11 weeks between Warcraft: Legion patches

Reddit user das_momo has discovered that each World of Warcraft: Legion patch update has been released exactly 77 days apart. I have checked the validity of his claim and can confirm that since 7.1 was released on October 25th, 2016, each patch has subsequently been released 77 days later.

Why has Blizzard Entertainment chosen the 77 day release rate?

It could be self-preserving.

After the last Warlord of Draenor patch 6.2 update was released June 23rd, 2015, the number of active World of Warcraft accounts dropped.

Fans of the popular MMO were left underwhelmed after Warlords of Draenor was released in November 2014. There was very little content released and let’s be honest, what was released wasn’t particularly great. Many players were bored, especially with the crowning achievement of the expansion being building your character’s own garrison… another massive flop.

The number of active World of Warcraft accounts had steadily decreased since reaching a peak of over 12 million subscribers at the release of Cataclysm in 2010. With the bombing of Warlords of Draenor, active accounts dropped to an all-time low, sitting just over 5 million.

Has Legion been the saviour of Warcraft?

Reports that subscription has increased since Legion’s launch in August 2016 to over 10.1 million, with fans new and old eager to take on the Burning Legion. Fans of the MMO want to love it again and this is evident by the rise of internet shows dedicated to Warcraft, such as the popular podcast The Blue Recluse and YouTubers Taliesin and Evitel.

So it could simply be that Blizzard decided not to make the same mistake with Legion. By regularly releasing content, players are kept interested and the 77 day release frequency made sense, at just under 3 months between patches.

Is there more to the 11 week or 77 day figure?

A pattern that has repeated at least three times is definitely cause for speculation.

Reddit user FourteenFour claims a biblical reason for the release date of Legion, quoting from the Bible Luke 8.30: “And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.” The remaining thread was quick to dismiss religious symbolism behind 77 day release rate, however could it be more?

Or it could just be a nod from Blizzard to give us a hint at the patch dates to come, with 7.3 releasing August 29th, 2017 and subsequently 7.3.5 on November 14th, 2017. I guess time will tell if there is a deeper meaning or not.

Do you have any thoughts on the 77 day theory?

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