Fall DLC 2023 Speculation

[AndyZoos]

This thread took some wild turns. Anyway. For me, the only reason I keep referencing "North American" scenery is because that's the best way I can think of to describe it. What I have in mind could just as easily be described as "woodlands" scenery, though. It's all the same; just a different label. And my primary reason for presuming it will be temperate is the animals on the wishlist that fit into that category (coupled with the fact that there are obvious props/scenery that could fit into that category and lend itself to being fully complete versus, say, Islands which I feel like we've already fleshed out fully with prior packs).

But I agree with folks saying that it's definitely not a certainty. Like always. But that doesn't mean it's any less fun to guess and speculate. For me the one thing I'm only feeling really certain of is that we are very likely to not be getting another "warm" climate style pack. We've had three of those in a row.

 

[Antmar97]

Jumping in the hype train since i saw the announcement on Twitter :

• At this point i will accept any animals that Frontier will give us since their choices are pretty much balanced between most requested ones and odd inclusions, i still think we're getting a Temperate pack, hoping for another animal pack but it's pure copium (If the pack has the Tassie and the Wild Boar i'm already satisfied).
• My only worry is about the Update itself, since the last ones aren't that good imo, from a not content creator prospective, and there are some features that need to be addressed (like the Sandbox market). I just wish that the 1.15 bring something useful for all type of players.

See you on the 11 for the usual guessing game

 

[Captain Callum]

8 Animals Pack + Scenery Pack together, it would be very nice... but I doubt that to happen lol

That's an 'oh no an expansion pack' scenario.

 

[sf2rock]

if we're talking cocktails then why not ape-rol spritz

 

[AndyZoos]

Would love to see a new hotel mechanic / new bar mechanic.

I really don't think we're getting an Islands pack this time around for a few reasons but I wanted to say that a hotel and/or bar mechanic would be really fun! Even if they just added "bar stools" to the set of restaurant seating it would be a really nice/fun addition. This feels like something they could/would incorporate into a free update rather than a DLC (though the DLC would, hopefully, give us more props related to the feature!)

While I agree that temperate is probably the most likely pack, I’d rate it a loooong way from certain - at best I’d give it a 33% chance if being correct…. Possible packs with significant possibilities (% chances solely my vague guess based on virtually nothing) are (imo, and probably leaving something out):

Temperate: (20%)
Islands (15%)
Highlands (15%)
Something non-biome related - like conservation was (%15)
Birds (10%)
Children / petting (10%)
Arboreal (5%)
Something else not on this list (%10)

So, to sum up, I don’t know and I don’t think anyone else does either (outside Frintier, obviously)

Edit: most of the ‘evidence’ I’ve seen has been about as convincing as reading tea leaves.

I think some of these are a bit higher (e.g., I'd put Temperate at 40% and a 'non-biome' related pack at 30%) but that's just nitpicking and really, I mostly agree with the ranking overall. The point to be made, honestly, is that none of these are a sure thing. We've gotten curveballs before (e.g., Aquatic in the midst of the continent-focused DLC, a region-specific Asian DLC, the "lands" theory not working out and so on) so there's no reason we shouldn't expect one.

Though I don't think that should preclude people from trying to speculate based on past patterns, etc. Some people enjoy reading tea leaves! Haha.

 

[CharlieXGaming]

What if the “mixing up” didn’t mean an expansion but instead meant another animal pack? Just a thought

 

[Captain Callum]

What if the “mixing up” didn’t mean an expansion but instead meant another animal pack? Just a thought

I'd actually be more excited for another animal pack with a meaningful update rather than just another scenery set to choose from.

 

[oca2074]

I think the biome theory MIGHT be accurate but the animal theory of mirroring the continents with 2021 is a bit sketchy given that Tropical Pack consisted of two African (one Madagascar), two SE Asian, and one South American animals.

So even if it is temperate, I don't think most or all of the animals must be from NA.

 

[SanRazo618]

I think the biome theory MIGHT be accurate but the animal theory of mirroring the continents with 2021 is a bit sketchy given that Tropical Pack consisted of two African (one Madagascar), two SE Asian, and one South American animals.

So even if it is temperate, I don't think most or all of the animals will be from NA.

It’s more about the vibe of the pack and what’s offered the tropical pack had SEA theming which wasn’t present in the sea animal pack

 

[CharlieXGaming]

I'd actually be more excited for another animal pack with a meaningful update rather than just another scenery set to choose from.

If it’s another animal pack that’s a perfect way to shake things up. I just have no idea what it would be. Maybe we get the Highlands Animal Pack early?

 

[oca2074]

It’s more about the vibe of the pack and what’s offered they tropical pack had SEA theming which wasn’t present in the sea animal pack

But even if we get NA scenery, it doesn't mean we can't have animals outside of NA by the same reasoning.

 

[SanRazo618]

But even if we get NA scenery, it doesn't mean we can't have animals outside of NA by the same reasoning.

You definitely can no one’s saying it’ll be exclusively NA animals just that it will have a NA vibe with the scenery and stuff. Probably like the tropical pack and also include other animals outside like the devil and kiwi

 

[sf2rock]

Islands pack (next week):
Kiwi
Tasmanian Devil
Green Sea Turtle
Rockhopper Penguin

Colder Climes (december):
Wolverine
Scottish Wild Cat
Musk Ox
Markhor
Japanese Serow
American Black Bear
Western Capercaillie

 

[nutrit]

Let's be honest, there's probably not a single thing Frontier (or any other company) could do that would make everyone happy. Including making all future animals free - I'm sure some people would see that as an excuse for not putting in Avian or Marine animals because the work would outweigh the "cost".

Thank you so much for saying that.
This is the best summary I have ever seen here

 

[oca2074]

You definitely can no one’s saying it’ll be exclusively NA animals just that it will have a NA vibe with the scenery and stuff. Probably like the tropical pack and also include other animals outside like the devil and kiwi

Plus, if the rumor is true that 2023 is essentially gonna be complimentary packs for 2021, then it only makes sense that North America is next. That would mean we would get a Eurasia-based, but it may be something like Taiga animal pack, pack in December

People are just starting to assume that the packs are mirroring the 2021 packs geographically, but I'm merely pointing out that the evidence is mixed and that the biome theory is better supported evidence-wise.

Hence, we may only get two (or even fewer) NA animals in a temperate pack, even with NA scenery just like in Tropical with SE Asia.

 

[AndyZoos]

What if the “mixing up” didn’t mean an expansion but instead meant another animal pack? Just a thought

It could. Though, I would think they'd want to move along from the Arid pack in that regard. The scenery packs tend to do better impact-wise as far as YouTube videos and such are concerned. So I'd think they'd want to do a Scenery pack this go-round. But it's possible, I guess.

That said, while I think it's very unlikely and they're probably just referring to what they're doing on the stream... There is the outside chance (again, a very slim one) that they are also switching up the DLC pack format somehow. Doubtful but it's always possible, I guess? Especially if they are winding things down as folks have speculated they could be providing bigger packs for the last two... Though I really hope that's not it!

 

[SanRazo618]

People are just starting to assume that the packs are mirroring the 2021 packs geographically, but I'm merely pointing out that the evidence is mixed and that the biome theory is better supported evidence-wise.

Hence, we may only get two (or even fewer) NA animals in a temperate pack, even with NA scenery just like in Tropical with SE Asia.

And that would still fit what people are saying. NA scenery is the opposite of what we got in 2021 hence the theory

 

[jcp011c]

People are just starting to assume that the packs are mirroring the 2021 packs geographically, but I'm merely pointing out that the evidence is mixed and that the biome theory is better supported evidence-wise.

Hence, we may only get two (or even fewer) NA animals in a temperate pack, even with NA scenery just like in Tropical with SE Asia.

Well, if the packs are mirroring the 2021 - which is just a theory, but let's go with the thought that they may be - the Tropical pack was a balance to the SEA Animal pack, which was pretty tropical themed in its roster. The Arid pack is a balance to the Africa scenery pack, as those animals were also in warmer/hotter climates, though not necessarily desert per se.

Stands to reason that a temperate or woodlands scenery pack will balance out the North America pack which didn't stick to temperate but had quite a few animals in that biome.

The Tundra or HighlandsTaiga pack to Europe is a little more of a stretch but I could see either being an animal pack.

Of course, the Tropical scenery pack didn't stick to just SEA, and the Temperate and Tundra packs may not either - assuming that those general themes are the next two up.

It just really does feel there's enough of a popular roster that could go with either. Temperate probably wouldn't leave much room for oddball inclusions but a Tundra or Highlands pack certainly could.

 

[DarthQuell]

People are just starting to assume that the packs are mirroring the 2021 packs geographically, but I'm merely pointing out that the evidence is mixed and that the biome theory is better supported evidence-wise.

Hence, we may only get two (or even fewer) NA animals in a temperate pack, even with NA scenery just like in Tropical with SE Asia.

Yes, but we aren't saying that it's solely NA roster. We're saying it'll complement the NAAP. Tropical pack was mixed regions, but overall the pack felt like a 2nd SEA pack (and also an islands pack, unfortunately)

Arid clearly fits the Africa pack, no contest.

If this is really the pattern, then the next pack, aka the Woodlands pack, will have a scenery set that'll match the North American roster better than what we currently have and feature at least 1 NA animal

 

[RightWhale]

While the ABB would be nice, I’ve seen them in my own backyard! I would rather have another habitat bird, if I make a NA zoo I have no birdies to use. This game lacks waterfowl, so I would like a mallard/ ruddy/ wood duck. These guys are kept in zoos around the world, and the mallard has massive distribution. It can even be used to represent domestic ducks. Maybe the ducks can even get an interspecies bonus with the beaver and moose, it can make some cute exhibits.

My second choice would be a burrowing owl, I know everyone is saying the next pack will be temperate, but there are few birds that represent the Americas better. And I mean “Americas” literally, it’s found from North America all the way into South America. In fact the burrowing owl is one of the only animals “benefiting” from deforestation for more pastures.

If we are being realistic with the next DLC being temperate, then the wild Turkey would be cool. It can also be used as a domestic animal stand in, but personally I would want the other two more.

If the temperate dlc had to have a NA rep I would hope it would be one of these three over the ABB (it would be cool to have though)