NCSoft's newest addition to the Guild Wars franchise is now officially opened, the servers are online and the game is hitting store shelves everywhere. Pre-order customers were lucky enough to get a head start, they've been able to play the game since Thursday.

Guild Wars: Factions is one of two expansions planned for one year. It won't require the original game, and at the same time, allow existing characters from it to explore the new Asia-influenced world of Cantha as well. Guild Wars fans can finally delve into more adventures, PvP battles, and coop quests in a heap of all-new content.

A second and third expansion is already in the works at ArenaNet, and a fourth in the planning stages - these guys certainly have their hands full... Once again, NCSoft's unique marketing strategy for Guild Wars comes into play here - no monthly fee is needed to play, but expect Factions to grace your retail store with a MSRP of $49.99.