Getting stuck on a story step in GW2 feels frustrating. You follow the journal, go to the right place, and nothing happens. The step called Unscheduled Departures is one of those moments where progress can suddenly stop.
This guide explains what that problem usually means and what you can safely try to move forward.
What Is GW2 Unscheduled Departures Not Working?
In Guild Wars 2, Unscheduled Departures is a story step that relies on triggers, NPCs, and instance loading. When players say it’s not working, they usually mean the story does not continue after entering the area, an NPC does not appear, or the objective never updates even after completing the task. The game runs fine, but the story progress stays frozen.
Most players notice this issue in the story journal or on the map. The marker may not move, the instance may not open, or interaction prompts never appear. Repeating the same action often does nothing.
Common Causes of Unscheduled Departures Not Working
This issue can happen for several reasons depending on character state, instance loading, or known game issues.
- Story instance does not trigger
- Required NPC does not spawn
- Objective completion does not register
- Map phasing conflict
- Character state becomes desynced
- Game client is not fully updated
- Known unresolved game bug
Because several of these problems overlap, the game often gives no clear message.
How to Fix GW2 Unscheduled Departures Not Working?
In most cases, the issue is related to how the game loads story progress. Try the fixes below one by one and give the game time to update between attempts.
Fix #1: Log Out and Log Back In
Logging out refreshes your character state and reloads story data. This often fixes steps that fail to update.
Here are the following steps which help reset progress:
- Open the game menu
- Log out to the character select screen
- Wait a few seconds
- Log back in
- Check the story journal
If the issue was temporary, the step may now update.
Fix #2: Leave the Map and Return
Map phasing can block story triggers. Leaving and re-entering reloads the area.
Follow the steps below to reset the map state:
- Use a waypoint in another map
- Wait for the new map to load
- Stay there briefly
- Return to the original map
- Check the story marker
This often restores missing NPCs or triggers.
Fix #3: Replay or Restart the Story Step
Replaying the step resets its internal triggers. This can fix progress that failed earlier.
Open the story journal and choose to replay Unscheduled Departures if the option is available. Once restarted, follow the objectives carefully from the beginning.
Fix #4: Complete Nearby Events Before Retrying
Some story steps depend on the current state of nearby events. If an event is active or failed, the story may not continue.
Finish any nearby events, then move away from the area and return. After that, try interacting with the story objective again.
Fix #5: Restart the Game Client
Long play sessions can cause instance issues. Restarting the client clears stuck data.
Try these simple steps:
- Close the game fully
- Make sure it is not running in the background
- Restart your computer
- Launch the game again
- Load the story step
This helps when instances fail to load properly.
Fix #6: Check Patch Notes and Known Issues
Sometimes the issue is not on your side. Developers may already know about the problem.
Check recent patch notes and known issue lists. If Unscheduled Departures is listed, waiting for a fix may be the only option.
Fix #7: Contact ArenaNet Support
If none of the fixes work, contact ArenaNet support. Provide your character name, story step, and what you tried. Support can check your account state and help reset progress if possible.
Prevention Tips to Avoid Story Step Issues
Small habits can reduce the chance of story progress problems.
- Keep the game client updated
- Avoid rushing through story steps
- Restart the game after long sessions
- Re-enter maps if progress stalls
- Watch patch notes
- Avoid frequent instance hopping
- Report bugs early
Conclusion
Overall, when GW2 Unscheduled Departures is not working, the cause usually comes from instance loading, map phasing, or known game bugs. These issues feel sudden, but many are temporary and fixable with simple steps.
Try each fix calmly and give the game time to respond. If this guide helped you, share it with other players and leave a comment about which fix worked for you.
