Blizzard Releases Detailed Launch Schedule for Wrath of the Lich King

Blizzard is a company well known for being unwilling to say when it plans to release its games, clinging to the mantra of “We'll release it when it's done!”. They have finally cracked to public pressure and, thanks to an ad which provoked an official response, we now know that the second expansion to the MMO World of Warcraft, called Wrath of the Lich King, will be launched on November 13. The detailed launch schedule says that North America, Europe, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, and Russia will be getting the game on November 13, with November 14 being the date in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand while Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau are going to have to wait until November 18.

Blizzard is also aiming to release a Collector's Edition of the expansion, which will include a variety of extra material. You get an art book called The Art of World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King, with a whooping 208 pages filled with exclusive images, a DVD which has the usual developer interviews, some cinematic sequences and commentary from the director, an official soundtrack disk with 21 tracks, a mouse pad with the layout of the new continent added to the release. In the game, all those that get the Collector's Edition will receive a baby frost wyrm which the developers have called, perhaps lacking inspiration, Frosty; the package also includes two starter decks for the World of Warcraft Trading Card Game, with two exclusive cards added in for good measure.

Wrath of the Lich King is set to significantly expand the MMO by adding a new character class, in the form of the Death Knight, a new continent, Northrend, and by raising the level cap to 80. The expansion is also focusing on adding content for high level players while emphasizing raids and dungeons.