Blizzard looking for "meaningful difference" in expansion releases
by Mathew McCurley 
Aug 23rd 2011 at 1:00PM
Chilton told Gameinformer:
We've been able to do it in one sense, but not as much as I would like to in another sense. I would like for all patches to reliably have raid bosses. Our first Cataclysm patch didn't have raid bosses. From a raider's persepctive, it probably doesn't feel any faster than it did before. For us, where the biggest improvement is going to be in this cycle is in the actual expansion release. Traditionally we've only been able to do an expansion about every two years. We're really hoping to make a meaningful difference in that.
According to Chilton, the Deathwing raid is not going to have any locks or gating in front of it, meaning every encounter will be available from the get-go, unlike Icecrown Citadel's wing unlock schedule. Since patch 4.3 is going to be the last patch update and raid tier for Cataclysm, we can only assume that the next expansion will be coming sooner rather than later in order to stem the tide of players completing the newest patch's content.
Blizzard has said in the past that it is trying to push smaller and quicker patches in the future since the release of patch 4.1, but patch 4.2 was a big endeavor, and 4.3 is looking to add huge new features to the game with no release date in sight. While Blizzard has stated its goals of faster, smaller patch updates and this new resolve to get expansions out quicker, we have yet to see that philosophy materialize. However, all that being said, I am hopeful that the newest patch and expansion content will come at a quicker pace, especially with the MMO market moving in the way that it is.
Brace yourselves for what could be some of most exciting updates to the game recently with patch 4.3. Look at what's ahead: new item storage options, cross-realm raiding, cosmetic armor skinning and your chance to battle the mighty Deathwing -- from astride his back! 
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
BrentJackson Aug 23rd 2011 1:05PM
Nice! So with the trademarking, patch 4.3 preview, and this interview, it sounds like Blizzard may push out the next expansion before winter 2012. I'd love to see a release in May/June, which may help with the low amount of players that time of year.
Noyou Aug 23rd 2011 1:19PM
I totally agree and have said before, their timeline seems to be playing out for a May/June release. If they look at their lull in subs they might find they lose too many in the summer and perhaps a good portion don't come back. An 18 month expansion timeline might keep people more in to the game. Making things less grindy might help as well.
Artificial Aug 23rd 2011 1:31PM
I'm expecting a September release. I think May/June is perhaps a bit optimistic, but heck, who knows... in any case, I'm sure it won't be another November/December release like the last two...
It should be noted that the trademarking did not occur any earlier this year than it did for previous expansions (WotLK was trademarked on the exact same date in 2007, and Cataclysm was trademarked a month earlier, at the end of June in 2009).
BrentJackson Aug 23rd 2011 1:35PM
I have to add this. I play on a RP server, on on the server forums, people are freaking out because on MMO-Champs front page one of their bullet points about 4.3 says:
"The next expansion should be released with a 'meaningful difference' in the release timeline compared to previous expansions."
Nearly everyone on my realm has taken that to mean there will be a "meaningful difference" in the LORE timeline.
/facepalm
Maxilimus Aug 23rd 2011 1:57PM
The burden to play will grow even more. In order to play you have to buy classic, BC, Wrath, Cata and the new one. I know many many friends who wanted to play, looked at that and said nope.
Noyou Aug 23rd 2011 2:08PM
@ Max
You make a very valid point. Blizzard thinks the same. When Cata came out they had deals (and so did Amazon) to get up to speed for significantly less than before. I don't remember the exact prices but I want to say the Battle chest was around $20 and LK was $10-20 as well. If new people are getting into WoW they don't really need to buy cata until around lvl 60 (if they even make it that far-and that is only if they want to fly in the old world-otherwise you could wait until 80). I would expect when the next expac hits you would find similar deals as well.
Artificial Aug 23rd 2011 2:11PM
@Maxilimus: That's not even true today (you don't have to buy BC, it's included with the basic game now). It will become even further from the truth after the next expansion, no doubt.
Bloodfurnace Dalvengyr Aug 23rd 2011 1:05PM
I'm alright with this, we had to do sunwell for 11 months and icecrown from 10 months, during the icecrown era I got so bored that I quit for about 4 months. Instead of it being out that long. It'd be nice to see deathwing come around thanksgiving time or christmas, and we get a new xpac in march or april.
Crìmson Aug 23rd 2011 1:06PM
When all is said and done, I'm pretty content with the way Blizzard does things, they're not perfect but they make a fair quality product, I cannot wait for patch 4.3 and I'm so interested to see the way things pan out for old deathwing :D Thanks Blizzard for making an entire world :D
Matthew Aug 23rd 2011 2:02PM
Totally true! I uprate thee
Donhorn Aug 23rd 2011 2:23PM
I'm right there with you! While the rest of my gould is crying about stuff I'm starting to dabble around in stuff. I love blowing the crap out of stuff in dungeons on my Boomkin druid, and I'm having a blast heal DPSing BGs on my Disco priest. If you split things up and do things just for fun instead of for a specific goal the game completely changes for the better. I think Blizz knows that, but many of the players have forgotten that. Although I can already see the effects of Mogging changing that around again. :D
Angrycelt Aug 23rd 2011 11:27PM
I also agree, but I have to admit being a little disappointed in the Cata model. The crazy hard instances and the mini raid heroics were a good wake-up call from the ease of WotLK end game. What I worry about is that it all becomes about bigger purples, bigger stats, and eventually it goes crazy (crazier). If you had a fresh 80 and tried to go into Hyjal, it was rough without heroic or raid gear since the jump was so huge. Give me smaller bumps so that if I can't raid (which I can't with my work schedule) I can still have something to do apart from the same quests over and over and over and over.
When they say substantial difference, I keep hoping they'll fill in more of the world. You can only have so many hidden continents and islands, but I'd love to see another continent that is its own 1-60 experience rather than this new mysterious island where the murlocs are tougher than Arthas somehow.
fallemwarrior Aug 23rd 2011 1:10PM
I like and hate this idea
Somthing has to change with the cost of the game, i can currenty stomache the 13bucks amonth (i buy 6months at a time) but having to buy expantions at the cost of brand new games is maing it hard to keep wow, currently i buy collector packs so i spend (144$ a year for subscription and 90$ every two years for xpacs) making it about 185$ a yea for just wow, I cant see paying 90$bucks a year extra to play the game, Either it needs to become free to play or the expac's need to be free/low cost, 185$ a year is too much already but making it 204$(or 235$ if collectors) is way to much to pay for a single game, either wow has to change its cost or they will lose people, Mabey even me
AdamAldaine Aug 23rd 2011 1:25PM
Well, I'm sure you know, but it's your choice to buy the collector's editions. From a pure financial standpoint, you could save a tremendous amount of money just buy buying the regular versions.
fallemwarrior Aug 23rd 2011 1:32PM
Currently not buying collectors/ and going 6month sub to save money, one xpac at the current 60$ price and sub is 204$ a year aprox, its still more than any other 2 games combined, atm with a expac every 2 years, its 174$ a year, thats still a mighty price for a single game, CoD could release a new game every 4 months and still be cheaper than the new model, what im saying is that they need to make new expacs cheaper or free,
Artificial Aug 23rd 2011 1:36PM
Yes, it should be noted that expansions cost significantly less than brand new games (US$39.99 vs. US$59.99 in most US stores). If you choose to pay more, that's fine, but whatever you're paying for collectors editions, it's probably likewise US$20 less than the "cost of brand new [collectors editions of] games".
Arrohon Aug 23rd 2011 1:42PM
First off your math is wrong.
$13 a month times 12 months is $156. Also, half of the Collector's Edition price (how much 1 year of it is worth) is $45. Add those and you get $201. Divid that by 12 and you're spending $16.75 a month to play with the collector's edition. Buy the normal and you'll pay a bit less. That's a few gallons of gas. It costs less for a month of WoW than it does to fill up your car once. People act like spending $40 every year or so is a lot when they can save that much by eating out less and changing the thermostat.
jfink114 Aug 23rd 2011 1:44PM
For the amount of time you can put into this game, I'd say that money is well worth it. Think about the amount of money you'd have to spend on console games to even come close to the amount of content WoW has. Conservatively, I used buy 4-5 new games a year for my 360. That doesn't include the rental fees for Gamefly or going to the local rental store. In WoW, I average about 25-30 days of playing time per year on my main alone. Not even half of what some friends of mine play. Just a thought on perspective.
Eyhk Aug 23rd 2011 1:55PM
The real issue is getting new players in the game. The WoW Battle Chest is $19.99 that gets you up to BC. Then WotLK is $39.99 and Cata is another $39.99. The next expac will probably be another $39.99. So just to get a new player ready to play to max level for the next expac, you need to spend $140. Of course Blizzard does those funky sales occasionally, but for the majority of new players, this is what they have to spend to start the game. For long time players, $40 every two years is not much, but for new players this is getting out of hand.
Artificial Aug 23rd 2011 2:07PM
@Eyhk: Um, no. You're correctly noting that when they release new expansions, they make it cheaper to get the older ones (you note how you now get BC with WoW), but pretending they will stop doing this in the future, and thus incorrectly calculating the cost to get to endgame once the next expansion is released by not dropping the cost to get the current game and expansions from present day prices.