Download Guild Wars 2 Beta for OS X

NCsoft and ArenaNet have teamed up to announce that Mac users can now download the RPG Guild Wars 2 as a beta and play with their Windows buddies, or should we say enemies.

Anyone who buys Guild Wars 2 on a Mac will initially launch the game in beta. As the developers are working to optimize it, gamers are ensured a live connection to the servers, “allowing everyone to play together on both Mac and Windows-based computers.”

Only after activating their game code will players be able to access the Mac beta client through the Guild Wars 2 account management website, NCsoft said.

The Guild Wars franchise is famous for combining fast-paced action and player vs. player combat on a grand scale. Which is why the developers truly believe that “Guild Wars 2 is destined to be the premiere online gaming experience for both PC and Mac.”

“To deliver this support, ArenaNet is partnering with TransGaming whose revolutionary Cider technology dynamically translates between operating environments,” said NCsoft.

According to the press release, TransGaming’s technology will also facilitate simultaneous software update distribution on both Mac and Windows, meaning Mac users won’t lag behind.

“ArenaNet staffers are big fans of Macs,” the company said. “We offer them as part of our employee laptop subsidy program, and our president Mike O’Brien is rarely seen without his Mac laptop. We’re as excited as anyone to play Guild Wars 2 on OS X.”

Mac gamers looking for more information on Guild Wars 2 can visit www.guildwars2.com, where they can immediately purchase a license and download the beta today. A support section for the Mac version of Guild Wars 2 is available at support.guildwars2.com/mac.

According to the FAQ, the release date for the Mac version will be announced based on the results of tester input.

Requirements include OS X 10.7 or higher, an Intel Core i5 processor (or better), and 4GB of RAM.