DLC 19 Speculation

[Iben]

Early March for computer and late March for the console bunddle? That's a possibility too.

To be honest, I really don't think that's a possibility at all. It's pretty clear they've been avoiding releasing a console bundle and PC DLC in the same month the past year, I don't think they're just doing it without a good reason. I'd say they're trying to avoid confusion amongst the player-base, which I totally understand.

If PC2 gets the Easter slot, which I still highly doubt at this point as I don't think they're going to change course yet again as changing course last time was to stabilize things, I think there's a much higher chance that you get a PC2 and a PZ PC DLC in April than that you get a console bundle and a PZ PC DLC in March.

 

[AndyZoos]

To be honest, I really don't think that's a possibility at all. It's pretty clear they've been avoiding releasing a console bundle and PC DLC in the same month the past year, I don't think they're just doing it without a good reason. I'd say they're trying to avoid confusion amongst the player-base, which I totally understand.

If PC2 gets the Easter slot, which I still highly doubt at this point as I don't think they're going to change course yet again as changing course last time was to stabilize things, I think there's a much higher chance that you get a PC2 and a PZ PC DLC in April than that you get a console bundle and a PZ PC DLC in March.

Spacing out those releases to avoid player confusion is a really, really great point. And one that I hadn't considered. But you're right. That's probably exactly why they're doing it.

And even if they were planning on a late March/early April release for PZ PC with PC2 slated for Easter... If there's no PC2 DLC coming? Delaying the PZ PC DLC until April just means more time and would be less confusing for players.

I'm sure it's driving a lot of people nuts but I like how this stream is going to have a lot of "if X, then Y" moments. It's kinda fun. Even broadly, there's a few things that could get brought up (updated PC2 roadmap, explaining how they'll deal with post-March PZ console DLC releases) that might impact discussion here.

 

[Aramar]

explaining how they'll deal with post-March PZ console DLC releases)

That's something I don't expect them to address tomorrow. I think they will wait until the end of March, when the current console season pass (or whatever it's called) will be complete.

 

[PlanetSoyJak]

To be honest, I really don't think that's a possibility at all. It's pretty clear they've been avoiding releasing a console bundle and PC DLC in the same month the past year, I don't think they're just doing it without a good reason. I'd say they're trying to avoid confusion amongst the player-base, which I totally understand.

If PC2 gets the Easter slot, which I still highly doubt at this point as I don't think they're going to change course yet again as changing course last time was to stabilize things, I think there's a much higher chance that you get a PC2 and a PZ PC DLC in April than that you get a console bundle and a PZ PC DLC in March.

They didnt say only console, theres a chance of a teaser, plus what stopping them from releasing it in April?

 

[Iben]

They didnt say only console, theres a chance of a teaser, plus what stopping them from releasing it in April?

I never said that there was no chance of a teaser in that post though. I explained why I think chances of a teaser in the same vain as the Zookeeper pack are low, I'm not going to type out the exact same explanation again here

If you're asking why the console bundle can't be released in April, well that's because the season pass lasts until March and it is set to include the last remaining console bundle (from the original DLCs). So it has to be released in March, they've got no other option here.

 

[AndyZoos]

That's something I don't expect them to address tomorrow. I think they will wait until the end of March, when the current console season pass (or whatever it's called) will be complete.

I don't feel strongly in either direction on this one. It would be reasonable for them to end the PZ console section by noting that there's additional console DLC coming later in the year or in the coming months (Barnyard and Zookeeper) and then also reference that there "might be more in store" and using that as a segue into what little they might have for PZ PC.

They didnt say only console, theres a chance of a teaser, plus what stopping them from releasing it in April?

Nobody's saying there isn't a chance for a teaser. Just that it's probably a relatively low chance... Mostly because the pack is likely releasing in April and teasing the key art or something like that 1.5 months out from release would do nothing but aggravate people.

The reason people are assuming it will be later in April is because Frontier has historically release DLC during the week ahead of the Easter holiday. Every spring DLC since the game's launch has released during that week - with the exception of Barnyard which dropped after Easter. So if you're looking at patterns? This one is pretty likely to not be broken. Of course, the fact that they did break it last year gives me a bit of a pause. That and the timing between DLC both give me pause (March would be same gap in time between DLC as the last two). But it still feels like a pretty strong pattern and like I told Iben delaying the PZ DLC to fill that gap would be reasonable.

I'm definitely not ruling out a March release fully, myself, but I do think the chances are much lower than an Easter week release. I was more confident in a March release when I thought PC2 might be doing something in April. If I were putting odds on it I'd say:

70% chance it drops week before Easter
20% chance it drops in early April
5% chance it drops in mid-March
5% chance it drops in late March

 

[Iben]

Every spring DLC since the game's launch has released during that week

Not just this game even, both the Studios Pack and the Classic Rides Collection pack from Planet Coaster were released in the similar slot of their respective years.

Of course, the fact that they did break it last year gives me a bit of a pause.

I think it only "breaks" if you look at it from a "PZ DLC" perspective, given the fact that they've used to slot to sell stuff outside of PZ as mentioned before, it's just more of a "Frontier will release paid content during that week" pattern in the same vain as their December releases. And given that the console release falls under that umbrella, the pattern hasn't been broken.

I'd say that together with the fact that they release paid content in December, it's the most solid pattern you can expect from Frontier. I would have included the "DLC shortly released after the release of a new game" pattern, but after this year I'm not sure if that pattern is going to survive

 

[Markiz]

I'm glad I'd be helping a friend move tomorrow, so I get to miss stream drama. I better return to some cool hints tho

 

[AndyZoos]

Not just this game even, both the Studios Pack and the Classic Rides Collection pack from Planet Coaster were released in the similar slot of their respective years.

I think it only "breaks" if you look at it from a "PZ DLC" perspective, given the fact that they've used to slot to sell stuff outside of PZ as mentioned before, it's just more of a "Frontier will release paid content during that week" pattern in the same vain as their December releases. And given that the console release falls under that umbrella, the pattern hasn't been broken.

I'd say that together with the fact that they release paid content in December, it's the most solid pattern you can expect from Frontier. I would have included the "DLC shortly released after the release of a new game" pattern, but after this year I'm not sure if that pattern is going to survive

Great point about the console release! And actually, I'm a little embarrassed because I recall having this same conversation last year about this same pattern specifically.

 

[NachoB]

I'm glad I'd be helping a friend move tomorrow, so I get to miss stream drama. I better return to some cool hints tho

Yeah i don't watch the streams since they stopped being "special" but... then i have to read dozens of pages of comments to find out what was relevant haha So i rather follow the thread live

 

[AndyZoos]

Yeah i don't watch the streams since they stopped being "special" but... then i have to read dozens of pages of comments to find out what was relevant haha So i rather follow the thread live

I usually throw the stream on but keep it muted. I'll throw it off mute until it's obvious they're talking about Planet Zoo (usually obvious because with PC2 there's been play-throughs and a lot of visuals). Then I listen. The ideal is for me to turn it on when it's like, mid-conversation so I can scrub back like, 1-2 minutes and listen uninterrupted.

I'm only a little bit behind everybody else but it saves me from wasting time and gives me a few beats to digest it all rather than rush to get a response out into the world because in Internet time ~2 minutes is like an hour. LOL

 

[Spiderhawk]

It's 100% going to be Oceania/Eurasia bundle announcement and a "keep your eyes out, PC players!" mention, and the DLC will be an Easter release as usual.

AND IF IT'S NOT I'M GOING TO DRESS IN DRAG AND DO THE HU -nope, no. Not risking it again.

 

[USzoofan42]

genuine question-
Why are the majority of the Americans here from New England…
My brain hurts

 

[Aramar]

@USzoofan42 How is it possible that I just noticed your profile pic?!?! Our beloved friend is more prensent than ever in the forums!

 

[Milurian]

As @AndyZoos mentioned earlier, it's entirely depended on when the release would be.

If PZ's next DLC gets the traditional Easter release slot, then it's less likely that we're going to get something major in terms of announcements like we had with the Zookeepers pack. That teaser was made public in the Unlocked stream of September, with the pack being released in October. Easter is in April this year, so that would mean it's quite early to get a teaser of that significance (compared to previous years).

So then the question becomes how likely it is that PZ gets the Easter DLC slot. Well, there's no console version being released (which took the slot last year), as far as we can tell it's very much implied that there's no new PC2 DLCs on the horizon until at least after the May update so PC2 isn't taking the slot to release a DLC either (and it's unlikely for the update to take the slot as it's always been used for paid content). March has another console bundle release planned for PZ and from the past few console bundles we seem to know that Frontier doesn't release a PC DLC and a Console bundle in the same month (which is perfectly reasonable when you think about it); so it's unlikely that we'll be getting a March release for the PZ PC DLC.

So honestly, the more you look at it the more it seems logical that PZ will get the Easter release slot for its DLC, which would mean that it would be quite early to get a bigger tease the same way we had last time. I'd say you can count on the biggest section of the Unlocked being spent on PC2 and probably Elite, with PZ getting a small section as always and the majority of that is probably going to be spent on the console bundle. I'd reckon that if we're lucky we'll get a bit more than the "We're working on PC stuff as well", but I'm honestly not counting on it.

I agree all signs point to planet zoo dlc releasing early April but given how hard the community has crashed recently I can see them teasing it this stream and next stream.

In all likelihood if its releasing in early april the timeline is likely very finished so something as simple as saying we have a release date for early spring would help revive the community but be low on spoilers Im not expecting full on teasers maybe a really bad image or video like the peccary but even that would feel like too much too soon and we would work it out before its relevant. Something small and vague like and image of a generic base game zoo with very well hidden hints teasing an early spring release is possible. At a minimum we will get "still working on pc" since they didnt specify console in the stream at the maximum a short non specific teaser.

Also sidenote has console reached parity yet or do they still need to announce and release those updates?

I find marine iguanas fascinating, I wanted them but I believe people on the forums suggested the iguanas are too difficult for captivity due to dietary needs. Know of any successful cases of marine iguanas in captivity? Regardless that’s a good coastal dlc

due both to difficulty in keeping them and politics I dont think there have been many if any attempts at keeping them however plenty of animals chosen by frontier dont have much of a captive record some we dont even know what the babies look like so captivity presence is a non issue if the animal itself is iconic and interesting enough to froniter.

 

[Spiderhawk]

genuine question-
Why are the majority of the Americans here from New England…
My brain hurts

Because we are awesome

 

[USzoofan42]

@USzoofan42 How is it possible that I just noticed your profile pic?!?! Our beloved friend is more prensent than ever in the forums!

that's unpossible

 

[Baryonix82]

I find marine iguanas fascinating, I wanted them but I believe people on the forums suggested the iguanas are too difficult for captivity due to dietary needs. Know of any successful cases of marine iguanas in captivity? Regardless that’s a good coastal dlc

Unfortunately, I don't know of any such case

If this game serves to raise awareness about preserving wild species and their habitat, I think that species that are not common in captivity could be included

 

[nutrit]

If you could make a new dlc adding animals you think most embody the theme of each other dlc what would you pick
Deluxe: chinese giant salamander
Arctic: walrus
South america: greater rhea
Australia: short beaked echidna
Aquatic: australian pelican
South east asia: southern red muntjac
Africa: nile crocodile
North america: american black bear
Europe: alpine marmot
Wetlands: roseate spoonbill
Conservation: pere david's deer
Twilight: ocelot
Grasslands: secretary bird
Tropical: south american coati
Arid: honey badger
Oceania: goodfellow's tree kangaroo
Eurasia: western capercaillie
Barnyard: european rabbit
Zookeeper: sea otter


View attachment 418093

• Deluxe - Blackbuck
• Arctic - Walrus
• South America - Coati
• Australia - Echidna
• Aquatic - Saddle billed stork
• Southeast Asia - Lowland anoa
• Africa - Serval
• North America - Muskox
• Europe - Great White Pelican
• Wetlands - African civet
• Conservation - Père David's Deer
• Twilight - Tufted deer
• Grasslands - Gray crowned crane
• Tropical - Mantled guereza
• Arid - Ground hornbill
• Oceania - Goodfellow’s Tree-Kangaroo
• Eurasia - Golden snub nosed monkey
• Barnyard - Shetland Pony
• Zookeeper - Shoebill

 

[AndyZoos]

I agree all signs point to planet zoo dlc releasing early April but given how hard the community has crashed recently I can see them teasing it this stream and next stream.

In all likelihood if its releasing in early april the timeline is likely very finished so something as simple as saying we have a release date for early spring would help revive the community but be low on spoilers Im not expecting full on teasers maybe a really bad image or video like the peccary but even that would feel like too much too soon and we would work it out before its relevant. Something small and vague like and image of a generic base game zoo with very well hidden hints teasing an early spring release is possible. At a minimum we will get "still working on pc" since they didnt specify console in the stream at the maximum a short non specific teaser.

A subtle mention or nod would work best if they won't be ready to announce anything within the next week or two. Because they've kind of set the precedent that whenever they tease something (whether it's on socials or a livestream) that means news is coming within the next few days, maybe a week or so at most.

It's hard though, because I truly don't expect them to get super specific with a timeframe for release. They've never done that before. And I also don't see them putting too much effort into hints or teasing things out either. That's honestly why I think they dropped the key art last time (i.e., no extra effort). So I'm not sure what they might do beyond literally just saying "PC players, we aren't done yet - stay tuned." But even that wouldn't work so well unless they gave it a specific timeframe because of what I stated above. So hopefully if they keep it high level like that they mention "weeks" or something to help manage expectations.

I would also like to point out that just because they don't mention anything in the livestream it doesn't mean we'll necessarily have to wait until end of March for more info. They can just do it all via socials, y'know?

Also sidenote has console reached parity yet or do they still need to announce and release those updates?

There's two more from the current season pass to be released. And since the season pass ends in March, the running assumption is that they'll be announcing those formally tomorrow. After that, they still need to drop the Barnyard and Zookeeper packs - plus whatever else is coming in this next update/DLC and anything beyond that (if that's a thing). And I kinda feel like they'll be saying something about that tomorrow as well (e.g., "Barnyard and Zookeeper packs will be coming to console later this year" or something).