The War Within 11.X Patches & World Soul Saga Speculation Thread

[huth]

They really are trying to make it seem like its only good news at Blizzcon, but the game files say otherwise.

I don't know anymore, this whole thing is just quite bizarre to me. I mean I guess marketing can try and smoothen the message of a annual expansion structure because the Roadmap would instead show expansion instead of 10.3 but yeah they seem super duper confident on what they are delivering at Blizzcon.

It's not going to be annual either way. 11.0 would have had to be on the PTR for weeks already for that.

[Makorus]

Normalize unsubscribing for the game if you don't like it.

The amount of people that go bonkers if there is a drought is crazy, like they are being held at gunpoint to play.

[Reive]

They really are trying to make it seem like its only good news at Blizzcon, but the game files say otherwise.

I don't know anymore, this whole thing is just quite bizarre to me. I mean I guess marketing can try and smoothen the message of a annual expansion structure because the Roadmap would instead show expansion instead of 10.3 but yeah they seem super duper confident on what they are delivering at Blizzcon.

they were also confident about shadowlands and diablo 4 lol

this was just posted with the description : " Join Jaina in Stormwind for some chill beats while you wait for BlizzCon. "

The last LoFi beat was for Shadowlands no? hmmm there is a gryphon flying in the background...

Edit: world revamp confirmed

Don't put too much thought into it. stormwind is on the background. gryphons are pretty common there

[ercarp]

I am guessing the indications that 10.2 might be the last raid tier patch of the expansion, whether or not that is bad news is definitely up for interpretation.

I thought that was already confirmed. Personally, I don't think that's such a bad thing. It's a bit surprising, but there are other games to play while we wait for 11.0.

I feel for the people who only play Retail WoW though. Even in a best-case scenario, I don't imagine we'll see 11.0 releasing until Q3 2024 at the earliest.

[Foreign Exchange Ztudent]

It's not going to be annual either way. 11.0 would have had to be on the PTR for weeks already for that.

Well, they could be pushing it to 18 months first and then push it to 12 for 12.0? I mean its totally possible in my view that they may be doing something akin to that.

I thought that was already confirmed. Personally, I don't think that's such a bad thing. It's a bit surprising, but there are other games to play while we wait for 11.0.

I feel for the people who only play Retail WoW though. Even in a best-case scenario, I don't imagine we'll see 11.0 releasing until at least Q3 2024.

The "gap people" are so weird because Holly Longdale has stated in the Gamespot interview that the 8 week cadence will stand and if you do basic math you will understand that there is no such historical gaps occcurring anymore. (At least thats their current plan).

They are either moving to release the expansion quicker or they have a 10.2.5/10.2.7 + Fated -> August release window.

[Wangming]

They really are trying to make it seem like its only good news at Blizzcon

Was it ever any different? BlizzCon is not about what Blizz fucked up.

[elderu]

Regardless of validity, this is pretty much the 'leak' to end all 'leaks', imo. (barring 4k logos like DF)

For many, seeing the Dracthyr gecko pics was the nail in the coffin on speculation, due to the rather undeniable models being showcased. Yet many did indeed deny that it was a genuine WoW model.
Arguably, this Agg'ora thing could feel more Blizz-like than to some than the Dracthyr did before the official reveal.

But I ask the question and raise the point with my opening line, what would we even believe now? Only video footage of ingame?

Let's think about this too. Last week the bar for believability on AI fakes was "midjourney can't do dwarf faces" and even that 1-prompt-made Stormbreak leak was taken with more credence than this presented matter which is rather believable, as others have put it.
In fact, all of the biggest 'leaks' have been vague, not specifically wow-like AI generations.

The belief-bin was emptied out starting with the big CGI gargoyle/orcs things. Never again would a Bolvar leak seem genuine.
Stormbreak then comes in and dismantles any hopes of believing the Dragonflight-style printed logo/promo art pics.
and now this one really pushes the barrier on being able to believe ingame assets like the Dracthyr gecko pics.

I almost feel like this picture aims to highlight more than anything, if it's fake, that the increasing capabilities of AI generation are -already- nearly good enough, and by the time 12.0 is announced- we won't believe a still image.
But then I wonder, where are all of the other very WoW-like AI generations? Yea, it's a good tool- but if it's so easy where's the flood of dwarf-gecko pics in wow's artstyle?

Usually the main hits against these are "this doesn't even look like wow style art.", but some of the reaching here claims the poster doesn't have a computer.
Isn't it easier to say 'I don't think that looks real'?

Can't help but laugh as the presumed scenario here too. What is this a snapchat story accidentally sent with clunky thumbs, screenshotted by unwanted eyes? as others pointed out, the NDA of your friend who sent you a WIP would seem like a decent persuasion not to do this.


overall there's definitely a little bit of jank with the images, but I'd bet Blizz appreciates this kind of fake. The quality of an ingame asset 'leak' could either lure or throw people off their scent for what's to be really expected.

I like the whole premise of (unless I'm reading it wrong) two races which look like they've developed in two separate directions from a shared Earthen ancestry, caused by the fissure and the "living world" below (Eonar's world tree, I guess). One race is more ogre-like and brutish, lives in a desert and wears red. Lots of infighting etc. Okay, friends of the Horde. The other is more dwarf-like and flies its gryphons through the storm. Alliance basecamp, you say?

The picture in my mind is of a continent shaped by the elements, where two proud races once united in their defence of Elun'Ahir's underground "living world", now battle for dominance. Quite symbolic of the Horde and Alliance. It offers something mighty and brutish for the Horde players out there, while also giving Alliance players something they want. On top of that, it could feature a never before seen biome: an underground zone which is lush, sort of magical, and of course a bit dangerous. I could easily see them combine water and air for the Khaz Algar zone, while Agg'orand is more about earth and fire.

It explains why Odyn thought of these people as "heretics" for defending Elun'Ahir, it explains why their military might was overwhelming in the past, and it explains why their "infighting" would weaken them over time, causing them to destroy themselves.

It could even be a prime location for Horde and Alliance settlers, making use of all those updated buildings. A sort of red vs. blue expansion, but probably uniting us in the end.

dang see that's cool! With Metzen returning I could see them bringing these themes back. Heck, maybe we'll be the ones resolving a conflict for once!

Also fun to speculate on this lore a bit. Yknow Tyr is empowered by Aggramar and is about to be revived. Maybe when we update him on Azeroth's status, he finally finds a good reason to take us beyond those seas he warned about. We were also just reminded that it was Aggramar who officially found Azeroth first.

First of all, I doubt we'll see ogre guardians in Azeroth as they seems to descent from elemental creatures from Draenor and not from titan creation. But this kind of thing might just be retconned into "Yeah the gronns on Draenor actually were titan creations made to control the Life influence".

Actually no retcon needed(or retcon already active). Chronicles Vol II details Aggramar creating The Grond as a means to contain The Everbloom of Draenor. Gronn/Ogres/Orcs are literally descended from a Titan trying to control life

[Marlamin]

I thought that was already confirmed. Personally, I don't think that's such a bad thing. It's a bit surprising, but there are other games to play while we wait for 11.0.

I wish it were officially confirmed already, it would solve a good amount of useless speculating (read as "bickering").

[Foreign Exchange Ztudent]

I wish it were officially confirmed already, it would solve a good amount of useless speculating (read as "bickering").

I mean you won't find me bitching about improved communication, I'm always been a proponent for that getting better and have always applauded Blizzard when they do engage more than usual with the player base in informing them.

I would love for this to be cleared up prior since at least it won't be a big takeaway at Blizzcon and will be left behind for the real announcements at Blizzcon instead.

But it seems like all the mysteries will be left up until the Opening Ceremony/WoW Panel this time around.

[Marlamin]

I mean you won't find me bitching about improved communication, I'm always been a proponent for that getting better and have always applauded Blizzard when they do engage more than usual with the player base in informing them.

I would love for this to be cleared up prior since at least it won't be a big takeaway at a Promotional Event and will be left behind for the real announcements at Blizzcon instead.

Totally agree, it's which I'm also a big fan for the roadmaps and advocated for them doing something along the lines of that. It seems they're being purposely obtuse about it right now, so I'm guessing it's something they want to dive into in a deeper fashion during BlizzCon.

[Cheezits]

A chunk of people will just straight up unsub when they confirm Amir is the last raid. They aren't going to admit it until the last minute, likely with an explanation/reasoning why.

I think the most likely reason is raiding is getting less popular, and people getting bored of expansions faster, but will they say that?

[milkmustache]

I wish it were officially confirmed already, it would solve a good amount of useless speculating (read as "bickering").

I get the feeling they're really banking on whatever WoW news is from Blizzcon being exciting enough to soften the blow of officially announcing Dragonflight will be another short expansion.

That being said, they don't really have any option to take a win here. Dragonflight has been packed pretty tightly with a lot of content on a quick turnaround and cadence, but the lack of a third major patch will still be a bit sour to a lot of people.

[Magistrate]

I get the feeling they're really banking on whatever WoW news is from Blizzcon being exciting enough to soften the blow of officially announcing Dragonflight will be another short expansion.

That being said, they don't really have any option to take a win here. Dragonflight has been packed pretty tightly with a lot of content on a quick turnaround and cadence, but the lack of a third major patch will still be a bit sour to a lot of people.

I think as long as the next expansion comes out relatively quickly, combined with the unprecedented content volume and release schedule, an objective look back at this expansion should remain center-positive minus discussions on aesthetics.

- - - Updated - - -

A chunk of people will just straight up unsub when they confirm Amir is the last raid. They aren't going to admit it until the last minute, likely with an explanation/reasoning why.

I think the most likely reason is raiding is getting less popular, and people getting bored of expansions faster, but will they say that?

I think this also has to do with the general player age always increasing. Our perception of time and newness is all very different from that of a teenager. Half a year even in my early twenties felt like an eternity. Now it feels like a day.

[Super Dickmann]

A chunk of people will just straight up unsub when they confirm Amir is the last raid. They aren't going to admit it until the last minute, likely with an explanation/reasoning why.

I think the most likely reason is raiding is getting less popular, and people getting bored of expansions faster, but will they say that?

There are zero ways to spin it positively. It pisses away all good will built up by the good release cadence. Even from the standpoint of subscriber retention and keeping a smaller set of players around via repeat content injections, it doesn't work when you switch from delivering more faster to less at the same pace, which is a guarantee with a several month content drought.

[ercarp]

Let's think about this too. Last week the bar for believability on AI fakes was "midjourney can't do dwarf faces"

But then I wonder, where are all of the other very WoW-like AI generations?

I suggest you take a look at the DALLE 3 thread, they have some pretty good ones over there. And you can always do better if you know what to prompt for. Some prompts with "hearthstone style" got very WoW-like results.

There are also StableDiffusion checkpoints trained specifically to mimic Warcraft's style, although they are not that good. Right now, it's mostly DALLE 3 that's making it ridiculously easy for anyone to make decently believable fakes in just a few seconds.

As a test, here's one I tried to make of a "leak" showing a cinematic trailer with Magni.



It's not perfect, but the fact that it was 100% AI generated (even the text) is pretty incredible to me. With a bit more time and care, you could totally use AI to create something like the Agg'orand "leak".

To answer your question about where all the AI-generated leaks are... I think most people just aren't bothered to even try. It's so easy to make these that they think any "leak" like this would just be dismissed as fake at first glance.

(Hope the image size isn't too big. I tried to shrink it but I'm on mobile so I can't tell!)

[Dismayxz]

I suggest you take a look at the DALLE 3 thread, they have some pretty good ones over there. And you can always do better if you know what to prompt for. Some prompts with "hearthstone style" got very WoW-like results.

There are also StableDiffusion checkpoints trained specifically to mimic Warcraft's style, although they are not that good. Right now, it's mostly DALLE 3 that's making it ridiculously easy for anyone to make decently believable fakes in just a few seconds.

As a test, here's one I tried to make of a "leak" showing a cinematic trailer with Magni.



It's not perfect, but the fact that it was 100% AI generated (even the text) is pretty incredible to me. With a bit more time and care, you could totally use AI to create something like the Agg'orand "leak".

To answer your question about where all the AI-generated leaks are... I think most people just aren't bothered to even try. It's so easy to make these that they think any "leak" like this would just be dismissed as fake at first glance.

Honestly, I feel like we're already at the point where we could see a legit Leak and we'll immediately dismiss it because the smallest thing looks off (whether it is actually off, looks off due to image size/quality or whatever may be the case, maybe the design choice is just very out there).

[Revamp Man]

Are we really?

Makes players not want to play a game that's more expensive for less content

Don't get me wrong DF is great and I'd welcome a fated season but the content schedule has been wonderful and dropping it at the end fucks some of the good will

[Marlamin]

It's not perfect, but the fact that it was 100% AI generated (even the text) is pretty incredible to me. With a bit more time and care, you could totally use AI to create something like the Agg'orand "leak".

Hot damn. Next leak season is going to SUCK (even more).

[vintage79]

I suggest you take a look at the DALLE 3 thread, they have some pretty good ones over there. And you can always do better if you know what to prompt for. Some prompts with "hearthstone style" got very WoW-like results.

There are also StableDiffusion checkpoints trained specifically to mimic Warcraft's style, although they are not that good. Right now, it's mostly DALLE 3 that's making it ridiculously easy for anyone to make decently believable fakes in just a few seconds.

As a test, here's one I tried to make of a "leak" showing a cinematic trailer with Magni.



It's not perfect, but the fact that it was 100% AI generated (even the text) is pretty incredible to me. With a bit more time and care, you could totally use AI to create something like the Agg'orand "leak".

To answer your question about where all the AI-generated leaks are... I think most people just aren't bothered to even try. It's so easy to make these that they think any "leak" like this would just be dismissed as fake at first glance.

damn this look even better than standard'' wow cinemtics / for guide only/ what even u using to generate art like this? some premium ai generators (I wonder how complicated is to create smth like this....

tbh I have seen tons of ai arts but never one like this damn

[Makabreska]

As a test, here's one I tried to make of a "leak" showing a cinematic trailer with Magni.

Would work much better if it wasn't pasted onto cinema screen. Like, who, when and why would they show it like that few weeks before Blizzcon? Just like that crooked Aveloren laptop screen, the surrounding matters a lot.