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With the Shadowlands Alpha slated to begin this week, I find myself wondering about the implications that the current global situation has on the state of the expansion itself.
One of WoD's biggest criticisms, for those that recall, was that the expansion we got ended up being a hollow shell of what *could* have been.
Here's a fairly comprehensive thread that covers what we know being cut: https://www.mmo-champion.com/threads/1874264-A-collection-of-all-known-cut-delayed-content-in-Warlords-of-Draenor
Here's a fairly comprehensive thread that covers what we know being cut: https://www.mmo-champion.com/threads/1874264-A-collection-of-all-known-cut-delayed-content-in-Warlords-of-Draenor
As a side note: There's a reason why I'm convinced that players will revisit AU-Draenor (or see this cut content in another form, perhaps). The sheer number of unused assets that have been hinted at is staggering.
What does this have to do with Shadowlands?
The current situation with the pandemic/lockdown has put a major crimp in industry timelines.
This isn't a situation any company could have predicted fully, and it's entirely understandable that it might delay product deployment.
The current situation with the pandemic/lockdown has put a major crimp in industry timelines.
This isn't a situation any company could have predicted fully, and it's entirely understandable that it might delay product deployment.
Unfortunately, should Blizzard still attempt to stick to the "By Q3" deadline, it will likely mean a significant amount of crunch in the rush to get Shadowlands out in time. This, in turn, could be what causes a situation similar to WoD due to running out of time.
It feels a little surreal to even contemplate this.
Blizzard was once the industry standard for "It'll be ready when it's ready". And considering the fact that this particular situation is one that's literally outside of anyone's control, it's one where I'd hope all would agree.
Blizzard was once the industry standard for "It'll be ready when it's ready". And considering the fact that this particular situation is one that's literally outside of anyone's control, it's one where I'd hope all would agree.
Unfortunately, that might not end up being the case.
While I obviously don't know how things look on the inside, I feel like this is a case where "SL release moved to Q4" wouldn't only be prudent but largely accepted as being necessary by players.
While I obviously don't know how things look on the inside, I feel like this is a case where "SL release moved to Q4" wouldn't only be prudent but largely accepted as being necessary by players.
It's also worth noting that thus far, expansions since Wrath have generally followed a trend of Popular XP (Wrath) --> Less Popular XP (Cata) --> Popular XP (MoP), and so on.
Even with my dislike of Legion, it would be silly to claim that the XP wasn't more popular than WoD.
Even with my dislike of Legion, it would be silly to claim that the XP wasn't more popular than WoD.
Consider what it might look like if BFA were followed by an expansion more like WoD/Cata than by MoP/WoTLK.
From where I stand, the game can't afford two poorly received expansions back to back.
As such, rushing SL development could turn disastrous.
From where I stand, the game can't afford two poorly received expansions back to back.
As such, rushing SL development could turn disastrous.
(I know, it's weird that I'm even tweeting all this considering I have no pony in this race -- call it the rantings of a restless mind, I guess)
