Expect a late september to early October. The Prelude of Mists of Pandaria "Jaina Proudmoore-Tides of War" will be release on August 28. That date is most likely when the ingame events start to take place when we have the transition period. In Cataclysm we also had a book "The shattering" which preluded into the Cataclysm. The book was released on August 31, 2010 while the game released on Dec 7, 2010. If this is true, which seems to be since the book has to be released before the expansion, we'll be looking at an expected expansion release of September/October. Summer releases never sell well too.
A whole bunch of people in MMO-C have been suggesting that the game would release on July/August, which is not too far off, but they still have nothing to back up unless you count faith. See you in Pandaria September/October!!!
EDIT#1: No, guys. I am not talking about Twilight of the Aspects which was released WAY later into the expansion. I am talking about, if you read the whole post, THE SHATTERING.
EDIT#2:
The Book is NOT the ONLY reason that they would delay/wait for release. It's a series of things, book is an addition.
The book has to be released first for the story to begin. They need that few hundreds of thousands of people reading thast book to know what's going on with the story because, sincerely, most of it is not in the quest lines. At the end of the day it's all speculation but it's backed up by something. I don't mind people coming with good info agaisnt me, but people who are like NO, NO! it's summer! summmmmeeeerrrr! you just seem like your whinning desperately for something just because you want it.
Like many stated- release dates are said at least 8 weeks prior. July is out.
School starting on end of August- Do you really think parents will let their kids buy games instead of school supplies? get real. Most of WoW is made up of kids who play with their parents money.
Mid September to late september carrying into early august are the best time frames they have unless they decide to wait for November for a good sale(last I heard Cata sold ALOT of more than any other expansion).
No matter what Blizzard said about pushing things out faster than before, or game being ready earlier- they will always cater to the best time to sell. Blizzard is ran by money nowdays, like everything and you cannot blame them, so they will break their promises like they have MANY times before.
EDIT#3:
Is it just me or september date is each day more promising? The leaked box just recent. The raiding content to test mechanics has just started and honestly cannot see them wasting more than 1 month and a half to test it. The renewed quest flow for Jade area(first area you get in Pandaria). PTR updated to 5.0.1. Expect PTR to go up in the coming weeks(transitioning PTR's last about 1 month before being put into live servers) Also The transition period used to last 1 month in wow live before the new xpac, Blizzard has said that the transition period will be 2 weeks! Let's not forget that Beta can last up til the day before the release of MoP. The brewfest items updated for iLevel 470. Blizzard targets a month in which they'd like to release and I am 100% sure they were aiming for september.
EDIT#4:
Guess what? Tides of War( the new novel that will set up MOP) wil be releasing in AUGUST, same time the MOP cinematic is supposed to be revealed. What does this all mean? September as I said or early October at the latest. October seems likely because it usually takes a month and some weeks after the cinematic launch for the expansion to go live. This cinematic launch will be August 16.
http://blue.mmo-champion.com/topic/2...ristie-golden/
http://blue.mmo-champion.com/topic/2...gamescom-2012/
EDIT#5:
....Does anything else have to be announced to confirm september release, or even earlier, a late august to coincide with GW2? I am being optimistic that it will come out in sept. 4th. realistically mid sept. Announcing PTR for "soon" help anyone realize it yet?
http://blue.mmo-champion.com/topic/2...-pandaria-bet/
EDIT#6:
RELEASE DATE SEPTEMBER 25 - date after my sister's birthday- might get her a copy Just like I guess mid to late september. See you again next xpac speculation ^^
http://blue.mmo-champion.com/topic/2...nches-sept-25/
Might I add...earlier than most expected? Most people leaned towards October