Guild Wars 2

Not to sound like a complete a**, but you’d think that after 5 years of development being able to change our display names would be a menial task at best, instead of system-breaking one. Upon requesting that my display name be changed (I am a returning player), I was met with the response that it cannot be done per user request as the system was not designed to handle display name changes. As someone that has worked in IT for 8 years, something as simple as a display name change should not break anything, and if it does, then that is some very poor foresight and design on ArenaNet’s behalf.

Requesting a display name change could have even been made profitable with requiring Gems to change, so this is just a massive oversight. I hope to see display name changes implemented in the near future.

I doubt they will ever offer on demand display name changes but who knows maybe they will. Anet sometimes surprises us. It has been brought up several times over the years. Here is a collection of Anet staff responses that probably go into more detail than what support may have provided you. These posts also explain other reasons they do not provide display name changes beyond the technical limitations.

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/support/support/Name-Questions-Please-read-merged/first#post2087181
https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/support/support/Name-Questions-Please-read-merged/page/4#post4336410
https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/support/support/Name-Questions-Please-read-merged/page/4#post5498462

Thank you for the response! Yeah, I’ve read through all of those before posting here, and while I understand why it can’t be done, I cannot understand why their system was so poorly designed as to not be able to handle display name changes.

Here’s to hoping.

And the other reasons they do not offer Display Name changes? Being accountable certainly serves a purpose. Also, being in IT isn’t the same as coding for an MMO that has code built upon code built upon code.

We’ve seen the reports from players who have had their Display Name changed. It gives up one problem for a slew of others.

Your Display Name doesn’t seem bad. At least, you don’t have one of the UNID ones.

Good luck.

Inculpatus cedo.9234:

And the other reasons they do not offer Display Name changes? Being accountable certainly serves a purpose. Also, being in IT isn’t the same as coding for an MMO that has code built upon code built upon code.

We’ve seen the reports from players who have had their Display Name changed. It gives up one problem for a slew of others.

Your Display Name doesn’t seem bad. At least, you don’t have one of the UNID ones.

Good luck.

I understand that they’re not the same, but as far as accounts go, having them identified by display name instead of a hidden account number is just terrible design. I also understand it would be a massive undertaking to make the transition this late in development, but after viewing past forum posts there’s quite a few people that would have liked this feature, especially seeing as it’s a fairly standard feature in almost every other game. Some make you pay for it (ArcheAge, BDO), while others allow you to change it for free via your account settings (ESO). BattleNet IDs last I checked could be also be changed via a support request.

[REDACTED]

Well, if you don’t tell people that, no one would guess that. I’d suggest editing that out of your post.

Good luck.

Edit: Well done.