Guild Wars 2

Will the story be permanently in the game or is this going to be an one time event?
I’m not level 80 yet and i don’t have those places explored yet. Does that mean i will miss the new content?

They’ve called it a living story, it is not a one-time only event but it also reads as if the content will advance and move on as the story unfolds. How quickly this will happen I don’t know, it may be that some events added this time will be removed and advanced in the next patch to further the story along.

If it was me with a character who had not yet explored those areas, I would make them my focus for the next couple of weeks, getting there and exploring, taking part in the new story-related events and working towards this new Volunteer title. Other than that we’ll just have to wait and see what they have planned for the story and how they will introduce the changes. They are also introducing heralds who are supposed to keep you updated with any changes in the story – you jsut have to make sure to talk to them (at the time of posting heralds are not yet present in the game)

Here’s the relevant extract from the patch notes:

LIVING STORY
Flame and Frost: Prelude
A mystery presents itself in this first entry in a multipart Living Story series. What could be causing such discord in the foothills of the Shiverpeaks? All those poor homesteaders and ranchers displaced with nowhere to go calls into question if the storms could be that bad—or if there’s something more sinister stirring up the flame and frost. The ground is shaking, and the sky is falling in northern Wayfarer Foothills and Diessa Plateau. Norn and charr refugees, crawling from the wreckage of their homes, are fighting their way to shelter in Hoelbrak and the Black Citadel. Many are in shock and wounded; most have only what they can carry on their backs. A call has gone out for volunteers to assist them in their time of need, when the environment itself seems to have become their enemy.

Achievements
•A new Living Story achievement category has been added, which will contain a series of achievements specific to the storylines unfolding in Tyria.
•The first Living Story achievement, Refugee Volunteer, has been added. Players who complete this achievement by playing the Flame and Frost: Prelude content will be rewarded with the Volunteer title. They will also receive a karma reward via in-game mail.
•More achievements will be added as the Living Story continues to unfold.

Events
•New Living Story events have been added to Wayfarer Foothills and Diessa Plateau.

Heralds
•Starting shortly after the January 28^th^ update, heralds will begin appearing in cities across Tyria. Their task is to keep adventurers apprised of the events currently underway that are driving the Living Story forward. Be sure to check in with them if you need direction.

Other Content
•Persistent world content related to the story of the refugees has been added to Wayfarer Foothills, Diessa Plateau, the Black Citadel, and Hoelbrak. This content will continue to change and evolve as the story unfolds, so be sure to keep checking back.