Not if their presentation is specifically about what we're going to datamine. Immediate early access has been a pretty popular marketing strategy lately: Even nintendo has been doing it. The last two expansions did include a playable build immediately after the reveal, the only difference i'm proposing here is that its not exclusive to Blizzcon attendees.
Otherwise this is the pretty normal time for the alpha to start: The public alpha almost always starts a few weeks into the patch before it being on the ptr. If not on Tuesday, it will surely start within the next month.
Last edited by Ersula; 2022-04-15 at 07:09 AM.
I would love it don't get me wrong. But the size of the early datamine is huge. That would have to be one long ass reveal video to cover everything. And it always makes sense from a marketing sense to divide things over time so as to prolong the hype. And Alpha is NOT early access. It's limited access to very few people. We are all obsessed with WoW here so a very large number of people in this thread makes it into beta and some even get into alpha (personally only missed the Cata beta) but it's still a tiny part of the community. The only case of it working differently was MoP and I don't think that was a successful experiment.
IF there is a revamp though that is meant as new leveling content, I could see that happen, with just that content on it. I could even see Early Access given to some content ahead of the expac by a bit longer so we can be kept busy.
Typically it's a reveal of the expansion, the pre-order, several months of radio silence, then the alpha.
I wouldn't call that "Prolonging the hype." Or you can frame it as, the marketing began 6 weeks ago when they told us to anticipate this reveal. That makes me think someone said "Well we could reveal it right now... or we can make them wait 6 weeks & release the alpha the same day"
But still my most pessimistic estimate is they let people test whatever we're getting in 9.2.5 immediately, and the alpha opens up a few days later.
Last edited by Ersula; 2022-04-15 at 07:31 AM.
Don't you dare disrespect the Lord Marlamin Birb, 10th of his name, Earl of the Datamine, Slayer of Spoilers, Cracker of Codes, Digger of Goodies and call him a hopium user the birb is a SCIENTIST.
SOMEBODY PLEASE PHOTOSHOP A KAKAPO WITH A MINING PICKAXE AND A HELMET! And add it to the hypetrain! @Arafal counting on you boo
Last edited by Fahrad Wagner; 2022-04-15 at 07:21 AM.
Honestly with the reveal basically 2-5 months late (based on normal blizzcon versus the feb virtual blizzcon), I could see an alpha announcement with the reveal.
Clearly they introduced season 4 because they needed another year-long season, and not because they wanted to split up a year long season into two and actually give their customers who are still playing some relevant content to play with instead of just abandoning them for a year like before. 2025 release date let's go!