Another "Blizzard art Dev AMA" at 4chan [kek]

[Caerule]

I tend to think this is a "legit" but orchestrated leak, to entertain the public and keep the attention on WoW while distracting us from what could be the real expansion.

They started this "campaign" 3 months before Blizzcon... Meh... I'd say timing is believable for some semi-passive thing for their community team to do.

I have to disagree with you on this one a little. Your theory isn't a bad one. And it would indeed be a useful tool for many reasons for Blizzard to put some fake leaks out there. It would be a great way to test out people's reactions for stuff they may wish to consider for the future, for example.

However, these leaks tend to be much more full of things that people like, than the actual expansion ends up being. And the more leaks are released, the more people latch on to the things they like from them. This creates a lot of false expectations. Subconsciously, people feel they have been promised things, that were never true to begin with.

The consequence is that the main Feature every new WoW expansion brings, is Disappointment, for people in the communities that love to analyse, speculate, and form amazing concepts for future content. No matter how awesome the expansion Blizzard announces, it won't be as awesome as the fictional version of the next expansion people have built up in their head.

That's certainly true for me too. I would love an Old God expansion. I'd love a new World Remake. Guild Halls have always been my dream. And I would be super on board with a faction merge. Thanks to leaks and speculation, every expansion announcement I've gone into has had like 5 features I was hoping to hear, of which Blizzard has always delivered on only 1 or 0. Once almost 2, but they've still not delivered on the further server mergers promised at Blizzcon 2 years ago.

Long story short: I don't think these leaks are planted by Blizzard, because they create expectations that hurt Blizzard.

[Nagawithlegs]

Honestly it sounds like they delayed the Goblin and Worgen heritage because the questline for it is best kept for later. These heritage questlines often integrate with lore. Let's say they decided to have the Worgen begin to reclaim Gilneas and for the Goblins to overthrow Gallywix? Those would be great questlines for earning the heritage. Important racial affairs. And in that case I would agree that 8.3 may be the best time for it.

Though it may just be that they're behind schedule. It bothers me that nothing new for the War Campaign is on the PTR even now. These heritage armor questlines may just be delayed for this reason instead. Maybe they ran out of time. What I really fear is them delaying the War Campaign as well.

More on topic though, it leaves this leak in limbo for longer. While it's not a good look, Blizzard seems responsible for delaying this, while initially planning otherwise.

Hell, if I was a conspiracy theorist, I would even claim that Blizzard delayed this heritage, specifically so this leak won't dull the hype from Blizzcon, where they plan to announce these things. But I'm not.

Most of 8.2.5 is encrypted, so what is or isn't in the patch can't be determined until it ships.

Considering every single patch has had more of the war campaign, AND they just happened to make this patch the first one that's nigh-unencryptable, it'll have something.

[Gyrotex]

Long story short: I don't think these leaks are planted by Blizzard, because they create expectations that hurt Blizzard.

Not to argue but to support a good discussion:

I think it's a "lesser evil" type of approach (could be anyway, as I'm not 100% convinced myself).

I.e. they think that the whole hurting themselves with setting false expectations is insignificant compared to the smoke and mirrors and overall crowd distraction effect they've caused, that allowed them to conceal the real thing and then - BOOM! - reveal it to a greater (and presumably positive) reception.

And no, I can't say that this tactic worked with BfA. While people were peeing themselves I was like "omg please no".

[PelinalWhitestrake]

i still find it interesting that all of 8.2.5 war campaign questline is locked behind a super duper cryptography

[Doffen]

Something big is coming. I also think that the Heritage for Worgen and Goblin are delayed for lore reason. Been saying Gilneas City will be used in the next expansion, what's better than having the Worgens retake Gilneas City in their Heritage Questline.

[Revamp Man]

I prefer the "dragons" leak

[Vasoka]

i still find it interesting that all of 8.2.5 war campaign questline is locked behind a super duper cryptography

What gave you the idea that the encrypted stuff is the war campaign, exactly?

[Hitei]

What gave you the idea that the encrypted stuff is the war campaign, exactly?

Because the war campaign isn't in the unencrypted stuff but there are references to it in the builds, and they generally only encrypt important story things.

[Al Gorefiend]

This is the leak I’d want imo

[Teriz]

Something big is coming. I also think that the Heritage for Worgen and Goblin are delayed for lore reason. Been saying Gilneas City will be used in the next expansion, what's better than having the Worgens retake Gilneas City in their Heritage Questline.

Worgens retake Gilneas, Goblins retake Kezan and depose Gallywix.

[PelinalWhitestrake]

I think we can rule out this leak too

[Hellspawn]

I think we can rule out this leak too

Why now more then before? it already got the heritage armor wrong... the only thing that is wrong now is that the Sylvanas parts are listed in 8.3 while Sylvanas did not attack yet but from the text we have... she probably will still do that.

[stephagoras]

Well it was right about the date of 8.2.5

[PelinalWhitestrake]

Why now more then before? it already got the heritage armor wrong... the only thing that is wrong now is that the Sylvanas parts are listed in 8.3 while Sylvanas did not attack yet but from the text we have... she probably will still do that.

We also got the idea that tyrande isn't listening to Anduin or the alliance anymore, she is consumed by vengeance.

and since the Night Warrior shenanigans seems too void.

[Fahrenheit]

This one seems more plausible than most.

[Voidism]

If anything, this is the most probable leak so far.

[Nathanyel]

*OP himself dismisses the leak after 8.2.5 revelations, but in doing so necroes the thread*

Random posters not bothering to check at least the most recent page: yeah this sounds pretty legit.

[Jalham]

Seems this leak is legit ??

[Nellyel]

8.3 spot on

[FlubberPuddy]

8.3 spot on

8.2.5 fake as fuck.