Blizzard: Wrath will be out in Q4 2008

The confirmation of any release date is uncommon practice for Blizzard, whose common response to such questions is "when it's ready." Apparently, Blizzard is confident that Wrath of the Lich King will be ready within the year. From the polish that can be seen in the current Beta, this doesn't seem far from the truth. In the same conference call, Morhaime also discussed competing MMOs, the status of ongoing development (that is to say, very little information), and how World of Warcraft has been refined as a game over the past four years.
Filed under: Blizzard, News items, Expansions, Wrath of the Lich King






Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Demosthenes Jul 31st 2008 10:31PM
Woot sauce
Kevin Gass Jul 31st 2008 11:28PM
Indeed
I wish they would go ahead and announce Wrath Collectors edition...So i can pre order it finally
G Aug 1st 2008 1:51AM
Woot sauce with sesame seed!
Thunder7 Aug 1st 2008 9:07AM
Amazon has it posted as November 3rd.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VJTJNE/ref=s9subs_c3_img3-rfc_g1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-3&pf_rd_r=1KHM784ZJW6NHEW63MED&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=278240801&pf_rd_i=507846
Naix Aug 1st 2008 9:17AM
Indeed.
I can also mean that it could come as early as August too.
wowinsider Aug 1st 2008 10:02AM
Naix, let me explain this to you very slowly because you're a moron.
August is before September. Reread the entry and tell me again how August is a possibility.
Naix Aug 1st 2008 10:07AM
Its called a joke.....relax.
infection Aug 1st 2008 10:32AM
Seriously.
Let me translate it for you guys.
March
Charlie Aug 1st 2008 9:02AM
It's gonna be late november.
Of course, its blizzard, so it may be Dec 31st.
Actually, does anyone know when Blizzard's financial year ends? Does it end on the 31st or earlier/later? I know that stuff can vary some company to company.
Jack Spicer Jul 31st 2008 10:31PM
"The confirmation of any release date is uncommon practice for Blizzard, whose common response to such questions is "when it's ready." Apparently, Blizzard is confident that Wrath of the Lich King will be ready within the year."
To me, whether or not the game will release during the stated period, the announcement is more a sign of their merger with Activision than anything else.
papawapa Aug 1st 2008 2:30AM
I completely agree. Hopefully this isn't a sign that things are changing for the worse at Blizzard (arbitrary deadlines >> quality). Then again perhaps it's a sign of confidence in their progress on the expansion. Still, it's very odd.
Kieran Aug 1st 2008 5:18AM
You notice that he doesn't actually re-confirm that it'll be out this year - he just aknowledges that they've previously said so.
Savant Aug 1st 2008 9:55AM
Exactly. That anncouncement was more for the shareholders and not the players. A failure to deliver the expansion in the fall quarter would mean a profit hit, which would impact shareholders and the value of the company.
Now this doesn't mean an "unexpected delay" won't push the release date back. Look at BC, which was also supposed to be released before Christmas, it had late problems and that caused the date to be pushed back.
However, don't expect this to be released in October. The best time for releases is just before Christmas, either in the last week of November or the first couple weeks of December. I'm leaning more for December myself.
Iwanttobeasleep Aug 1st 2008 10:11AM
This may be stupid optimism, but Blizzard isn't letting Activision boss them around, I'm more inclined to think that the beta is honestly going well than that Blizzard is letting someone force them into lipservice.
epsilon343 Jul 31st 2008 10:34PM
Nice to see some confirmation, it'd be news if it DIDN'T come out this year.
proudmoore Jul 31st 2008 10:36PM
I am guessing october 19th
Marburg Jul 31st 2008 10:39PM
I say November 19th
Khaoz Jul 31st 2008 10:39PM
Nice, good news
Eternauta Jul 31st 2008 10:44PM
Good news, indeed!
=)
I gotta start saving money for the release of Wrath (RL-money, not gold pieces :P)
Maybe 'I was not prepared' for Illidan, but I'm sure I'm prepared for Arthas.. err... The Lich King.
Thanks Blizz =)
Verit Jul 31st 2008 10:49PM
Are you sure? Fiscal quarter in my company goes to end of winter 09.