9.X Patches & 10.0 Speculation Thread

[Chickat]

I'm guessing Working at Home hinders how much they can get done.

Yeah this is unfortunate. Shadowlands could have been great, but its being ruined by Covid. Either we have long waits for patches, or they scrap a tier and we get another WoD. Not looking good.

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I really don't think it's that far off base. It was light on the in-game screenshots but it had the information on what we're getting. We're just not getting anything. It's the Maw Rework they said they were delaying SL for then never actually did, it's flying, it's cosmetics, and it's a raid. That's your 9.1, enjoy it.

Its actually rather big. Its bigger than 7.1 or 8.1. Its a .2 sized patch. Maybe they went too ambitious? Maybe its covid. They are just really behind on development. 9.0.5 makes sense now. If 9.1 was going to be ready by April or even early May all of its stuff would be in 9.1. 0.5 was the writing on the wall for them being behind.

We have no idea how big the new zone is. Is it going to be good? Its going to at least be Mechagon or Timeless Isle level while making the Maw "hopefully" good.
Torghast updates.
Systems updates.
New megadungeon which will be 2 new mythic+ dungeons later.
New 10 boss raid after another 10 boss raid. 2 large raids in a row.
New covenant campaign quests.

It honestly could be as big or bigger than 7.2. Its certainly bigger than 7.1 or 8.1.

[Dracullus]

Not really?

They always showcase at least a little bit of the new zone/dungeon/raid/system updates, this time we got nothing but a replay of the cinematic trailer.
Ion shut down any talk regarding gameplay systems pretty much immediately, and the rest of the panel was just muffin man going "Look at this mount! LOOK. AT. IT!"

Compared to previous patch announcements, this is quite lacking.

8.2 reveal was very similar, there was no talk about essences and systems details. No wonder, these things can be controversial, showing new content and rewards isn't. And they talked only about 9.1, not even about 9.1.5.

Time will tell. Let's judge from PTR - when it will start and what will be done in first builds.

[Slowpoke is a Gamer]

8.2 reveal was very similar, there was no talk about essences and systems details. No wonder, these things can be controversial, showing new content and rewards isn't. And they talked only about 9.1, not even about 9.1.5.

Time will tell. Let's judge from PTR - when it will start and what will be done in first builds.

Yeah when and how big the first PTR build is will tell us far more about where we're at timeline wise than this preview.

[Chickat]

8.2 reveal was very similar, there was no talk about essences and systems details. No wonder, these things can be controversial, showing new content and rewards isn't. And they talked only about 9.1, not even about 9.1.5.

Time will tell. Let's judge from PTR - when it will start and what will be done in first builds.

I hope they prove me wrong. If the ptr launches before late April I will be shocked.

[Nagawithlegs]

Nah 10.0 is the Turalyon, Y'rel, and Light expansion at this point.

Cata 2 is looking like it'll juggle Light, Void AND Dragons all at the same time.

Absolutely possible if they are spread throughout revamped questlines in both continents (especially when Kalimdor is more Void and EK is more Light) as well as Dragon Isles for new areas.

[Tiradon]

I am worried that this is looking like Summer patch at this point.

Sounds like 9.0.5 will be coming to stay for a while

[Slowpoke is a Gamer]

Cata 2 is looking like it'll juggle Light, Void AND Dragons all at the same time.

Absolutely possible if they are spread throughout revamped questlines in both continents (especially when Kalimdor is more Void and EK is more Light) as well as Dragon Isles for new areas.

Bold of you to epect a revamp. Or Void and Dragons.

I think it'll be just Light shoved into some random island.

[Nagawithlegs]

Bold of you to epect a revamp. Or Void and Dragons.

I think it'll be just Light shoved into some random island.

I mean I hope you don't think they namedropped the Dragon Isles for cut content and then remodeled the Infinite Dragon for a pirate joke.

[Slowpoke is a Gamer]

I mean I hope you don't think they namedropped the Dragon Isles for cut content and then remodeled the Infinite Dragon for a pirate joke.

Look after that cinematic I'm going to expect only disappointment and bad writing. Though maybe they shove light onto Dragon Isles. No revamp though.

[Dracullus]

Some new info from interviews:

- 9.1 won't have new systems, just extension of existing ones
- flying will be for completing campaign, so probably it will be just timegate
- there will be some partial rewards when you fail Thorghast
- "Korthia is part of the Maw. The Maw will have a new subzone unlocked with 9.1 in addition to Korthia" - not sure if it's bad English, but this suggest Maw will have another subzone, which I doubt
- patch 9.1 will add ways to counter the Eye of the Jailer in the Maw and Korthia
- last 3 bosses of dungeon are "interdimensional chase scene", pirate dragon is from Boralus
- main story will be heavy and dark (bolm claim blizz), dungeon story light to contrast (so something like Mechagon)

So far 9.1 is almost 1:1 of what I predicted, only change is Broker dungeon (I thought megadungeon will be Kel'Thuzad, he turn out as one of raid bosses). Also I hoped we go back to Legion structure, doesn't look that way.

[Sondrelk]

Having thought about it, I do feel that what these panels lacked really was info on 9.2.
My guess is that they didnt want to show it because it will spoil the ending of 9.1, but it does make the lack of stuff to talk about for 9.1 more obvious.

[Pheraz]

Some new info from interviews:

- 9.1 won't have new systems, just extension of existing ones
- flying will be for completing campaign, so probably it will be just timegate
- there will be some partial rewards when you fail Thorghast
- "Korthia is part of the Maw. The Maw will have a new subzone unlocked with 9.1 in addition to Korthia" - not sure if it's bad English, but this suggest Maw will have another subzone, which I doubt
- patch 9.1 will add ways to counter the Eye of the Jailer in the Maw and Korthia
- last 3 bosses of dungeon are "interdimensional chase scene", pirate dragon is from Boralus
- main story will be heavy and dark (bolm claim blizz), dungeon story light to contrast (so something like Mechagon)

So far 9.1 is almost 1:1 of what I predicted, only change is Broker dungeon (I thought megadungeon will be Kel'Thuzad, he turn out as one of raid bosses). Also I hoped we go back to Legion structure, doesn't look that way.

Thanks!

Anything about Tyrande ?

[Gifdwarf]

Having thought about it, I do feel that what these panels lacked really was info on 9.2.
My guess is that they didnt want to show it because it will spoil the ending of 9.1, but it does make the lack of stuff to talk about for 9.1 more obvious.

I actually think SL is going to be longer than any other expansion for sure now, the lack of 9.2 hinting and covid stuff will probably make patches last longer, and I am honestly okay with it. We will probably only get 9.1 this year.

[Makabreska]

You know, I'd be fine if Blizz just stopped producing mounts and just gave players more transmog gear.

Like those cov cosmetic sets they just shown? :v

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Damn Towelliee went hard on Blizzard after that panel. Said 9.1 is probably summer and 9.2 might be next year, with Shadowlands being a three year expansion.

He's optimistic on the three year expansion, though. If that timeline is legit it's just gonna end in 9.2.

Nice take. And he based that on what, because that sounds like a random MMO-C user crack theory?

[Sondrelk]

I actually think SL is going to be longer than any other expansion for sure now, the lack of 9.2 hinting and covid stuff will probably make patches last longer, and I am honestly okay with it. We will probably only get 9.1 this year.

That sounds unlikely honestly. Even with a very conservative estimate of 9.1 in late May that still leaves over half a year for 9.2. Unless Blizzard is actually planning to end the expansion at 9.2 that would be far longer time to wait than it has any rights to be.

[Dracullus]

Thanks!

Anything about Tyrande ?

No from I heard. But isn't that obvious Tyrande will be present in final fight with Sylvanas? They prepared us for years that she will be one, not Greymane.

[Gifdwarf]

That sounds unlikely honestly. Even with a very conservative estimate of 9.1 in late May that still leaves over half a year for 9.2. Unless Blizzard is actually planning to end the expansion at 9.2 that would be far longer time to wait than it has any rights to be.

Yeah at this point I have no idea, it would be hard to tell normally plus the covid stuff this year just makes it even more difficult. I think it's unlikely that it will end with 9.2 though, we will probably just see a lot of content spread as thin as it can be. The only reason why I think it's possible for a 2022 9.2 is if they spread out 9.0.5 and 9.1.5. for as long as humanly possible. I'd prefer if we get 9.2 before November though.

[Atticon]

Bah, I knew it. 9.1 raid armors are just the legendary skins, no class tier sets until 9.2.

[Nyel]

I actually think SL is going to be longer than any other expansion for sure now, the lack of 9.2 hinting and covid stuff will probably make patches last longer, and I am honestly okay with it. We will probably only get 9.1 this year.

I'd say it's the exact opposite and Shadowlands overall will be shorter. Why I say so? They for sure won't release the next expansion three years from Shadowlands, meaning their latest possible release date for 10.0 is December 2022. And this means Shadowlands maximum length is roughly 24 months. I'd rather expect them striving for another August release with the next expansion, so that even would make it way shorter than 2 years. But again, the maximum length for this expansion will be 24 months / December 2022. Blizzard won't release the next expansion in 2023 as this would simply look bad on paper (Shadowlands 2020 - 10.x 2023).

Final Fantasy XIV will have another massive expansion (Endwalker) later this year in fall - they cannot release 9.2 in fall so I guess 9.1.5 will be released around the time of Endwalker in September / October and 9.2 might be a late November / December release.

[Gifdwarf]

it could probably go either way at this point, I'm hoping it's longer, but only if that increases the chances of a world revamp lol.