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WOW Cataclysm out in 2010 "if ready"

"If not, then we'll hold on to it." - Pearce.

Blizzard co-founder and product development boss Frank Pearce has sent out a reminder that the widely-believed late 2010 release for third World of Warcraft expansion Cataclysm isn't set in stone.

Asked by VG247 if it would be out by the end of the year, Pearce said, "Hopefully. If it's ready. If not, then we'll hold onto it."

According to VG247, Pearce - a combative interviewee - grinned after his remark, so perhaps you shouldn't read too much into his words.

An Activision Blizzard presentation put Cataclysm down for a 2010 launch; a release late this year would be consistent with the rhythm established by previous expansions; and with beta just around the corner, the WOW team's work seems to be well advanced.

However, Pearce's comments serve as a reminder that no release date from the famously perfectionist developer should be taken for granted. In the same interview, he notes that putting a firm street date - 27th July - on StarCraft II two months in advance and after five years of full-scale development "really is pretty early for us".