It's probably more correct to call it "datamined" info than leaked information, as no one leaked the trademark info, it was datamined - and the person who datamined it was not under a non-disclosure agreement which a leak implies. The retail box on the other hand was a leak.
In early August 2011 Mists of Pandaria was trademarked and in late October it was confirmed to be the new expansion at Blizzcon.
So i guess the trademark of the next expansion will surface in early August this year since this years Blizzcon is in early November.
And of course there will be idiots that will yell that the trademark is not about the next expansion of WoW.
They've gotten much better at lying to their customers, if that's what you mean by, "better at covering their tracks". The trademark has to be public, and Blizz is popular enough that it is going to get data-mined. There are any number of ways Blizzard could have chosen to handle it, but instead they chose to act like a little kid who broke the cookie jar while stealing cookies. "I didn't break it, it fell and the floor broke it."
Predicting the next one is a little cloudier than in the past. On the one hand Blizzard has said that content and expansions are going to be pushed out faster, and we're already almost on 5.3. So it's pretty difficult to imagine the same expansion time cycle to continue where we wouldn't see the next one until late 2014. But I agree it's unlikely that we'll hear more than a trademarked name release or web name reservation before Blizzcon. If that holds true as expected, and we get a sneak preview at Blizzcon, we could figure open beta starts 6 months later, 4-5 months of open beta, then it's back to around late 2014 for a release time. However, even with a little more content coming from 5.3 and 5.4 I really can't imagine going 18 more months before the next expansion.
An incredibly hostile reaction to a company merely tempering speculation until the official announcement of their next product. Sheesh. He was just trying to preserve the surprise until it was officially announced; you act like he personally slapped the mother of every active WoW subscriber.
It feels too soon imo. MoP is still pretty fresh. I'd expect something around the 3rd tier.
They said they can release new content faster now, and 5.3 is almost here and brings no new content, except a few dailies. 5.4 will most likely come soon after and it may be the last content patch, unless 5.5 will come too and offer a new raid so people don't have to raid Orgrimmar 6 months, similar to Ruby Sanctum. Late 2014 release is EXTREMELY unlikely. Early 2014 release would make more sense, though it would be TOO SOON after Blizzcon (assuming it gets announced there) if you like to follow their patterns.
5.3 doesnt have any dailies, it involves a new storyline and a series of new stuff, specially for pvp. Also Im goin to agree with some ppl, usually trademakers are 2 to 3 months before the actual event. This doesnt mean its goin to be the case, but its our best bet, cant really quote anyone on it because the speed in which this expac is flowing is pretty smooth/fast.
@Cows For Life
No, not that thing. This was some deal that listed actual expansions and was hilariously changed after the fact to fit in with new realities. There are some links to it earlier in the thread. It was over on the Allakhazam site.
Obligatory wish for Blizzard, when they go to trademark the next expansion, to trademark half a dozen names both possible and ridiculous to troll everyone. Would go far to make up for the <satire> lacklustre slap-in-the-face </satire> effort on the first of April this year. Go ahead. Trademark "Emerald Dream", "Gators of Un'Goro" and other things. Will be fun to watch.
More seriously, I agree with most everyone else: still very early and much earlier than usual. With Blizzcon in late fall this year it could be September or later. Unless it isn't and they pull the trigger early. Which is possible. Just because they've never done it doesn't mean they never will.
Last edited by MoanaLisa; 2013-05-02 at 05:52 AM.
"...money's most powerful ability is to allow bad people to continue doing bad things at the expense of those who don't have it."
Yeah I agree completely, it would be cool if they can trademark a few names, just to stir theories and discussion. :P
Gators of Un'Goro would be awesome.
"...money's most powerful ability is to allow bad people to continue doing bad things at the expense of those who don't have it."
Generally, they wait until pretty close to announcement before they register the trademarks for an expansion.
when all else fails, read the STICKIES.
I thought that a moderator would know better.
in fact mop was leaked in 2011 on this forum, yes on mmo-champion i can't find the topic because it was deleted most likely but here's the proof
http://us.battle.net/wow/en/forum/topic/3341758764 posted on: 10/13/2011