Replied in the other thread but, yes, I think the leak is more credible. The fact that we're watching this as a time lapse makes the "Time and Tide" title sound very plausible indeed.
I've been in the "yes" camp for a while, but hoping to be proven wrong. This is not helping!
ETA: I hope we'll be getting another expansion, but considering that would be a first for the Civ series, I'm really not sure that we will. I think DLC packs are probably out since you have the issue of getting Civs to work with multiple versions of the game (vanilla, R&F, Expansion 2), and they never released any DLC after R&F's release.
I’m not hopeful about getting another expansion. If the next expansion has a World Congress, then I think there’s no chance. And an expansion focused on Natural Disasters and the end game sounds awful like an expansion that will have a World Congress.
More dlc? Well, slightly more hopeful. One possible approach would be to release dlc which just focuses on a few new leaders, wonders and or units, and maybe even scenarios, and then use that to do some serious patching. There won’t be any compatibility issues them, although given they’re then not getting paid for the patching the amount of new content made available in terms of mechanics would be limited. The feasibility would depend on how well they think leader pack dlc sell and or how buys there art team is.
I don’t think not getting dlc post RnF militates against dlc now. FXS and art team would have been flat out with the second expansion post RnF. They might now have a little more free time.
I also think certain big names missing from the next expansion might suggest we could get dlc, as they might have saved some big name leaders to drive future dlc sales.
I mean. I know they say Alt leaders are for modders, but they seem like a good way to drive sales right? It seems sales are driven a little by certain countries being Civs - eg Rome because “everyone” wants to play Rome or America because Americans (and others) want to play their home country / the US. Alt leaders surely lets FXS hit those same people up again - why wouldn’t they do that.
I suggested before that England, China and the US should get Alt leaders. I have some gameplay reasons why I think they would be good picks. But they are also all Civs that I assume have a big fan base that would likely buy dlc that have new leaders for those Civs.
He/She is also claiming there will be a 3rd expansion.
Well. If they’re making stuff up about a third expansion then that’s really mean...
We never had small dlc before Civ V though. I don't think 2 expansions is an unwritten law at Firaxis. If they think a 3rd expansion will sell I expect they will make it.
There seems to be a trend for gamemakers to look at ways of making money from games between major releases nowadays.
I think dlc would be more profitable than a big expansion, and so more likely. But seriously, who knows.