When are we going to get some expansion news?

[Hycinthus]

February 6. There will be a "showcase announcement". It was planned to have a live audience but audience part has been scrapped due to the state of covid in Japan at the moment. Also the 14hour broadcast plans have been postponed.

There will just be the announcement and then the 62nd Letter from the Producer Live on February 6th. After that I believe another info dump will happen in May.

Previously with SB/SHB, how many months before release were the expansions usually announced? If it’s announced in February, is a release in 2021 still possible?

[Rasler_Heios]

Previously with SB/SHB, how many months before release were the expansions usually announced? If it’s announced in February, is a release in 2021 still possible?

I think it is still possible. SE mentioned they are back on track with their development schedule and only incurred a permanent two month delay, so maybe Sep or Oct 2021. This is barring any changes in the development setup. Japan I hear is in another State of Emergency as of the moment.

[ItMe]

If it’s announced in February, is a release in 2021 still possible?

That's the plan ; )

[Nezerius]

Previously with SB/SHB, how many months before release were the expansions usually announced? If it’s announced in February, is a release in 2021 still possible?

Both Stormblood and Shadowbringers were revealed at the first Fan Fest of their respective years. Stormblood at the 2016 Fan Fest in October, with more info at the JP one in December, and the EU one in February 2017. Shadowbringers at the 2018 NA Fan Fest, with more info at the EU one in February 2019, and the JP one in March 2019)

The fact that they haven't been able to reveal it yet probably won't have too much of an effect on their goal of releasing it in 2021.

[EtherRose]

Previously with SB/SHB, how many months before release were the expansions usually announced? If it’s announced in February, is a release in 2021 still possible?

Yes, every expansion has been released at 2 year intervals at the end of June to start of July.

Heavensward - June 23, 2015
Stormblood - June 20, 2017
Shadowbringers - July 2, 2019
*New Expansion* - July(ish), 2021

They stated a few months back they are back on their regular schedule. So i assume this. And if it makes you feel better. All previous expansion video trailers/info were released Mid-February to March/April.

[Seraphor]

Yes, every expansion has been released at 2 year intervals at the end of June to start of July.

Heavensward - June 23, 2015
Stormblood - June 20, 2017
Shadowbringers - July 2, 2019
*New Expansion* - July(ish), 2021

They stated a few months back they are back on their regular schedule. So i assume this. And if it makes you feel better. All previous expansion video trailers/info were released Mid-February to March/April.

They announced that they were back on their schedule but having suffered a standing 2 month delay.
This means their schedule is back on track but consistently 2 months behind previous cycles. So patches are still 16 weeks apart, but 2 months later than they would have been if there was no delay due to covid.

This means the next expansion is likely due late August to September. October at the latest.

Previous announcement cycles have taken place across three FanFests starting in November, then in late Jan/early Feb, and finally in April.
Instead of three FanFests, we're getting two online showcases, the first of which is taking place February 5th, and the second will be in May TBC.

[EtherRose]

They announced that they were back on their schedule but having suffered a standing 2 month delay.
This means their schedule is back on track but consistently 2 months behind previous cycles. So patches are still 16 weeks apart, but 2 months later than they would have been if there was no delay due to covid.

This means the next expansion is likely due late August to September. October at the latest.

Previous announcement cycles have taken place across three FanFests starting in November, then in late Jan/early Feb, and finally in April.
Instead of three FanFests, we're getting two online showcases, the first of which is taking place February 5th, and the second will be in May TBC.

Right. However if that 2 month delay actually hurt the production we wouldn't be seeing info regarding the next expansion in February. The fact that we are getting info in February like past expansions instead of 1-2 months later means that possibly there is no delay and the expansion will still release in late June to early July.

[Mansion]

Right. However if that 2 month delay actually hurt the production we wouldn't be seeing info regarding the next expansion in February. The fact that we are getting info in February like past expansions instead of 1-2 months later means that possibly there is no delay and the expansion will still release in late June to early July.

We had info on expansions on November of the preceding year (the first fanfest) though. On the top of my mind, November 2018 we had the USA fanfest, with a showcase of the short trailer, some infos (I think they showed the Nu Mou as a beast tribe and Rak Tikka / Ahm Araeng), that kind of general info. The February Fanfest in 2019 was Europe where we had more info again (Viera, other zones etc) and then the third fanfest had the rest.
We had nothing last november, so technically we are in the two months delay. I guess the 6 February showcase will drop expansion name, partial trailer and bits of info (plot, zones, job teasing, this kind of stuff).
I really don't believe we will get an expansion this summer. We still have 5.5, which should be a pretty long patch too.

[Seraphor]

Right. However if that 2 month delay actually hurt the production we wouldn't be seeing info regarding the next expansion in February. The fact that we are getting info in February like past expansions instead of 1-2 months later means that possibly there is no delay and the expansion will still release in late June to early July.

Did you miss the part where the first FanFest is usually in November?