Since October 13, 2026, Guild Wars 2 Living World Season 2 has been free with the base game, joining Season 1, which was already free. Seasons 3 and 4 are now part of the Heart of Thorns and Path of Fire bundle, while Season 5, The Icebrood Saga, comes with End of Dragons. This does not mean that the expansions themselves, or the last three seasons for every account, have become free.
ArenaNet also announced an automatic gem credit for players who purchased Living World content after September 12, 2026. The compensation matches the value of the Living World content purchased, with a specific partial-credit rule for the former Elder Dragon Saga Complete Collection.
Table: how to access each Living World season
The update notes assign the five seasons either to the base game or to an associated expansion. The table separates access without an episode purchase from automatic unlocking for existing owners.
| Season | How to access it from October 13, 2026 | For players who already owned the game or expansions |
|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | Included in the base game; it was already free before this change. | Remains available without a separate purchase. |
| Season 2 | Free with the base game; access announced for accounts with a level-80 character. | Available without purchasing individual season episodes. |
| Season 3 | Included in the Heart of Thorns + Path of Fire bundle. | Missing episodes automatically unlock for owners of the applicable expansions. |
| Season 4 | Included in the Heart of Thorns + Path of Fire bundle. | Missing episodes automatically unlock for owners of the applicable expansions. |
| Season 5: The Icebrood Saga | Included with the End of Dragons expansion. | Missing episodes automatically unlock for players who already own End of Dragons. |
What is free for everyone, and what still requires an expansion?
The major change for players who have not purchased expansions is Season 2. It joins Season 1 in the base game; ArenaNet specifies that players must have a level-80 character to access this story. The free access was not presented as a temporary promotion.
Seasons 3 and 4 are no longer separate Living World purchases and instead come with the Heart of Thorns + Path of Fire bundle. Season 5 is tied to End of Dragons. These episodes therefore carry no separate charge when an account owns the eligible expansion content, but they have not been opened to all free accounts. Individual Living World season and episode purchases have been discontinued.
Who qualifies for gems after an earlier purchase?
According to the October 13 announcement, accounts that purchased any Living World content after September 12, 2026 automatically receive a gem credit equal to the value of that content. ArenaNet did not announce a flat gem amount for everyone: the credit depends on the eligible purchase.
This includes partial gem credits for purchases of the Guild Wars 2 Elder Dragon Saga Complete Collection made within that window. In these cases the credited amount corresponds to the Living World portion of the collection, not necessarily the full price of the expansion bundle.
The announcement does not promise automatic compensation for purchases made on or before September 12. It describes a credit in the game's virtual currency, not a cash refund. Previously purchased episodes remain accessible, but owning them alone does not establish eligibility for the retroactive credit.
How to check your unlocks and gem credit
Missing episode unlocks and gem credits were announced as automatic. To assess whether your account qualifies, check the following:
- For Season 2, make sure the account has a level-80 character.
- For Seasons 3 and 4, check ownership of the Heart of Thorns and Path of Fire bundle; for The Icebrood Saga, check End of Dragons. Then check that the story chapters are unlocked.
- If you purchased Living World after September 12, 2026, check your gem balance and purchase history; the credit corresponds to the eligible content.
ArenaNet instructed players who had not received their gem credit or updated Starter Pack items by October 15, 2026 to contact official support. That date has passed, so the company's support service is the stated route if anything is still missing.
New bundles are not the same as gem compensation
The update also reorganized purchases: the Elder Dragon Saga bundle now includes Heart of Thorns, Path of Fire, End of Dragons and Seasons 3, 4 and 5; the Complete Collection includes six expansions and those seasons. Expansions remain available individually. The new Astral Ward Saga bundle contains Secrets of the Obscure, Janthir Wilds and Visions of Eternity, and does not replace the access rules for the earlier seasons.
Separately, the Starter Pack gained a Copper-Fed Salvage-o-Matic, five Teleport to Friend items and two Black Lion Chest Keys. Previous buyers are due to receive these extras by in-game mail, but this delivery is distinct from the gem compensation offered for recent Living World purchases.
