World of Warcraft Now Available

The full press release:

‘World of Warcraft’ Now Available

Blizzard Entertainment’s Highly Anticipated Online Role-Playing Game Has Shipped to Retailers in North America, Australia and New Zealand

IRVINE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Nov. 23, 2004–Blizzard Entertainment® today announced that “World of Warcraft®,” its eagerly awaited massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), is now available in North America, Australia and New Zealand. With a monthly subscription, players can experience the epic adventure of the “Warcraft®” series in an immersive and continually evolving online environment. “World of Warcraft” is already in Open Beta in Korea and Closed Beta in Europe, and further details regarding the Final Beta Test in Europe and additional beta tests in Asia will be announced in the near future.

“After an extensive and extremely successful beta-testing period for ‘World of Warcraft,’ we are especially proud to now be releasing the game to the public,” said Mike Morhaime, president and co-founder of Blizzard Entertainment. “This has been our most ambitious undertaking to date, and despite the epic size and scope of the game, we believe it fully meets the high standards that we’ve set for all Blizzard games. We’re confident that both experienced and novice players alike will be delighted with the endless hours of enjoyment that ‘World of Warcraft’ has to offer, and we look forward to hearing their thoughts about the game.”

“World of Warcraft” is now available for Windows® 98/ME/2000/XP and Macintosh® formats. Players can opt to purchase the “World of Warcraft” standard edition at a suggested retail price of $49.99 in the United States, or the “World of Warcraft” collector’s edition for a suggested retail price of $79.99. Both versions include a free one-month subscription to the game. The special collector’s edition also includes a “World of Warcraft” behind-the-scenes DVD, an exclusive in-game pet, a cloth map of the game world, a soundtrack CD, an “Art of the World of Warcraft” coffee-table book, and a commemorative game manual signed by the development team.

After the initial free one-month subscription ends, players of “World of Warcraft” can continue playing under one of three different subscription plans. The month-to-month subscription plan costs $14.99 per month, the three-month plan costs $13.99 per month, and the six-month plan costs $12.99 per month. “World of Warcraft” subscription fees can be paid by major credit card, PayPal and pre-paid game cards, which are available in stores where “World of Warcraft” is sold. “World of Warcraft” has received a Teen rating from the ESRB.

About “World of Warcraft”

In “World of Warcraft,” players assume the roles of legendary heroes and interact with thousands of other players online as they explore and adventure across a vast world. Whether journeying together or questing on their own, players will engage in heroic battles, develop friendships, forge alliances, and compete with enemies for power and glory. The game features customizable character classes with thousands of weapons, spells and abilities. With an innovative, easy-to-use interface, an action-packed combat system, and thousands of quests that build an immersive storyline, “World of Warcraft” offers a MMORPG experience that will appeal to both veteran and casual players alike. For more information on the game, visit www.worldofwarcraft.com.

About the “Warcraft” Universe

Since its debut in 1994, the No. 1-selling “Warcraft” series has won industry acclaim and has shattered sales records worldwide with over 14 million copies sold(a). In 1995, Blizzard followed the well-received “Warcraft: Orcs and Humans(TM)” with the highly acclaimed “Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness(TM),” considered by many critics to be one of the best games ever made. In 2002, Blizzard expanded the boundaries of the “Warcraft” universe with the third chapter of its legendary saga, “Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos(TM),” which garnered numerous Game of the Year awards. With the release of “World of Warcraft,” Blizzard now extends its epic storyline into the MMORPG realm, expanding the genre with a massively multiplayer gaming experience of unparalleled quality.

About Blizzard Entertainment

Best known for blockbuster hits including the “Warcraft®” series, “StarCraft®,” and the “Diablo®” series, Blizzard Entertainment® (www.blizzard.com), a division of Vivendi Universal Games, is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment software renowned for creating many of the industry’s most critically acclaimed games. Blizzard’s track record includes eight No. 1-selling games and multiple Game of the Year awards. The company’s free Internet gaming service, Battle.net®, reigns as the largest in the world, with millions of active users.