No 5.5 - How long will we be in SoO?

[Cheroba]

Developers announced that there would be no 5.5 patch, which means that until we get to the transition patch (giving us our new skills and tweaked talents) we will be in Siege of Orgrimmar.

How long will we be in SoO?

From Cata, DS was pushed on November 29, 2011 and then 5.0 came out on August 28, 2012 (approximately nine months).
From Wrath, ICC was dropped on December 8th, 2009 and Ruby Sanctum on June 22nd, then 4.0 was released on October 12, 2010 (approximately 8 months).

The interesting thing is that the announcements for each of these expansions came out almost a year before their announced expansion's release. So, does that mean we'll be raiding in SoO for over 12 months?

[Drungan]

Already like 7 topics on this ..here is one of them :

http://www.mmo-champion.com/threads/...ent-for-a-Year

[Thetruth1400]

My guess is that they're going to be releasing WoD sometime around June, putting the total time around 9 months.

I'm not saying it to be mean, but there doesn't seem to be much new content coming out that warrants a longer time frame between the announcement today and the release. Models seem to be the hardest thing, but they've been working on them for at least a year already. The zones looked fairly well finished. There are so few dungeons that I can't imagine there's much left to do on them. I just don't see what the heck they could possibly have left to do that this expansion shouldn't be 6 months out tops. I'm very shocked that the beta wasn't announced at Blizzcon.

Frankly, the sooner the better for everyone, but especially for Blizzard. They can't keep taking sub hits like they have been when no good content comes out. In the past two expansions, we've seen two 1 million + sub losses. Another hit like that and I honestly don't think we're going to be getting anywhere near the same quality and quantity of content as we expect.

[Dreyen]

Didn't they say in the interview they'd like to release WoD before spring? That's pretty soon

If they do, we'll get patch 6.0 a month before the expansion, should rejuvenate the game enough.

[Normie]

Depends when we see or hear about the beta, but I think if the beta is public before the end of the year, then the expansion will be released late March.

[Soulshatterd]

they wouldn't let us have too much down time they have made that mistake too many times in the past people get bored and took a break costing them subs. I'd have to agree with normie

[Noomz]

My guess is that they're going to be releasing WoD sometime around June, putting the total time around 9 months.

I'm not saying it to be mean, but there doesn't seem to be much new content coming out that warrants a longer time frame between the announcement today and the release. Models seem to be the hardest thing, but they've been working on them for at least a year already. The zones looked fairly well finished. There are so few dungeons that I can't imagine there's much left to do on them. I just don't see what the heck they could possibly have left to do that this expansion shouldn't be 6 months out tops. I'm very shocked that the beta wasn't announced at Blizzcon.

Frankly, the sooner the better for everyone, but especially for Blizzard. They can't keep taking sub hits like they have been when no good content comes out. In the past two expansions, we've seen two 1 million + sub losses. Another hit like that and I honestly don't think we're going to be getting anywhere near the same quality and quantity of content as we expect.

They said they wanted a Q1 release but weren't sure they could keep such a promise. 4 months, minimum.

[Selah]

We'll be in SoO until 6.0 goes live(not the expansion but the pre-expansion patch) which normally goes live about a month before the expansion, so you're probably looking at a 5 to 8 month wait, depending.

Now everyone keep in mind Blizzard said that they have been working on this expansion for a year already, so it's probably much further along than we think it is.

[Xtacle]

My best guestimate would place it at the end of Summer. I seriously doubt that it would end up like ICC again, they have a lot of team members working on this new expansion and not producing any content in between should allow them to get it done a bit early.

[Razorice]

My best guestimate would place it at the end of Summer.

That would be pretty much one year of SoO then. Blizzard has a bigger team working on WoW and it seems like it's almost Beta-ready. I'd say it will be released March-April

[tangers58]

5.5- Another lie brought to you by Blizzard entertainment

Infracted; Don't troll.

[Ealyssa]

5.5- Another lie brought to you by Blizzard entertainment

Any blue post promising 5.5 to link ??? Because you say shit.

[lopk]

5.5- Another lie brought to you by Blizzard entertainment

It'd only be a lie if they promised there'd be one, and I vividly remember a couple months back saying that there may or may not be a 5.5.

Anyway, I think it's a bit too optimistic to say anything before April. Somewhere between mid-April and early June would be my best, amateur guess.

[YuneKirby]

Keep in mind that this time around they're not wasting as much a resource pool on the development of Titan. So maybe we'll get a shorter dev cycle this time.

[Asinium]

I definitely do not think we should hold our breath...

If they start beta in January, I would say 6 months? So, maybe Juneish?

It's a bit hopeful, (especially with an MMO), but I think a little hope can't hurt.

[Deleted]

December/January Beta --> March/April Retail.

[Spotnick]

The next xpac doesn't have that many content in it compared to MOP where you had tons of new stuff, they already said they wouldn't have all models at launch so that means they won't delay it. So I still have my hopes for April. We'll know for sure when they will announce the beta hopefully soon.

Did the playable alpha at Blizzcon seem advanced to people or not?

[tangers58]

5.5- Another lie brought to you by Blizzard entertainme
Infracted; Don't troll.

Questioning Blizzard's divinity- infracted.

[Deleted]

Wouldn't have thought we would have to wait any longer than April, May LATEST for 6.0 given the ridiculously easy content this tier has provided.

[Normie]

Questioning Blizzard's divinity- infracted.

Nah, trolling, infracted.

You were implying that 5.5 was "promised" and I don't think I ever heard anything beyond "maybe." However it was clear a while ago that anything released before the expansion pre-patch would be minor at best.

Personally I am glad they have been working on new stuff.

- - - Updated - - -

Wouldn't have thought we would have to wait any longer than April, May LATEST for 6.0 given the ridiculously easy content this tier has provided.

According to your sig you've been working on the ridiculously easy content 4x longer than it took the first groups to complete it, and you're still not done. So, I don't know, is it really that easy? Why haven't thousands of guilds cleared T16 HC?

Yes you will run out of stuff to do at the end of the expansion. Then it's time to level alts, professions, farm materials, do achieves, camp pets/mounts/whatever, move on to the PTR and get ready for the next one.