So... Phase 4 and beyond, speculation ...

[JillyBean]

Nothing to do now but speculate about when our beloved Phase 4 will start, beginning when our progress is once again saved (Twelve willing!) and the first step into finally getting our game back.

There was a recent report on a Japanese website that on 8/1 there will be a new benchmark released, and on 8/8 a Live Letter.

At the English Live Letter at E3, Yoshi responded to (my!) posted Forum Question about the length of "downtime" between Phase 4 and Early Access. His response was "oh... 1, 2, 3 days?..."

A post by Reinheart in the Beta forum recently quoted Yoshi stating that "Phase 4 is one week" (duration).

So, based upon this information all taken together, what timeline can we speculate?

Here's mine tossed in:

8/1 New benchmark and possibly able to DL new client (during this week)
8/8 Live Letter
8/9 - 8/16 Phase 4 duration
8/17 - 8/20 "down time"
8/20 or 8/21 - start of Early Access
8/27 Launch! {Yes, please!}

I hope I'm wrong and it starts sooner, and lasts longer! :|

[Molly_Millions]

Seems to be pretty accurate. I'll go with that.

[Chakal]

I find it embarrassing to have to wait almost 1 month for the start of phase 4 having said not long ago that the debug would last for 1-2 weeks....

[JillyBean]

I find it embarrassing to have to wait almost 1 month for the start of phase 4 having said not long ago that the debug would last for 1-2 weeks....

It is very annoying. Also the fact that Phase 4 is also on the Roadmap for "1-2 weeks". All debug phases have been on the Roadmap for "1-2 weeks" and then look at that debug month of May++ we had ...

It seems like everything is taking longer than the Roadmap except possibly now the duration of Phase 4. /sigh Like almost every phase and debug phase said "1-XX weeks". Well nothing has been just 1 week. XD

I'll be interested to see if they revise the Roadmap showing Beta 3 as completed (like they did between 2 and 3).

[Chakal]

I totally agree with you, appreciate it revise the roadmap and we put an updated

[Mjollnir]

Wasn't Y-P asked about early access length and he said not seven days, more like five... probably more like three. and then settled on 3-5 days? i think that was during the E3 letter?

Otherwise you're sounding accurate enough. Personally, I want to go to Gamescom, so I was kinda hoping that early access would be 18-22 and then servers would be taken down for that (22-25) where there would be some huge-ass launch party event with all the coffee and cigarettes you could drink.

[ArkhamNative]

(Edit: What Mjollnir said.)
Every time Yoshi-P mentions Early Access he has estimated 3-5 days, starting with a video he made the week before they announced everything. If there was mention of 7 days on any SE site, SE seems to have removed it. It may turn out to be more than 5 days, but I wouldn't expect it to be.

Also, whatever length of downtime SE is scheduling between phase 3 and phase 4, it's probably because they need it. Also, according to the roadmap:

* Dates and content are subject to change depending on development progress and user feedback.

Edit:
As for the OP's schedule speculation, it seems pretty good. It's no more than 1-2 days different than what I might guess.

[HiirNoivl]

(Edit: What Mjollnir said.)
Every time Yoshi-P mentions Early Access he has estimated 3-5 days, starting with a video he made the week before they announced everything. If there was mention of 7 days on any SE site, SE seems to have removed it. It may turn out to be more than 5 days, but I wouldn't expect it to be.

Also, whatever length of downtime SE is scheduling between phase 3 and phase 4, it's probably because they need it. Also, according to the roadmap:


Edit:
As for the OP's schedule speculation, it seems pretty good. It's no more than 1-2 days different than what I might guess.

Well the main thing is that things that were going to be put on hold until one phase were squeezed into another (Like Duty Finder). Other things that were supposed to be in at launch were squeezed into P4 (speaking specifically of Arcanist.).

Fisher was going to be pretty thin at launch but the devs on fisher got a bit excited and wanted to add more things so that was pushed back.

People are going to throw tomatoes at me but I think we could really do with more testing (*SPLAT SPLAT!* Eeeek! ) But you gotta release sometime.

[JillyBean]

Ok, those of you with the 3-5 early access info, please post your speculated schedule ~ I might have to take it to the bank

EDIT: Mjoll, are you saying you think there will be downtime between early access and launch? o.o I thought once they opened the servers that would be it, no more suffering and torture.


/firstworldproblems sorry

[Ruethryl]

Ok, those of you with the 3-5 early access info, please post your speculated schedule ~ I might have to take it to the bank

EDIT: Mjoll, are you saying you think there will be downtime between early access and launch? o.o I thought once they opened the servers that would be it, no more suffering and torture.


/firstworldproblems sorry

Heh.. well the later phase 4 does work out for me given my vacation schedule.. I could see some sort of downtime between early and launch if they find anything they want to stabilize further prior the 27th. Regardless they won't have much wiggle room come August with phase 4 starting so late.. now to be bored for another 3 weeks