ArenaNet and NCsoft's PC massively multiplayer online role-playing game Guild Wars Factions is officially live. The servers went up early Thursday morning for preorder customers to get a head start on the game, and this morning they were opened up to all as boxed copies of the game began hitting store shelves. An ArenaNet representative said the launch went as planned, and with no problems.

Factions takes place on the fictional continent of Cantha, which was inspired by the actual continent of Asia, and features a new storyline. Like its predecessor, Factions will let players compete in player-versus-player battles, join forces with other factions in large-scale wars, and work together in some new cooperative challenges.

Last week, ArenaNet cofounder Jeff Strain revealed that the company plans to release two such expansions a year. The company is already well into development on the third campaign, he said, with the fourth one in the planning stages.

Guild Wars Factions is rated T for Teen and retails for $49.99. Check back soon for GameSpot's full review.