Patch 4.3 PTR to go live potentially within the week
by Daniel Whitcomb 
Sep 24th 2011 at 8:30PM
What this means for the release of patch 4.3 is a little foggier. Will we be going to BlizzCon with the PTR still chugging away? It sounds like Blizzard's not planning a rush job on this one, so it remains to be seen. Regardless, you'll want to keep it right here. When the PTR goes up, we'll be there with all the news and analysis you'll need to start planning your moves. Check after the break full for the full text of Zarhym's message.
Zarhym
Yes. We're intent on getting the 4.3 Public Test Realms up potentially within the next week. :)
As you mentioned, there's still a lot of work to be done on this patch, so a lot of the content will be rolled onto the test realms over time. Transmogrification, Void Storage, some balance changes, and several UI updates/improvements will likely make the PTR right away. The dungeon/raid content, legendary questline, Dungeon Finder updates, and especially Raid Finder are still very much works in-progress.
As you mentioned, there's still a lot of work to be done on this patch, so a lot of the content will be rolled onto the test realms over time. Transmogrification, Void Storage, some balance changes, and several UI updates/improvements will likely make the PTR right away. The dungeon/raid content, legendary questline, Dungeon Finder updates, and especially Raid Finder are still very much works in-progress.
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! Filed under: Blizzard, News items
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
matthias2479 Sep 24th 2011 8:32PM
Alot of the things in cata have had a rushed feeling to it (especially the amount of raid bosses this expac), I expect no less from 4.3
wowplayer626 Sep 24th 2011 8:44PM
Same
loop_not_defined Sep 24th 2011 10:32PM
Fewer raid bosses over the same amount of time gives you a more rushed feeling?
thawedtheorc Sep 25th 2011 1:38AM
Some people just love to bitch
rapsam2003 Sep 25th 2011 2:47AM
I really don't understand your reasoning...
The boss fights all quality fights. Quality over quantity. None of those fights where you just kill the boss purely for loot and to get the more important bosses later on.
Darkthunder Sep 25th 2011 11:05AM
@ rapsam2003: I believe the "bitching" is inherent to Blizzards promises of "More raids than ever before" when they first announced Cataclysm, only to have said promise completely shattered after the expansion went live.
Vanilla: MC, BWL, AQ20, AQ40, ZG, Onyx, Naxx
TBC: Kara, Gruul, Maggy, SSC, TK, ZA, BT, MH, Sunwell
WotLK: Naxx-80, OS, Maly, Ulduar, ToC, ICC, RS + VoA
Cata: BD, BoT, TotFW, FL, (Deathwing Raid) + BH
Vanilla had 7 raids, TBC had 9 raids, WotLK had 7 raids (8 with VoA), Cata has had 3 raids so far (4 with BH), and a 5th raid with the Deathwing instance. Cataclysm has been the complete opposite of "More raids than ever before", since it's currently the ex-pack with the fewest amount of raids. Despite the whole "quality over quantity" argument.
Cyno01 Sep 24th 2011 8:33PM
I have a feeling the release date for this patch will be sometime shortly before Dec 20th...
Just a hunch.
http://www.swtor.com/news/news-article/20110924
Ed Sep 24th 2011 9:44PM
Seems to me like 4.3 is designed to fend off The Old Republic, and the next expansion will be timed to combat Guild Wars 2.
loop_not_defined Sep 24th 2011 10:39PM
4.2 took approximately 1.5 months to test. I'm seriously doubting 4.3 will take almost 3 months to test.
(cutaia) Sep 25th 2011 1:56AM
I honestly think that's why ToR picked that date. It's a bit far for WoW to delay patch 4.3, but also too soon for the expansion. Blizzard can't really do much to interfere with that one.
rapsam2003 Sep 25th 2011 2:47AM
If they release it in November, all the raiders will be too busy raiding 4.3 content to want to go buy and try out a new MMO. So, a November release would actually serve them better.
Of course, we're all just speculating.
Quark1020 Sep 25th 2011 9:02PM
Heck, its possible SWTOR refrained from announcing their release date till a few months to prevent a WoW patch/expansion counter attack (and things like delays and polish, I'm sure....)
imf00001 Sep 24th 2011 8:35PM
SWTOR released date finally announced, and 4.3 coming to the PTR....coincidence?
Noah.Fech Sep 24th 2011 9:16PM
Doubt it; Blizz has tried not to mention SWTOR or conflict with it, although I'm sure their a bit threatened, I doubt the 4.3 PTR and the SWTOR Beta / Release could have anything in common :P
Maybe if they released the next expansion the day after SWTOR dropped we could see a conflict, but with this, no.
rapsam2003 Sep 24th 2011 9:36PM
Historically, Blizzard has always tried to compete with other game companies. Of course, SWTOR is a factor. They'd be morons not to release the 4.3 PTR when the SWTOR beta is coming online. It's good business to wait for your competitor to move and then make sure you're able to move before the competition.
Sanitycrusher Sep 24th 2011 9:38PM
Who cares about MMOs when Diablo 3 is on its way soon?!
thawedtheorc Sep 25th 2011 1:40AM
You sure do since this is a blog site for a MMO.
Fletcher Sep 24th 2011 8:40PM
Makes sense that they'd want to get as much testing of the transmogrifier as possible. I can imagine that that thing would be super buggy.
Drakkenfyre Sep 24th 2011 9:17PM
Why? From their interviews, it's actually simplier than they thought.
While I don't know the exact coding used, I imagine it's something like this.
Item ID: #873
Enchantment ID: #1904
Appear as model #18353
aelders5124 Sep 24th 2011 8:42PM
I dunno if they can stretch this out till December. Seems a bit of a, err, stretch