Recently M2 Research senior analyst Billy Pidgeon indicated that Blizzard would reveal its much-rumored next-gen MMO, codenamed "Titan," next month at BlizzCon 2011. It seemed like a viable prediction given that Diablo 3 has slipped into a Q1 2012 release window, and EA's Star Wars: The Old Republic is officially arriving on store shelves this December. Even industry insiders have said that the studio is under pressure to reveal something big next month based on those two factors, backing up Pidgeon's prediction.
But on Thursday an unnamed Blizzard representative said that no, its "unannounced MMO" will not be talked about at this year's BlizzCon. Disappointing as that may be, there's still hope for next month's convention: the Foo Fighters finale!
Blizzard said in a press release on Wednesday that the band will headline the closing concert. While tickets to the convention are currently sold out, viewers can watch at home by ordering a BlizzCon Virtual Ticket, offering comprehensive live coverage of the event (including Foo Fighters' performance) globally over the Internet and also on DIRECTV in the United States.
"We're pretty sure that in the future, music historians will look back at BlizzCon 2011 as the unquestionable pinnacle of Foo Fighters' long and illustrious career," said Dave Grohl, Foo Fighters founder and frontman. "We look forward to living up to that prediction by bringing the Horde and Alliance together to rock the hell out of Anaheim next month."
Ummm, ok. Getting back to Titan, there's now talk that the company won't reveal its "casual MMO" until next year at the least. Given that Blizzard is known for throwing press events prior to BlizzCon conventions, the reveal could be at any time within 2012. Previously a leaked roadmap revealed a projected launch date of Q4 2013 (alongside the release of the 5th World of Warcraft expansion pack), so a 2012 reveal fits right in perfectly.
