Guild Wars 2 – Steam and ArenaNet Accounts FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the Steam and ArenaNet accounts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please note: all credit goes to 스노 (雪亮 Yuki)!

Legend

First things first.

  • Steam-GW2. It refers to a GW2 account created through Steam.
  • ArenaNet-GW2 / ANet-GW2. It refers to a GW2 account created through official website.
  • Steam Guild Wars 2 installation folder. It refers to the folder where Steam installed Guild Wars 2.
  • ArenaNet or ANet Guild Wars 2 installation folder. It refers to the folder where you installed Guild Wars 2 (non-Steam).

That clarified, let’s begin.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I link my ArenaNet-GW2 account with my Steam account?

  • No. ArenaNet does not offer linking of accounts as of this post.

Can I use my ArenaNet-GW2 account via Steam?

  • Yes, you can.

How can I login my ArenaNet-GW2 account via Steam?

  • Go to the Guild Wars 2 launcher settings in Steam and add: -provider:Portal

Can I buy Guild Wars 2 DLC in Steam and use it in my ArenaNet-GW2 account?

  • No. Anything you buy in Steam for Guild Wars 2 will be associated with your Steam account.

Does it mean I still need to buy expansions outside of Steam?

  • Yes. Either through guildwars2.com (official website), or your local store that officially resells the game.

Do I have to re-download the game via Steam?

  • No, you don’t have to. Here’s a quick guide:
  1. Find Guild Wars 2 in the Steam store.
  2. Install Guild Wars 2.
  3. Once the Guild Wars 2 client with the “PLAY” button at the lower-right corner appears, let it download a few megabytes and then shut the client down.
  4. Also shutdown the Steam client.
  5. Find your ArenaNet Guild Wars 2 installation folder.
  6. Copy the gw2.dat file.
  7. Find the Steam Guild Wars 2 installation folder.
  8. Paste the gw2.dat file.
  9. Launch Steam.
  10. Launch Steam-GW2.

Are the Guild Wars 2 via Steam and via ArenaNet in separate servers?

  • No. They are the same servers.

How sure are you that your answers are correct?

  • Because this is my setup.

I use my ArenaNet-GW2 account (since beta) via the official Guild Wars 2 Steam (Not the “add a non-Steam game” option).

I copied my gw2.dat file from the ArenaNet Guild Wars 2 installation folder into the Steam Guild Wars 2 folder.

So, yes, it works.

Tested in both Windows 10 and Linux (Pop!_OS 22.04 LTS).

Egor Opleuha
About Egor Opleuha 8086 Articles
Egor Opleuha, also known as Juzzzie, is the Editor-in-Chief of Gameplay Tips. He is a writer with more than 12 years of experience in writing and editing online content. His favorite game was and still is the third part of the legendary Heroes of Might and Magic saga. He prefers to spend all his free time playing retro games and new indie games.

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