New date may not be til spring...

[loras]

With no new date yet given, i would think november is out the window and december unlikely due to the holidays.

Sure they could do jan but i doubt it since i feel like a lot is being redisgned that spring is looking more then likely

They'd miss the entire re-lockdowning of Europe at this rate, i figure they might try december for a change just for that. After all lockdowns and videogames go together like chemotherapy and hair loss.

[Sanguinerd]

They could release it a week from now and announce it today if they wanted to.

We don't need to hear months in advance.

[rrayy]

it will release between Naxx and BC. So when is naxx/classic supposed to be completed? 2020 might be out the window.

These are irrelevant to the expansion release. The expansion is higher priority.

[Collected]

They could release it a week from now and announce it today if they wanted to.

We don't need to hear months in advance.

Technically they could but they are fully aware that their player base likes to take time off work to play expansions. They're not going to deny people the opportunity to book that time off.

And in reply to the OP..

Cataclysm. Release Date: December 7, 2010.

[Velerios]

I'd assume a late November or very early December launch. That way the devs can iron out any kinks before the vacation during the latter half of December for the holidays. If not then, well, probably early next year.

Together with the launch of Cyberpunk 2077? Absolutely not.

[rrayy]

Banned or Not this is a fact. That 6 month sub is a desperation play, it tells you- weather or not you choose to believe it- that blizz are up shit creek with this

You are aware they have been doing the 6 month sub offer every 6 months since then end of Legion right? It is not a desperation play. It has been the mode of operation now for over 2 years.

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Together with the launch of Cyberpunk 2077? Absolutely not.

Why? Blizzard can release their game when ever they want. Nowhere doies it state that onyl CyberPunk is the only one who can release then. A December launch is very plausible and highly likely.

[Huzzaa]

My guess is December as well. And the tier unlock at the start of January after the end of the festivities.

[Yorimar]

when Blizzard is on vacation.

while i agree with most of what you said, lets not forget they are now working from home. yes, they are entitled to get some days off, but with the current pandemic, i highly doubt they can go places

[LanToaster]

There's a difference between "we can't make the announced release date, we'll let you know the new date in a month or two" and complete radio silence about release for the better part of a decade, especially since the scope of Star Citizen kept getting bigger, pushing release ever further away.

Sure, some people can deal with with the difference, but for the vocal Majority thats not the case.
Especially, in StarCitizen for example was never "Radio Silence", there is a constant flow of Information of whats beeing done, and how they want to move forward. Its just that the Vocal Majority doesnt see that, or doesnt care enough to see the bigger Picture.

I can understand that developers, facing such a large (and Vocal) community like this, only say the absolute neccessary. As each and every word and action is going to be ripped to shreds, without any rational thought about it at all.

[Thunderball]

Sure, some people can deal with with the difference, but for the vocal Majority thats not the case.
Especially, in StarCitizen for example was never "Radio Silence", there is a constant flow of Information of whats beeing done, and how they want to move forward. Its just that the Vocal Majority doesnt see that, or doesnt care enough to see the bigger Picture.

Ofc they're gonna blabber off about it, they want people to donate more money. And that song is never gonna stop.

OT: I thought everyone was happy that they're delaying it, what happened with that?

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Why? Blizzard can release their game when ever they want. Nowhere doies it state that onyl CyberPunk is the only one who can release then. A December launch is very plausible and highly likely.

And stupid. Considering how much Blizzard likes their money these days I wouldnt count on it.

[lyphe]

With no new date yet given, i would think november is out the window and december unlikely due to the holidays.

Sure they could do jan but i doubt it since i feel like a lot is being redisgned that spring is looking more then likely

I feel like it will be December.

Although a Spring release is possible, it is unlikely for a corporation like Blizzard to delay something like an expansion twice, as the optics are just too negative. Delay once and you can frame it as ensuring quality control. Delay it a second time however, and it just looks like you are incompetent in managing timelines and development. And the reason I refer to a 2021 release as a second delay, is because they reaffirmed a 2020 release when they pushed back the Oct 26 date ... so not shipping in 2020 would constitute another of their own missed deadlines.

If I were a betting man, I'd bet December 1st as most likely, with an outside chance of November 24.

[Dystemper]

Correct. Even if it's not ready they won't release it 2021 if only to avoid the bad PR that would carry delaying things twice. There was enough uproar the first time and they even had to proactively offer refunds.

I'm sure before they announced the delay, several marketing and risk management people (if thats a thing) went carefully over the wording. If they said theyre still on track for 2020, I'll trust them if only because another delay would be an even bigger mess they certainly don't want to be in.

They would rather face some bad PR for another Delay then release another expansion riddled with problems and poor quality and have it received like BFA was. They simply can not afford another BFA. They have to release SL when the quality is Better. not before to meet a deadline . Investors will have Blizzard execs heads if they do this .

[Odintdk]

The more Shadowlands is delayed the better for me, I've been enjoying many other great games in the meantime and like my break away from WoW. I don't honestly understand the people that would only want to play one single game throughout the year, but ohwell.

[Kixxenn]

I wouldn't be unhappy if they made us wait until next year. From my understanding they need to release it in 2020.

Maybe since they are offering refunds. That might potentially make the original release date irrelevant? I'm not entirely sure..

[Novaice]

Most likely release date is December 8th.

or the 15th, It'll be the same date FFXIV releases their next patch (5.4).

[baskev]

With no new date yet given, i would think november is out the window and december unlikely due to the holidays.

Sure they could do jan but i doubt it since i feel like a lot is being redisgned that spring is looking more then likely

Pre patch needs to be out 2 or 3 weeks before launch. You do want the raids/launch during christmas. So either half november pre patch, launch early ( week 1) december. Raids after christmas.

Or indeed it might be longer. But do not know what people thinks need to be fixed ( if its a lot of work).


But if they smart they push it to 2021. November will have cyberpunk, watch dogs londen, assasins creed vikings and 2 new console's.
So if i was them, push it into 2021.

With the recent new 6 month promo scam wouldn't be surprised if it is spring.

.......do not want a infraction.......sigh.........

[keldarepewpew]

Cute PR statement. WoD and BfA begs to differ.

Release when its ready, not before.

[Dystemper]

Legally obliged to release it this year, they also stated it's still coming this year. Cataclysm came out in December. It's going to be early December and raid opens after holidays.

They are not legally obliged. Having a release date and missing it is not legally binding .

[Weeps]

Which is supported by exactly silch from the quarterly reports spanning the expansion's timeframe.

The franchise is in trouble the same way it's been dead for the past 15 years according to MMO-C.

You’re the biggest BFA white Knight. You’ve got to be kidding me if you don’t see any decline in gaming population since BfA started.

Also those quarterly reports cover other games. Which are carrying wow. During BFA.

CoD 125 million mau.
King 271 million mau.
Blizzard (wow and hearthstone combined) 32 million mau.

Yeah you’re wrong.

[Doffen]

I have a gut feeling we will get a dev update today before the weekend. At least within tuesday.