ArenaNet has taken to their blog to announce two new Player versus Player features in the popular MMO Guild Wars 2. Both features, the ability to play custom PvP arenas and a spectator mode, are expected to go live sometime this month for beta testing, offering keen players a broader approach to the content currently available in-game.

As the name suggests, custom arenas will be allowing players to choose from 20 different options to customise until their heart is content, ranging from the actual arena name through to the team size and allowing spectators. Server programmer Steve Bikun touts that the new mode will offer "your own place to play, you can organize private tournaments with friends, and you can challenge other teams to scrimmage."

Players looking to jump in will find that during the beta phase ArenaNet will be limiting testing to the select individuals, however after beta testing has finished all players will be able to purchase custom arena kits from the in-game gem store. Players will also find custom arena time tokens to extend the rental time on your own custom arena, or be used for adding time to someone else's custom arena.

For spectator mode, the name is exactly what it is. Those looking to learn a few tactics from the "pro" players will be able to sit out and watch the entire game in real-time, but also be a handy tool for e-Sports shoutcasting. The new mode will be joining the beta alongside the custom arena but will be available only in hot-join games or a custom arena game.

Gameplay programmer Evan "Bluxgore" Lesh revealed that games affecting the leaderboard will be not be allowing spectators due to the chance of cheating, but also to foster the PvP shoutcasting community. Lesh did however state that down the track select shoutcasters will be able to jump into high-level ladder games, allowing them to cover all the action.

Anyone eager for more info should head over to the official blog post, where both modes have been thoroughly detailed on what to expect.