Guild Wars 2 open beta this spring, launching in 2012

The first closed beta testing for Guild Wars 2 has finished and ArenaNet announce next month there'll be select press invites to take a beta peek or two for themselves.

In March and April the studio will "aggressively ramp up" the beta test with invites so that many fans will get the chance to participate. Guild Wars 2 will be launching this year.

They're looking to hold "progressively larger events" now that the first closed beta period has ended. This announcement comes as China celebrates the Year of the Dragon.

"According to tradition, the dragon embodies passion, independence, and ambition. We think it's a perfect analogy for what we're trying to accomplish with Guild Wars 2," blogs ArenaNet founder and president, Mike O'Brien.

"We recently finished our first closed beta test, and we're now ready to hold progressively larger events. In February we'll invite select press to participate in beta testing, and in March and April we'll aggressively ramp up the size of our beta test events so that many of you will have a chance to participate."

"And of course, this all leads to the release of Guild Wars 2 later this year." Are you looking forward to Guild Wars 2, video gamer. It's launching as a free-to-play MMORPG, as the studio believes that is where the future lies.