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May 7th 2008
Win A Frostmourne Replica And Wrath of the Lich King Beta Keys!
You've seen the icy, menacing eyes, and gleaming metal and heard the ominous names of Arthas holding Frostmourne. Now we are calling all artists to bring these images to life with their vision of Arthas with Frostmourne!
Starting May 7, 2008, Epic Weapons and Blizzard Entertainment will be looking for the best original pieces of artwork that show the Lich King Arthas Menethil wielding his trusted runeblade Frostmourne and the Grand Prize Winner will receive a full sized 47" long replica of the Frostmourne sword courtesy of Epic Weapons and a guaranteed entry into the beta test of Wrath of the Lich King! Two runner up winners will also be selected for entry into the upcoming Wrath of the Lich King beta test.
We'd like to extend our thanks to Epic Weapons for the generous donation of the Frostmourne replica for this event, and for more information about Frostmourne, you can head over to www.epicweapons.com.
Visit the contest page to learn more about the contest!
April 16th 2008
The Story So Far... Part 2: The Brood War
The storyline of StarCraft II takes place four years after the events of StarCraft: Brood War. We have prepared a two-part overview called The Story So Far, an opportunity for you to get up to speed with the characters, settings, and developments that lead up to StarCraft II. Read about Kerrigan's treachery as the Queen of Blades, Samir Duran's hybrid experiments, and the final events leading up to StarCraft II.
Tassadar's brave sacrifice had destroyed the Overmind, but countless rampaging zerg remained on Aiur and would surely overrun the surviving protoss. Zeratul offered sanctuary on Shakuras, the adopted home of the dark templar. Although the decision was difficult, Executor Artanis and the surviving members of the shattered Conclave agreed that their first duty was to save as many lives as possible.
Jim Raynor's forces and the protoss cut a path through the zerg to reach an ancient xel'naga warp gate, the relic of an earlier age. Using the gate, Zeratul opened a connection to a second gate on Shakuras. During the battle, Raynor and some of the protoss were cut off, but Artanis and Zeratul led many other protoss through the gate to safety on Shakuras.
For more, check out The Story So Far Part 2: The Brood War. We have also added three new pieces of artwork.
April 8th 2008
Fight For Fame And Fortune -- Register Now!
On the new dedicated Arena Tournament realms, players can create level 70 characters of any class or race, get free epic equipment, enchantments, gold, and can customize their character's talent build as often as desired. On these realms, the cream of the crop of PVP players can compete for glory, battling it out to claim over $200,000 in prizes!
If you haven’t signed up, you still have a chance to register in the 2008 Arena Tournament! For more information, please check out the Arena Tournament page, F.A.Q., or our new dedicated forum!
April 3rd 2008
April Fools!
We hope you enjoyed our April Fools' Day events. If you missed them, check out this year's jokes:
The Blizzard Entertainment Joke Team™ will see you again next year. Just kidding - we're always around waiting to pounce.
April 1st 2008
No Holds Barred: Bard Hero Class Announced!
The deeds of every great hero inspire countless songs of triumph, virtue, and epic adventure. But although a hero’s glory endures in song, the creators of those songs are seldom remembered. After ages spent singing of the heroic exploits of others, the bards of Azeroth are finally stepping into the spotlight on their own terms, proving once and for all that while just about anyone can pick up a sword or cast a spell, only a true hero can vanquish evil with the power of ROCK! Check out this new class here!
World of Warcraft Coming To Consoles With Molten Core: Unleashed!
Blizzard Entertainment is proud to announce its long-awaited return to console development with Molten Core: Unleashed!, a new console game based on the popular World of Warcraft 40-person raid dungeon. In Molten Core: Unleashed!, players will once again be challenged by the highly complex encounters of Molten Core and battle epic enemies such as Majordomo Executus and Ragnaros. Classic heart-stopping moments such as becoming the living bomb when facing the infamous Baron Geddon will be revitalized in this new version of the Molten Core experience designed exclusively for console systems. Check out the official press release for more information, and keep your eyes peeled for updates on www.blizzard.co.uk.
Announcing the Diablo Loot Piñata!
Arising from the ancient, unspoken rituals of the Aztecs, the piñata is far more than meets the eye. Just as this popular party accessory holds at its core a delicious payload of candy, so too does its history hide a fascinating tale of war, destruction, faith, rebirth, and the ultimate triumph of good over evil. The new Diablo Loot Piñata is a celebration of all these oft-overlooked aspects of the piñata, and offers a new take on the timeless ritual in true Diablo fashion. No party will be complete without one! Read more about this at our Diablo Loot Piñata page!
Tauren Marine Announced!
In the old Confederacy, terran marines were mostly criminals or rebels who had undergone mandatory neural resocialization. Freed from any previous allegiances or ideologies, these fearless soldiers stood ready to defend Confederate interests with their lives but exhibited an annoying tendency toward petty larceny, vandalism, and occasional cannibalism. Confederate authorities were unable to requisition enough reliable troopers in this way, and eventually recruiters turned to a new source of fresh meat for the grinder. Learn more about the Tauren Marine here!
March 31st 2008
StarCraft’s 10-Year Anniversary: A Retrospective
On March 31, 1998, Blizzard Entertainment released StarCraft, a revolutionary real-time strategy game pitting three powerful and distinctive races against each other in a war-torn galaxy. In StarCraft, the resourceful terrans, mysterious protoss, and relentless zerg find themselves in a confluence of events that has only one possible outcome: an epic war for conquest and survival.
The year of its release, more than 1.5 million copies of StarCraft were sold around the world, making it the bestselling PC game of 1998. To date, it has sold more than 9.5 million copies worldwide. A considerable number of those copies have been sold in South Korea, where the game continues to enjoy unprecedented levels of popularity.
Read more about the history of StarCraft at our Starcraft's 10-Year Anniversary page!
"I <3 SC" Contest!
The tenth anniversary of StarCraft's release is fast approaching, and to mark the occasion, we'll be assembling a mosaic of pictures sent in by players from around the world, all featuring a special "I <3 SC" logo. 50 T-shirts are up for grabs, so check out the contest page for full details or to take part.
March 26th 2008
Fury of the Sunwell Is Live!
We're pleased to announce the release of "Fury of the Sunwell," the new content update for World of Warcraft!
Highlights of Fury of the Sunwell include:
Sunwell Isle:
The glorious fount of arcane energy known as the Sunwell empowered the high elves for millennia, until the death knight Arthas laid siege to the elven kingdom and corrupted its sacred energies. Seeing no other alternative, a band of survivors led by Prince Kael'thas destroyed the ancient fount, and over time the surviving elves fell prey to a crippling magical withdrawal.
Now, promising salvation for his people, Kael'thas has returned. Soon the Sunwell will shine once again, but whether the sacred fount will usher in deliverance or destruction remains to be seen.
This area includes:
A new quest hub
Magisters' Terrace -- a 5-player instance
Sunwell Plateau -- a 25-player instance
New badge rewards
New Daily Quests:
The combined forces of Shattrath have launched an attack on the Isle of Quel'Danas to confront Kael'thas and the Legion at the Sunwell and surrounding areas. Players will now be able to gain reputation with the Shattered Sun Offensive and participate in a new set of daily quests.
UI Improvements
The combat log has undergone improvements that allow more robust combat-text filtering, including the ability to define custom colors for enemies and friends, as well as combat text filtering for self and others.
Arena Tournament Introduced
Players will be able to create level-70 characters with epic equipment and compete on special tournament realms in a new global arena tournament. For more information, details, and entry requirements, please visit the official tournament pages.
And more – check out the full patch notes.
Worldwide Invitational 2008 Tickets: Sold Out!
All available tickets for the 2008 Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational are now sold out! Taking place over Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th of June at the Porte de Versailles Convention Centre in Paris, France, the 2008 Worldwide Invitational 2008 looks set to be the biggest Blizzard Entertainment tournament event yet. Be sure to check the 2008 Worldwide Invitational website often for ticketholder updates, the latest news on the tournaments, panels, and showcased content, and other news on what to expect at the event.
March 20th 2008
2008 Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational Tickets On Sale Now
Tickets for the 2008 Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational convention and tournament gaming event are now available on the Worldwide Invitational website at http://eu.blizzard.com/wwi08/.
This year's Blizzard Worldwide Invitational will take place in Paris, France, at the Porte de Versailles Exposition Centre on the 28th and 29th of June. Tickets are priced at €70 / £55 for the two-day event, which will feature hands-on play with the latest versions of World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King and StarCraft II, competitive eSport and casual player tournaments, costume, dance and machinima contests, and much, much more…
Please note the event is open to attendees of ages 4 years and above. Due to the nature of some content at the 2008 Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational, attendees under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or responsible adult (of 18 years and above).
Have a look at our event website and the FAQ for more information and get your ticket now!
March 19th 2008
World of Warcraft Russian Homepage
We are delighted to announce the launch of our Russian World of Warcraft 'light' web page. While we'll be working on bringing a fully localized version of the World of Warcraft website to life in Russian, we'll use this page to keep you updated on progress.
Here you can find information in Russian about recruitment, our press releases and the FAQ (in English here), covering different aspects about the Russian release of World of Warcraft.
We hope you're just as excited as we are about this upcoming release, and recommend you check the page regularly to get the latest news.
"Поехали!" ("Let's go!")
March 17th 2008
2008 Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational Tickets On Sale 20th March
Tickets for the 2008 Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational convention and tournament gaming event will be available from Thursday, 20th of March on the Worldwide Invitational website at http://eu.blizzard.com/wwi08/.
In addition to invitational tournaments featuring top eSports competitors playing for a total of $100,000 in prizes, the Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational will also host casual tournaments for attendees, costume and dance contests, live musical performances, and more. All attendees will also receive a goody bag of Blizzard Entertainment items including a beta key for an upcoming Blizzard Entertainment game and an exclusive World of Warcraft in-game pet.
Click here to read the full media alert or get more information.
Frostmourne Replica Unleashed!
The legendary rune blade Frostmourne was immortalized in Warcraft III, in which it was taken up by Prince Arthas Menethil, corrupting him and leading to his transformation into the Lich King. We've partnered with EPIC Weapons to create a limited edition replica of the blade in all its horrific glory. This artifact of ancient evil is over 119 centimeters long and 32 centimeters wide, weighing a massive 7 kilograms, and is now available for pre-order. For more information, please visit the Frostmourne replica site.
March 14th 2008
2008 Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational Tickets On Sale Next Week!
We're pleased to announce that tickets for the 2008 Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational will be available next week on the Worldwide Invitational website.
This year's Worldwide Invitational will be held here in Europe, at the Porte de Versailles Exposition Centre in Paris, France, on the 28th and 29th of June. Both days of the event will feature a variety of activities including hands-on play with the latest versions of World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King and StarCraft II! You'll also have the chance to meet Blizzard executives and developers in discussion panels and signing sessions, participate in community tournaments, dance, costume and machinima contests, watch top eSports competitors from around the world play in exciting invitational tournaments and much more! Tickets are priced at 70 € / £55 for the two-day event and can be purchased by credit or debit card.
Please note that you must be 16 years or above to attend the Worldwide Invitational, unless accompanied by a consenting parent, guardian or responsible adult of 18 years or above.
March 11th 2008
StarCraft II: Zerg Revealed
The StarCraft II website has just been updated with new information about the zerg, the game's third playable race. You can now learn more about the nightmarish hydralisks and the agile and dangerous mutalisks, and can also catch up on the recent history of the Swarm. Also make sure to check out the newly added screenshots, concept art, and unit videos included in this first look at the zerg.
February 28th 2008
Discover BlizzCast Episode 2
Join our Community Team going behind the scenes to experience the world of Blizzard game making in the second installment of our Blizzard Podcast – BlizzCast.
In each episode we'll be interviewing your favorite Blizzard developers and staff, giving you a glimpse of what it's like from their perspective to make the games you love.
In this episode of the BlizzCast series, we've sat down with the Vice President of Creative Development, Chris Metzen, to discuss the lore behind the different Blizzard franchises. We've also spoken with Geoff Goodman about some of the changes coming to the Magtheridon encounter in the next World of Warcraft patch. Lastly, we have some Q&A with StarCraft lead writer, Andy Chambers and World of Warcraft lead designer Tom Chilton.
You can listen to BlizzCast Episode 2 here.
February 15th 2008
2008 World of Warcraft Arena Tournaments Announced
We have some exciting news to share with the world's most skilled Arena System combatants. This year's regional World of Warcraft Arena Tournaments will feature two sets of qualification rounds played out on special tournament realms in each region. These rounds will culminate in live regional and world finals events, with a mooncloth bag's worth of cash up for grabs…to the tune of a total prize pool of more than $200,000.
If you have (or are able to form) a formidable 3v3 Arena team, and you're not allergic to cash, then we recommend you check out the full announcement and the FAQ for further details.
February 11th 2008
2008 Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational!
This year's Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational is coming to the Porte de Versailles Exposition Center in Paris, France on June 28-29. Top StarCraft, Warcraft III, and World of Warcraft players will duke it out for supremacy and cash prizes in eSports tournaments, and all attendees will be able to enjoy discussion panels, signings, musical performances, and more. In addition, StarCraft II and World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King will be playable by everyone on the show floor.
For much more information on the 2008 Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational, check out the press release and visit the official website. We look forward to seeing you there, but if you're unable to make it out to Paris in June, we'll be providing live coverage on the official website throughout the weekend of the event.
February 7th 2008
World of Warcraft Miniatures Game Coming This Fall
Following the success of the World of Warcraft Trading Card Game, Upper Deck Entertainment is releasing a World of Warcraft Miniatures Game. Starting this fall, you'll be able to do battle on your tabletop with premium-quality, highly detailed 3D renderings of characters of every race and class, as well as iconic individuals like Warchief Thrall and Leeroy Jenkins.
Each premium pre-painted miniature will be mounted on a uniquely engineered removable base, allowing the figure to serve as a collectible as well as a game piece. The game will feature both head-to-head battles and standalone raid and dungeon scenarios, which players can cooperate to overcome.
Head over to WoWMinis.com to find out more about the game. You can sign up to receive updates, including sneak preview pictures of the minis, details about gameplay, and downloadable demos.
January 28th 2008
Character Biography: Jim Raynor
Jim Raynor was a Confederate marshal on Mar Sara at the time of the first zerg incursions on that world. Despite bravely fighting the alien aggressors and saving many lives, he was arrested by Confederacy forces on the pretext of destroying Confederate property at Backwater Station. When he was subsequently liberated by Arcturus Mengsk's Sons of Korhal, an anti-Confederate revolutionary group, Raynor chose to fight alongside them...
Learn more about StarCraft II's main characters and their complex intertwining stories in the character biography of Jim Raynor, the first installment of our StarCraft II character biography series.
January 25th 2008
StarCraft II Community Section is Live
The StarCraft II Community section of the official StarCraft II web site is now live. Here you'll find up-to-date links to the latest developer Q&A batches, BlizzCasts, regularly updated community spotlights, latest forum discussions, and future community projects. Head over to the StarCraft II site now and check it out!
January 22nd 2008
World of Warcraft Reaches 10 Million Players
World of Warcraft's community continues to grow, recently hitting a new high of 10 million subscribers around the world. In the three years since the game was first released, the way it has been embraced around the world has far surpassed our expectations, and we're grateful to all of the players who made that possible. We just wanted to take a moment to share the news, welcome the many new and returning players who entered the game over the holidays, and thank all of you for your ongoing support and enthusiasm.
January 10th 2008
Introducing BlizzCast
Join our Community Team going behind the scenes to experience the world of Blizzard game making in the first installment of our new Blizzard Podcast – BlizzCast.
In each episode we'll be interviewing your favorite Blizzard developers and staff, giving you a glimpse of what it's like from their perspective to make the games you love.
To kick off our BlizzCast series, we've decided to begin where every great Blizzard idea begins, at the concept level. To speak with us we have Samwise Didier, our Art Director and concept artist for many of the popular Blizzard icons you've grown to love, such as the Pandaren, Fel Orcs, Dark Templars, Zerglings, and many more. We'll be chatting with Samwise on how he came up with the characters he did, as well as what it is like to work on both the Warcraft and StarCraft franchises.
Check out the new BlizzCast page here.
January 8th 2008
New StarCraft II Unit Added – Siege Tank
We have added a new terran unit, the siege tank.
The Crucio is the Dominion update of the immensely popular but aging Arclite siege tank. The Arclite was renowned throughout the Confederacy for its devastating firepower and stalwart emplacement/advance tactics. Originally designed to serve as a "final defense" security cannon, the siege tank adopted a two-stage configuration in its final form: a mobile assault mode and a deployed siege mode that brought its massive shock cannon to bear.
Read more about the siege tank here. We have also added two new artwork and one new screenshot.
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