MoP Patch Release Predictions

[vizzle]

In the same way I predicted Cata's timeline and everyone called me crazy, I'm going to take a shot at MoP's first half year or so. Just for fun predictions, and I honestly don't care what they said about what patch 5.1 is, or 5.2, because unless it's confirmed, it's all up in the air. Still wishing for that WotA raid, Path of the Titans, and Wintergrasp flying. If Blizzard said "oh 5.1 will be dungeons, 5.2 will be raids, 5.3 will be dungeons, because we love giving you guys content," I don't care. Because it's not true until you see it in blue.

2013 Q1 - Patch 5.1 - 2-3 5man dungeons will be released. T14 is a giant tier, many more bosses than there usually are. Blizzard will let players play with t14 for a long time because they know they can, so around late February or early march, patch 5.1 will bring new 5 man dungeons.

2013 Q2 - Patch 5.2 - t15 raid. No idea what this will be, but it'll be a raid. Might be Trolls. Less than 10 bosses. Around late May or early June.

After that, it gets hard to guess. I don't want to try to predict Q3 and Q4, but I would say Patch 5.3 will be the t16 raid, and it'll probably be released in late November.

So? Predictions?

Edit: Adding a bit more explanation to my guesses. Blizzard works around their quarterly updates. They always want to look good in the reports, while releasing as little as they can. The expansion will carry Q3. They don't need to release anything before Q4 ends because of the initial burst from the expansion, which will still carry on a bit, even if they lose some. Right before Q1 ends, they will release the 5mans, so those who got tired of the expansion already will resub. Then before the end of Q2, right when people are sick of the giant tier, a new tier will come out.

[chazus]

Blizzard has already stated that they are going to be using a staggered content system.

5.0 = T14
5.1 = Dailies/Content/Non-raid stuff
5.2 = T15
5.3 = Dailies/Content/Non-raid stuff
5.4 = T16
5.5 = Dailies/Content/Non-raid stuff
6.0

[vizzle]

Blizzard has already stated that they are going to be using a staggered content system.

5.0 = T14
5.1 = Dailies/Content/Non-raid stuff
5.2 = T15
5.3 = Dailies/Content/Non-raid stuff
5.4 = T16
5.5 = Dailies/Content/Non-raid stuff
6.0

Won't believe it until I see it. Too many times they've said things that didn't happen.

[Nerraw]

I'm thinking late November for 5.1.

[chazus]

Won't believe it until I see it. Too many times they've said things that didn't happen.

You asked for predictions. I'd say a blue post stating thats their intent is more concrete than a 'prediction'.

Nothing anyone posts here means anything until it happens, if you wanna swing it that way.

[vizzle]

You asked for predictions. I'd say a blue post stating thats their intent is more concrete than a 'prediction'.

Nothing anyone posts here means anything until it happens, if you wanna swing it that way.

I know I asked for predictions. In no way am I saying your posts were useless, I'm just saying my stance on those Blizzard statements (because I have seen them, which is why I added my disclaimer in the OP).

[Softbottom]

If they don't have another raid patch until may/june like you stated above expect a lot of people to quit until that patch lol. The 5.0 raids will last 2-4 months AT BEST. Players consume content much too quickly these days.

[vizzle]

If they don't have another raid patch until may/june like you stated above expect a lot of people to quit until that patch lol. The 5.0 raids will last 2-4 months AT BEST. Players consume content much too quickly these days.

If you think they'll release another tier within 4 months because people consume it that fast, you're kidding yourself. History shows us otherwise. Blizzard knows they can withhold content for several months after we're "done" with it without losing too much. The time between Ulduar and ToC was one of the shortest between a tier (there might be a shorter one, but I know this one was fairly short). Ulduar was released in April, ToC in August. That's 4 months, not including one of the months, 5 inclusive of both. And people complained. People complained that they didn't have enough time to enjoy Ulduar.

Nope, there won't be a tier until Q2, I am 100% positive.

[Halicia]

You asked for predictions. I'd say a blue post stating thats their intent is more concrete than a 'prediction'.

Nothing anyone posts here means anything until it happens, if you wanna swing it that way.

Blizzard has a history of flatout lying about quality, quantity, and timing of content patches when they felt it would help retain customers.

I'm hoping they've provided some funding for content patches this time around, but I'm not holding my breath until I see it actually hit PTR.

[Conscious]

You asked for predictions. I'd say a blue post stating thats their intent is more concrete than a 'prediction'.

Nothing anyone posts here means anything until it happens, if you wanna swing it that way.

Blue posts have stated a lot of things that've never happened.

Concrete is the last thing I would call them.

[Slowpoke is a Gamer]

Q4 2012 - 5.1. New dailies in Karasang, faction bases appear, some Zandalari-related scenarios or heroics.

Late Q1/Early Q2 2013 - 5.2. Zandalari island opens as a daily area, dailies are used to restrict the progress in the new T15 Zandalari raid a'la quel'danas.

[Black Rider]

Raid tiers should last roughly four months, with content updates also coming between the larger raid updates. This could mean we would see a patch every two months or so.
From one of the interviews. So 5.1 november/december date. (minor patch, dungeons, scenarios, bgs dailys and etc) 5.2 raid in Dec/Jan

[the0o]

Q4 2012 - 5.1. New dailies in Karasang, faction bases appear, some Zandalari-related scenarios or heroics.

Late Q1/Early Q2 2013 - 5.2. Zandalari island opens as a daily area, dailies are used to restrict the progress in the new T15 Zandalari raid a'la quel'danas.

notbad.jpg

Add CRZ to it and it will be Isle-of-group-or-get-ganked-every-six-seconds all over again

[Nerraw]

Q4 2012 - 5.1. New dailies in Karasang, faction bases appear, some Zandalari-related scenarios or heroics.

Late Q1/Early Q2 2013 - 5.2. Zandalari island opens as a daily area, dailies are used to restrict the progress in the new T15 Zandalari raid a'la quel'danas.

This actually doesn't seem too unreasonable.