Cataclysm

[Lyonheart]

I think the BIG news at Blizzcon this year will be the new MMO ( as i have predicted long ago ) Diablo.. SC2 and Cata are all old news by then. Cata coming out before Blizzcon would be nice.. but I don't think it "needs: to be out before then. The new MMO was such a secret, and probably the best kept secret in the industry to date, that its all the "big news" needed to make this years Blizzcon worthy. If thats not the news this year, than wtf else could it be? it would kind of be a waste to have a Blizzcon with no new big info. A new class for Diablo is not enough hehe

[Shodokan]

This makes the most sense to me. It would be kinda pointless to have anything Cata related at BlizzCon considering everything that is already announced and known and the fact that Diablo III and the new projects haven't had much yet. I also got the feeling it was sooner than later once they lifted the NDA when the closed beta started. That was surprising.

Regardless if this makes the most sense or not they have too much to test in the beta for that to happen, especially with them re-doing the talent system completely.

[Nighthawk38]

Mid-November. That's my prediction and I'm sticking to it.

[Owltoid]

Regardless if this makes the most sense or not they have too much to test in the beta for that to happen, especially with them re-doing the talent system completely.

Shoko, if I'm not mistaken, you were in alpha and seem to have good contacts at Blizzard. Is this massive talent change a surprise to those you know, or just a well kept secret?

[Ughmahedhurtz]

Not so sure now. They are completely reworking the talent trees. I wouldn't be surprised if they announce Spring 2011. If that's the case, It's going to be hard to stay.

I can just about guarantee you that the dev guys working on the talent tree/game mechanics are different guys than the ones working on the world items (terrain, new instances, etc.). That in mind, I'd be surprised if they had to push the date back for the expansion. Worst case, they'll push certain features back so they can finish up the important stuff, like the new content and probably talents and PVP changes.

[Tehmuffinman]

Regardless if this makes the most sense or not they have too much to test in the beta for that to happen, especially with them re-doing the talent system completely.

Since when does "too much to test" mean anything to them?

Every XP released so far was plagued with bugs for at least a good few weeks post-release.

[Mosg2]

It'll be launched mid-November. They'll probably push the talent changes out sometime in October like they did with TBC.

[Lyonheart]

Regardless if this makes the most sense or not they have too much to test in the beta for that to happen, especially with them re-doing the talent system completely.

the new talents are ready for testing.. they will be pushed in the next build.. this talent overhaul will make things faster not slower. Read what the devs are saying about it, It will be easier to balance which equates to less dev time.

[Multibocks]

Remember when a certain dev said, "just wait and see how much complaining people will have at next blizzcon for Goblin rogues"

I'm guessing that at that point they believed it's approx ship date was before blizzcon. Things have changed so I'm more inclined to believe oct/nov now.

[daviddoran]

Historically the best way to track the release of the expansion is to follow along with the progress in Beta.

But my guess is it will be on shelves before the thanksgiving holiday shopping rush, to take advantage of the holiday buying frenzy. I think BC was supposed to be released then, but it was delayed a couple months.

4.0 will probably be relased a month or so prior.