April Fools’ Day
Since its launch, Guild Wars 2 has cultivated a distinctive tradition of April Fools’ Day celebrations, blending humour with inventive gameplay to create moments that resonate deeply within its community. These events, often marked by whimsy and unexpected twists, have evolved from fleeting visual jokes to elaborate experiences, some of which have left lasting impressions on the game’s culture. The history of these occasions reveals a playful dialogue between developers and players, where creativity and nostalgia intersect.
The most recent iteration, the 2025 “Cozy Café” event, ran from 1 April to 8 April, offering players a respite from the chaotic narrative unfolding in the Janthir Isles. Centred on constructing a homestead café, the event allowed participants to decorate their virtual spaces while revisiting past April Fools’ festivities. ArenaNet reintroduced several beloved activities, including the 2024 “Heights of Glory” and 2022’s “Dog Days,” enabling players to engage with a curated selection of nostalgic content. The meta-achievement “Commander’s Cozy Café” rewarded the completion of six challenges with 150 astral acclaim through the Wizard’s Vault. Professor Smoll, a recurring figure in these celebrations, returned with a pop-up shop in Lion’s Arch, offering tonics and curiosities. The patch notes for 2025 maintained the tradition of light-hearted fixes, such as adjusting the balance of bear and cat jokes in the Janthir Isles.
Preceding this, the 2024 “Heights of Glory” event, active from 1 April to 9 April, invited players to challenge Tyria’s “higherarchy” through a height-adjustment tonic devised by Professor Smoll. Participants affected by the “Height-Eye Enhancement” could earn the “Celestial Invisible Cat Cape” by completing six achievements. The event’s narrative playfully critiqued societal hierarchies, with Smoll’s mailbox message decrying the dominance of tall individuals. In 2023, “Fashion Wars Too” embraced the community’s fondness for cosmetic customisation, offering “Future Fashionable” achievements in Lion’s Arch. This nod to the game’s vibrant fashion culture allowed players to engage with style-centric challenges, reinforcing the unofficial “Fashion Wars” moniker.
The 2022 “Dog Days” event centred on canine companions, tasking players with using emotes in Lion’s Arch after consuming “Fool’s Dog Treats” from Professor Smoll. Known for its protracted achievement requirements, the event tested patience as players awaited triggers through prolonged idling. Two years earlier, in 2020, “The King of All Cats” saw a regal feline dispatch tonics to players, revealing an enormous cat overlooking Lion’s Arch and spectral cats trailing characters. The tonics, usable only on 1 April, created a shared visual spectacle across the game world.
Further back, the 2015 “Airplane Mode” resurrected a beta-era bug, equipping characters with aviator caps and outstretched arms while applying a vintage film filter. This coincided with substantive updates to the Personal Story, including adjustments to the Zhaitan encounter and revised voice acting for characters like Trahearne. In 2014, the “Bobblehead Laboratory” event absurdly enlarged character heads by 200%, accompanied by a tongue-in-cheek explanation from ArenaNet about player engagement.
The most enduring April Fools’ creation remains the 2013 “Super Adventure Box” (SAB), a retro-inspired platformer within Guild Wars 2. Conceived by the Asuran inventor Moto—a nod to Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto—SAB challenged players to rescue a princess through 8-bit-style levels. Its success transformed it from a one-day joke into an annual festival. Accessible via Rata Sum or the Eye of the North, SAB equalised players by suspending external equipment and traits, focusing instead on in-game abilities and “Bauble Bubbles” for rewards. Updates in 2022 refined its mechanics, pausing external boosts during participation. The festival’s daily and weekly achievements, alongside unique rewards like Hardlight Weapons, have cemented its place in the game’s legacy.
Other notable events include “The Commando,” a parody profession announcement; “Gwen-chan,” an anime-style character transformation; and “Choya Wars 2,” a Choya-themed takeover. The “Golden Sink,” an exorbitantly priced decoration, and the April Fools’ Vendor in Hooligan’s Route, offering past event items, further illustrate the tradition’s breadth. Blogger Bhagpuss once noted the mixed reception of certain events, such as the divisive 2015 “fixed wing” disruption, yet overall, these occasions have become cherished fixtures.
Guild Wars 2’s April Fools’ events balance humour and meaningful content, fostering a unique connection with its community. The decision to revisit past celebrations in 2025 reflects their enduring appeal. As the game continues to evolve, these annual surprises demonstrate ArenaNet’s commitment to playful innovation, inviting players to anticipate what whimsical twists the future may hold.
