2026 FanFests

[Carin-Eri]

Seems the dates/locations for the 2026 fanfests have been announced:

"Our 2026 Fan Fests will kick off major future plans which we'll be rolling out at a whirlwind pace"

The dates tend to suggest that 8.0 will launch in 2027....
How does everyone feel about that?

[ItsKylos]

I hope it's not 2027... but likely it is.

That said, he did say this: "Our 2026 Fan Fests will kick off major future plans which we'll be rolling out at a whirlwind pace"
What does he mean by whirlwind pace-

[SkankyRoe]

I hope it's not 2027... but likely it is.

That said, he did say this: "Our 2026 Fan Fests will kick off major future plans which we'll be rolling out at a whirlwind pace"
What does he mean by whirlwind pace-

It really is extremely strange having the fanfests so spread out, and very much indicates 8.0 not releasing until at least spring 2027. But that doesn't make much sense; if we go by the usual cadence, 7.4 should release early January and 7.5 in late May, leaving almost a year to go until the next expansion. Such a massive amount of time between the final big patch and the next expansion would be a VERY bad idea, especially with how poorly DT has been received when it comes to content drought and release cadence being too long.

The only thing I can think of, and it's VERY farfetched, is that they're increasing the number of .x patches per expansion; a theoretical 7.6 would release around mid-October, which would them put 7.65 in early February and 8.0 on schedule for the usual mid-summer release.

[ItsKylos]

It really is extremely strange having the fanfests so spread out, and very much indicates 8.0 not releasing until at least spring 2027. But that doesn't make much sense; if we go by the usual cadence, 7.4 should release early January and 7.5 in late May, leaving almost a year to go until the next expansion. Such a massive amount of time between the final big patch and the next expansion would be a VERY bad idea, especially with how poorly DT has been received when it comes to content drought and release cadence being too long.

The only thing I can think of, and it's VERY farfetched, is that they're increasing the number of .x patches per expansion; a theoretical 7.6 would release around mid-October, which would them put 7.65 in early February and 8.0 on schedule for the usual mid-summer release.

Most of the time, it takes more than half a year from the last Fanfest until the next expansion actually releases. So we’re probably looking at mid-2027. Crazy. Just crazy.

Maybe I’ll still grab the new glamour set, though I really like the hat.

But no, I’m not okay with 2027. At this point, the game often feels more like a paid waiting simulator.

Kirby is calling for me. :3

We have seen a 2.5 year between expansion with EW -> DT, so I feel that takes precedence over any fanfest pattern (considering SHB was only 3 months-ish after the fanfests... since they are events that also take time to plan, you need to schedule with 3rd parties, etc., I wouldn't consider fanfest a reliable way to gauge it.

I expect a Jan 2027 (maybe Feb) if it's 2.5 years- but the "Whirlwind Pace" makes it sound they are going to make it release before that even- I don't expect it, but it's also just very weird phrasing lol

[InfestedOne]

It really is extremely strange having the fanfests so spread out, and very much indicates 8.0 not releasing until at least spring 2027. But that doesn't make much sense; if we go by the usual cadence, 7.4 should release early January and 7.5 in late May, leaving almost a year to go until the next expansion. Such a massive amount of time between the final big patch and the next expansion would be a VERY bad idea, especially with how poorly DT has been received when it comes to content drought and release cadence being too long.

The only thing I can think of, and it's VERY farfetched, is that they're increasing the number of .x patches per expansion; a theoretical 7.6 would release around mid-October, which would them put 7.65 in early February and 8.0 on schedule for the usual mid-summer release.

But what would they fill it with? The MSQ is complete as of 7.3

[ZXN]

IF they keep to the current release schedule, then based on the predictable time frame of patch drops; 7.4 should drop around December, and then April SHOULD be around when 7.5 releases, with the ol 7.55 part 1 being in July/August and 7.55 part 2 being October/November, with 8.0 itself releasing around probably January/February 2027, with March/April 2027 being probably the absolute latest.

The dates don't really mean a whole lot other then just "Expected release dates" given the devs love their patterns with these things. If anything all this does do is help players prepare ahead of time for the expected "End of Expansion Drought" that'll come once 7.5 drops.

Granted: Beastmaster is coming in 7.5, and the second area for the Occult Crescent is coming in 7.55, so I suppose it's more that this helps players who don't have any interest in either of this things time to prepare themselves for the end of drought expansion.

[Garruss]

If 8.0 doesn't release till 2027 we are in for a long 2026 in game

[Shinku_Tachi]

If 8.0 doesn't release till 2027 we are in for a long 2026 in game

I guess the silver lining is that new players will have more than enough time to play through all the story from ARR to Dawntrail, so they can start 8.0 day one with us.

[Asari5]

what speaks against december 26?

[InfestedOne]

what speaks against december 26?

History of patch and expansion cadence. If this holds true, then this will be a longer expansion release then even the Covid induced cadence.