Steam news, 2026-11-03), the Afterlife Steam store page (app 5149500), the Reforged store page (app 29720), guildwars.com and the Reforged Google Play listing.