ArenaNet and NCsoft Corporation recently pegged April 28, 2006 as release date for the hugely anticipated Guild Wars Factions. The massively-multiplayer role-playing game (MMORPG) will act as both a stand-alone new product as well as an expansion pack (of sorts) to the original Guild Wars game, a million selling ground-breaking title celebrated for its depth and breadth of fantasy quests, unique battle systems, heavy reliance on alliances, emphasis on player-vs-player combat and conquest (as opposed to just all-players vs computer generated ones) and, most importantly, its lack of monthly subscription fees, which is totally contrary to the conventional MMO business model.

Factions will include hundreds of new weapons and items, 300 new skills, 100+ new creatures a whole new, Asian-themed, three nation continent on which to frolic.

More information plus beta-testing and pre-order opportunities can be found at www.guildwars.com.