NCSoft and ArenaNet have today announced that their upcoming next-gen MMO Guild Wars 2 will finally be released this August, a date many players have eagerly been awaiting. The news also comes with an additional notice that the final weekend beta will also be held later in July, a much anticipated date for any person that has pre-ordered.

Building on sales of more than 7 million units of the original game, Guild Wars 2 redefines massively multiplayer online roleplaying games with visceral, action-orientated combat; a gorgeous, living world full of constantly evolving dynamic events; customisable personal storylines that are unique to each player; intense Player vs. Player combat between small teams or massive armies; and most importantly, a shared online world where players work together as allies instead of as rivals — all with no monthly subscription fee.

“We’re offering gamers an experience that delivers on the promise of online gaming with a truly social experience in an immense, shared world ,” said Mike O’Brien, president and co-founder of ArenaNet. “After five years of creation, development, and polish, announcing the launch date of Guild Wars 2 is a huge milestone for us, but the thing we’re most looking forward to is seeing gamers from all over the globe explore this world and begin creating their own stories.”

Set for a release date of August 28th, ArenaNet will focus on polishing Guild Wars 2 to ensure the highest quality experience on launch day, which includes hosting a final Beta Weekend Event from 20th to the 22nd of July.

Details about the upcoming beta weekend can be found on the official website, plus your chance to pre-order a digital copy from their store. Check out the trailer below which gives you a taste of just what to expect from Guild Wars 2, including what seems to be a very large dragon verse airships.