Another Xpac, so soon?

[zanthor]

Well lets see, we have 3 of 5 weeks of ToC down, are they going to release the heroics on the same 5 week schedule (1 boss per week) or just flood it up?

Lets assume we have 2 weeks before all of ToC is available... they already announced the next MINOR patch to be November with the revamp of Onyxia and the release of Onyxian Whelp pets... so lets push to January for 3.3 and the release of Icecrown Citadel... I can see them giving 6 months for people to consume the content instead of the 3 months they did with Sunwell or the 3 months they did with Naxx 1.0....

Blizzards in the way of making money, and they realize well and good that rushing things out makes the top 3% uber guilds happy... and pacing it out makes the top 30% of hardcore guilds happy...

[Multibocks]

Well lets see, we have 3 of 5 weeks of ToC down, are they going to release the heroics on the same 5 week schedule (1 boss per week) or just flood it up?

Lets assume we have 2 weeks before all of ToC is available... they already announced the next MINOR patch to be November with the revamp of Onyxia and the release of Onyxian Whelp pets... so lets push to January for 3.3 and the release of Icecrown Citadel... I can see them giving 6 months for people to consume the content instead of the 3 months they did with Sunwell or the 3 months they did with Naxx 1.0....

Blizzards in the way of making money, and they realize well and good that rushing things out makes the top 3% uber guilds happy... and pacing it out makes the top 30% of hardcore guilds happy...

I dont think you realize that expansions make blizzard a crap ton of money. They already said they want a shorter expansion cycle and is there any wonder why? I'm pretty sure its going to be 2nd/3rd quarter of 2010. But then I have no sources and it's just my intuition. I think the quote from Metzen about people complaining about goblin rogues will be spot on for release of summer 2010. Just enough time for them to get some arena gear and start annoying the shit out of everyone.

[Souca]

I'm putting my money on late 2010, likely November. There is a lot to be done for Cataclysm and I just don't see it sooner than that.

When did Ulduar come out? How long after Wrath was that? March? How fast was Naxx cleared? I'm putting Ice Crown around March or April. I think they will make Onyxia last longer than people think.

Are we sure that everything from the Argent Tournament is done?

Anyway, these are my estimates based on facts and fiction. Take it or leave it, but I was pretty close to the 3.1 release date too; off by a week or so.

If I get any more info or things to change my mind I'll update my estimates, but I'm happy with these for now.

- Souca -