Shadowlands Arrives November 23rd (NA) / 24th (EU)

[Kaneiac]

You don't make excuses to avoid family man. This is like the one holiday moms everywhere actually give a fuck about.

This is absolutely boneheaded by blizzard

If you actually care about your family, and not potentially killing grandma or your mom, this is a good reason. Anyone who's not a science denier should (regretfully) stay home.

[TheRevenantHero]

Covid is already nuking large Thanksgiving events from orbit, or at least it should for anyone with half a braincell. The rest of the world doesn't celebrate it. Trust me, that does not translate into so many lost sales at all, especially since this is an MMO and most players can handle missing out a few days. It'll mean fewer players come launch maybe- hardly dramatic.

This is the USA we're talking about, where people are claiming wearing a mask inhibits their freedom as an American.

[Zenfoldor]

Whoa, I'll be the first to admit, I guessed wrong on this one. My feeling was next year, but I never thought we'd get it before December. Very nice.

[McNeil]

So it was just a month delay? If the game was released this week it would have been a massive shitshow, this sounds worrysome that I should expect them to fix this many issues in just a month time. At least its not to close to being released with AC: Valhalla and Cyberpunk 2077.

Still, I'll be glad to finally leave BFA behind.

[Pebrocks The Warlock]

Is blizzard fucking retarded? Over thanksgiving? what the actual fuck

I don't think Blizzard cares about your first-world problems.

[Kumorii]

"Sweden" has pretty much lifted most restrictions at this point, and we never had any "You must wear mask always" rules at any point during the pandemic.

Tho i share your opinion that any sort of gathering is stupid af.. Most other people have just stopped caring about it at this point, even during the middle of sthe summer, there were people EVERY WHERE and in big groups.. I Live at a somewhat tourist place tho, so in the summer i was in the middle of the most surge of people.

They just strung up restrictions and precaution to highest degree yet today. Ofc everything is just recommendation so people do what they want.

[prwraith]

If you actually care about your family, and not potentially killing grandma or your mom, this is a good reason. Anyone who's not a science denier should (regretfully) stay home.

Why are you trying so hard to justify this decision by blizzard? It's objectively a bad idea

[Raetary]

You don't make excuses to avoid family man.

Idk dude, pretty sure that "i don't want me or family members to get hospitalized and/or die" is a pretty valid 'excuse'.

[Jastall]

This is the USA we're talking about, where people are claiming wearing a mask inhibits their freedom as an American.

Let the idiots catch it, they're still a minority even in America. Point is, the number and scale of gatherings will be much reduced in the first place, so only a fairly small portion of the total playerbase will be affected. I doubt many people who pre-ordered the expansion will suddenly change their minds because of this, and will miss out on maybe 1-2 days of play. They'll survive.

Whenever the devs will be is another question, but I mean they're stuck home anyway. But Castle Nathria on the 8th? Means Mythic on the 15th? Now that's one way to make the race more, ahem, interesting.

[Darknessvamp]

Americans celebrate thanksgiving. The rest of the world doesn't. Maybe they remembered that WoW isn't US only?

I'm sure they're quite aware that the rest of the world doesn't, just as an American company they're aware people in their company would have booked time off for thanksgiving significantly reducing the number of people available to handle any launch mishaps. It's the same as when they release raids before Christmas and they end up having a skeleton crew working on patches and balance that don't come out properly till January when most people return to work.

[prwraith]

Idk dude, pretty sure that "i don't want me or family members to get hospitalized and/or die" is a pretty valid 'excuse'.

Man the blizzard brigade is out in full. Defending a bad decision under the guise of "it's in your best interests" cuz fuck christmas as well during world first race. right?

[Leyre]

Only 2 weeks for the scourge invasion its fucking bullshit

[Kaneiac]

Why are you trying so hard to justify this decision by blizzard? It's objectively a bad idea

I'm not justifying at all. I'm just saying that at least for release, you already had a pretty solid reason to not visit family if you have half a brain cell.

No excuse for the raid schedule to be in on Christmas though. That's really boneheaded and they should've moved it to January.

[rrayy]

The devs have to be pissed. The Monday before a major US holiday? Once that actually centers around family gatherings? Ouch

You are aware that the devs were a part of this decision, right?

[oldgeezer]

I'd like more time for pre-expansion event. Waiting another couple of weeks for it, then only having a couple of weeks to run everyone through it seems...odd.

[rrayy]

Only 2 weeks for the scourge invasion its fucking bullshit

Uhh, 2 weeks was all it was going to be from the beginning.

- - - Updated - - -

I'd like more time for pre-expansion event. Waiting another couple of weeks for it, then only having a couple of weeks to run everyone through it seems...odd.

It was only going to be two weeks long. Nothing odd about it at all.

[erifwodahs]

Lol US players thinking that for some reason one countries national Holiday should be the reason to delay expansion.
Only devs on holiday should be the reason, not some countries holiday otherwise games would never release.

[Edlarel]

Whenever the devs will be is another question, but I mean they're stuck home anyway. But Castle Nathria on the 8th? Means Mythic on the 15th? Now that's one way to make the race more, ahem, interesting.

IIRC Nathria is this expansion's Emerald Nightmare. I expect the mythic race will be a grand total of 1 week, if that, as a result. I will be surprised if it spills over to Christmas week.

[rrayy]

So they went for a four week delay in the end? Seems a little short and the date is an odd one to choose with Thanksgiving, Black Friday and such. So either they're hoping Thanksgiving in some way gives them some reduction on the amount of people playing if something goes bad at launch or they are damn sure this is going to be a step up from the pre-patch and prior expansion launches. I'm doubtful though.

Due to the pandemic, Black Friday won''t be the major even it normally. All the major retailers are treating it as a normal day as they aren't opening early and everyone is actually going to be closed on Thanksgiving.

[Argorwal]

I love how surprised people are on the date.

It’s literally the base game launch anniversary in the US (11/23/2004).

3 other expansions, Wrath, Cata, and WoD all launched in Nov/Dec.