Blizzard Content Creator Summit Reveals More Details on WoW's The War Within

mmorpg.com:

During the Blizzard Content Creator Summit, developers Sean McCann and Michael Bybee revealed some insight on World of Warcraft's The War Within expansion, giving more clarity on Delves, new mechanics, and features, as well as a little bit of information on Early Access. 

Regarding the release date of The War Within, Production Director Michael Bybee (via WoWHead) sums it up as a shrug, as they want to wait until the Alpha and Beta tests have concluded to give a more realistic date based on the feedback from the testers. The team will do the tests just as they have done in the past; Clear the characters, start the beta, and get the feedback needed to ensure a smooth transition into The War Within. 

Early Access has also been a hot topic with the release of The War Within, as some players are worried that those who pay to access the game three days early will have a massive advantage over those who don’t. Bybee mentions that they don’t want the Early Access to feel like a bonus, not a head start to those who don’t purchase the most expensive edition. More so, those who do get early access will be limited to play through story content and level up, but they won't have access to all of the new opportunities to get gear sets. 

Heroic Week will also be making a comeback, as Bybee states, 

“One of our very, very major goals with allowing this was making sure that it didn't feel like it gave folks an advantage, especially in any power race, etc. So that three day early access will give folks the ability to play through the story content level up, get to max level. but they won't have access to a lot of the mythic zero and other opportunities where they can get sets of gear. So then we'll have a period where we'll actually have access to the Mythic Zero system without the season having gone live and folks will be able to gear up. Then the season will start and then you'll have your heroic week and then you'll actually have the rest of the content unlock.”

Now, the Delves