Originally Posted by
Shadowlands-is-fake
Keep in mind that if, indeed, there is a Patch 8.3 on the horizon, then it won't be like 6.2 or 7.3.
Every expansion typically has one major patch featuring a bunch of new landmasses, a large raid, new systems and so on. That has been the trend for nearly a decade now. In WoD, it was the final major patch (6.2) with Tanaan Jungle. In Legion, it was the final major patch (7.3) with Argus. In BfA, it was in 8.2.
Also remember that 8.2 was released roughly at the some point in the expansion's life cycle that 6.2 and 7.3 were. That's because it makes most sense to release that type of large content (new zones, systems, etc.) in the middle of the expansion, where it both invigorates the expansion that has been out for about a year at that point, but also serves to give that new content some room to breathe before the next expansion hits. That's how Blizzard can maximize profitability and ensure their development is done efficiently.
In short, we get new landmasses about once a year, either with a new expansion release, or with a major patch.
So with that said, 8.3 would be a different kind of patch (if it exists). We might see re-used landmasses in the form of Elwynn forest, Durotar, The Barrens, Stormwind and so on, which fits with the whole "assault on Stormwind" and "Barrens Warfront" theory floating around.
Think of it as Blizzard swapping places on patch 7.2 and 7.3. If you recall, 7.3 brought the Broken Shore which was just a rehashed boring landmass from the launch of the expansion, and they used it with repeatable content (grind) to effectively serve as padding while they kept developing 7.3. I guess this time around, they decided it was more sensible to give us the new landmasses first and the grind later.
If 8.3 is happening, I predict a January release, and that it'll continue using the gameplay features already established in BfA. Perhaps a Warfront, maybe a couple of new Allied Races and some Heritage Armour, and an escalation of the story that bridges the expansion to the next one. We might get a small raid and/or a dungeon, but I think it's pretty unlikely we'll see a fully-fledged raid tier. It just seems like a waste of resources given how 9.0 will just be a few months away when 8.3 would hit live servers. I suppose I could maybe see them doing a raid tier if they only re-used assets, including the location. That could fit with a raid on Thunder Bluff and Stormwind.
I'll add that there is one small chance for old zones to be revamped in such a patch, because that's where they are headed anyhow. So they could enhance Elwynn and the Barrens, for example.