Guessing the new Shadowlands release date

[DechCJC]

My guess is December 1st, no real reason, just a guess.

I hope it's not too soon. Partially because I want it to be ready, partially because there's basically 0% chance I'll be able to take leave again so soon after the last. Lol.

[Hinastorm]

Dec. 1st seems to be the best combination of avoiding other large releases, not releasing right before a major holiday, giving themselves more than a couple extra weeks to improve things, and not having the raid open right in the middle of a major holiday.

I'd bet money on Dec. 1st.

UNLESS they're willing to deviate from the "raid opens 2 weeks after launch" formula. Then that throws everything into wack.

[Spike`]

if they announced around 1 month before the release the delay is because they fell that they need at least 1 more month, if it were mere 2 weeks or even 3 they would probably said so instead leaving the date to guess

so around early December

[Nyel]

Hoping December 1st as that gives us a bit to play Cyberpunk before Shadowlands comes out. I'd say most likely window is Dec 1st to Dec 22.

This. There are so many points that make a November release super unlikely. November was my go to guess since the announcement last year, but early to mid December with Castle Nathria / Season 1 starting mid January makes more sense now.

[Malefic]

December 8th, raid opens on January 5th.

I said this prior to the expansion release date announcement and I still stand by it.

It's a timeline that works for Blizzard (falls within their Q4 projections, before Christmas), and works for players (No raiding conflicting with holiday based commitments).

[Amsden]

Honestly I would be cool with late Jan/early Feb. Several games coming out in Nov/Dec that I want to play. Also gives me time to build up a few days of leave since the two weeks off I took for the original launch is too late to cancel.

[Spiritguide]

I ll go with the 17th though I feel it may be the 24th I ll go with the 6 week pre patch

[Hobbidaggy]

There's a major holiday around November 24th? Oh, damn... Thanksgiving My bad. Then I guess I'll go with December 1st.

P.S. The poll is up.

- - - Updated - - -


If you don't want to guess then don't, I think it's fun and if there are others who think like me, just let us have our fun.

Wish we could change vote lol

Didn’t realise thanksgiving was there. We don’t have that here in Aus

[Sarethion]

Wish we could change vote lol

Didn’t realise thanksgiving was there. We don’t have that here in Aus

We don't have it in EU either Anyway, if there was an option to enable changing votes, I must have missed it. If so, I'm sorry.

Just in case, I've added a capitalized warning in the OP - I don't think it will help much, but maybe someone will see it before voting

[Amsden]

Dec. 1st seems to be the best combination of avoiding other large releases, not releasing right before a major holiday, giving themselves more than a couple extra weeks to improve things, and not having the raid open right in the middle of a major holiday.

I'd bet money on Dec. 1st.

UNLESS they're willing to deviate from the "raid opens 2 weeks after launch" formula. Then that throws everything into wack.

We can probably throw precedent out the window at this point.

[Onikaroshi]

Dec. 1st seems to be the best combination of avoiding other large releases, not releasing right before a major holiday, giving themselves more than a couple extra weeks to improve things, and not having the raid open right in the middle of a major holiday.

I'd bet money on Dec. 1st.

UNLESS they're willing to deviate from the "raid opens 2 weeks after launch" formula. Then that throws everything into wack.

Raids opening 2 weeks after launch would litterally put mythic progress in the middle of the holidays if they released the 1st

[newt0n]

December 8th is my guess. Why? Holidays. They don't have to just plan around release, they have to consider the first raid launch date as well. December 8th gives people 2+ weeks to enjoy the game before the holidays hit and then they can push the raid release to 4 weeks (back from 2) and release it after the holidays.

[Feral Druid ist Op]

it has to be november with raids on start of december

[newt0n]

December 8th, raid opens on January 5th.

I said this prior to the expansion release date announcement and I still stand by it.

It's a timeline that works for Blizzard (falls within their Q4 projections, before Christmas), and works for players (No raiding conflicting with holiday based commitments).

I agree whole heartedly. It's the only date that makes sense to me when considering all the different things they have to think about. You don't want holidays to interfere with world first race, at least I'm pretty sure they dont

- - - Updated - - -

it has to be november with raids on start of december

Why not Def 8th with raids the first week in Jan?

[Villager720]

12/8 is my guess.

I just don’t think they’d delay it by only 2 or 3 weeks, and 4-5 puts us in the Thanksgiving space. December 8th gives people a month or so to play and see all the things before raids in Jan.

[Nyel]

A raid release shortly before Christmas makes not much sense imho. I remember how they did this with Highmaul and how it killed my guild back then because everybody was burned out and wasn’t interested in Highmaul progress anymore after holidays (we got the heroic clear shortly before Christmas and wanted to progress Mythic after that, but plenty of people just quit). They either need to give raids plenty of time before the holidays (at least 4 weeks which sounds impossible with the new schedule) or delay it until January, which would be a better decision, as there is no need to rush.

[Malefic]

We can probably throw precedent out the window at this point.

That isn't really precedent though - look at Antorus.

It's actually only really something they publicly stated they'd do for 8.3, not releasing the patch/raid until after the holidays. That, with them for the first time seemingly delaying an expansion when everyone is telling them it's not ready might be indication that actually they're now going to be more considerate of these kind of things.

[Phaelia]

November 17th is my guess. That gives roughly a month of prepatch, and let’s face it if they delay it any further they’re shooting themselves in the foot

[Nnyco]

My money is on 24th nov/1st dec. Voted for 1st december since that seems more plausible to me.

[Onikaroshi]

My money is on 24th nov/1st dec. Voted for 1st december since that seems more plausible to me.

24th is a major American holiday week, it's not really on the table.