Patch 5.4 patch notes
Virtual Realms feature revealed
The Proving Grounds are coming
The latest patch 5.4 newsWrath shipped to stores, copies being sold early at 7-11
by Mike Schramm 
Nov 11th 2008 at 10:23AM
So odds are that you might be able to grab the game early from stores that are breaking the street date, but it does appear that Blizzard hasn't actually flipped the switch on the expansion, and likely won't do it until tomorrow evening. We'll keep an eye out for more places Wrath may have already popped up.
Update: Thanks to one of our readers for sending along the pic of his Wrath box and the receipt above. The game is indeed shipped and being sold, though Blizzard is saying Northrend won't be available until Wednesday evening. Another reader picture of a purchased game after the break.
Are you ready for the challenges that await you in Northrend? WoW Insider has you covered with our 8-day guide to Preparing for Wrath. Also, check out our feature on AddOns new, old and outdated and Essential AddOns for Wrath written especially with the expansion in mind.
Filed under: Patches, News items, Expansions, Leveling, Wrath of the Lich King
Reader Comments (Page 6 of 7)
Osren Nov 11th 2008 8:39PM
I got MINE today as well... not from 7-11 though, I preordered from one of the GAMING Stores... I got confirmation that they shipped yesterday, I was amazed when it showed up on my doorstep today.
Not that it really matters... it's 6:30 pm here and the servers are STILL down. Even without going to the new areas, I should have been able to level up some - for the first time in my life I thought I might actually be the FIRST (or ONE of the first) to do something in a MMORPG - just my luck... ARG!
kitsch Nov 11th 2008 8:39PM
anywhere in edmonton area i can pick it up early?
Grakaron Nov 11th 2008 8:49PM
Someone needs to upload the entire ISO so people can install it now! lol
Osren Nov 11th 2008 8:52PM
I think you need the KEY to install it....
when I put the disk in, it made me go online and enter the KEY into my account before it would install.
Galarind Nov 11th 2008 8:59PM
Yep, three 7-11s tried, two shooed me out the door, the third one dug through all the stuff behind the counter to find the disc for me to match the empty box they are selling.
No go though, my guess is the manager has them locked away somewhere until tomorrow night. /cry
Jerry Nov 11th 2008 8:59PM
You don't need to put the key in to install it. You can just hit SKIP.
I bought one copy from 7-11 today to install on mine and my girlfriend's computer. We have collector's editions paid for at Gamestop so we're just using this disc to install the game, then I'm selling it on Amazon. This way we can just come home tomorrow, pop the key in and play!
Lenroc Nov 11th 2008 9:08PM
The one I stopped at on the way home had them but wouldn't sell me one.
hinu Nov 11th 2008 9:12PM
Expat living in HK preordered from a store...waiting for it to arrive.
HK is notorious for selling games early, but US-only releases (WoW US) never arrive on time.
Tsukasa117 Nov 11th 2008 9:15PM
Ok a Couple things gents and ladies yes its true that many places including Gamestop get games days before a release its the nature of the beast. But as far as people getting there copies the only legitimate reason that I can some to is for people who preordered in malls and cant get there copies at midnight. The reason for this chain of thought is that the usual penalty for selling a game early is a fine of 12 thousand dollars per unite at the lowest so I assume Blizzard Authorized this for certain locations.
Arkkoran Nov 11th 2008 10:29PM
This makes no sense. Why would Blizzard authorize 7-11, a store that is open 24/7 across the entire country, to sell a game that can't even be played yet? If preordering it at a mall makes it so you can't get it at midnight, preorder it somewhere else. I can name at least three Gamestops within 15 miles of my house in Orlando, FL that are doing midnight releases. 7-11 has nothing to do with mall preorders that can't be picked up at midnight.
Besides, who says the reason is legitimate? Perhaps they, oh, I don't know, made a MISTAKE? Face it, most people working at 7-11 don't know and don't care at all about the game. It arrives in a box with a price tag, they sell it, they don't care - money is money. I'd also like to see the source of this "12 thousand dollars per unite" fine you speak of.
Tsukasa117 Nov 12th 2008 7:12AM
That's a reasonable response right -.-. going were i left off non of that is the issue I'm just stating a theory. Two yes for games there a fine for releasing it and selling it to the consumer before there intended release date it starts at 12 thousand and only goes up, wanna know how I know that...... I WORK AT GAMESTOP. Brilliant concept isn't it, so before you spam a post think about what your saying and make sure that the comment you post is received as intended. GG i'm out =)
Arkkoran Nov 12th 2008 8:30AM
I'm not "spamming" anything, so chill. I'm just showing you how your "theory" makes no sense. If this was really Blizzard's solution to malls not opening at midnight, then why would they allow 7-11 to sell it early when they are guaranteed to be open at midnight? That wouldn't solve anything. And "WORKING AT GAMESTOP" doesn't tell me anything. If I work at an auto parts store, does that make EVERYTHING I say about auto parts true? No.
Leohat Nov 11th 2008 9:18PM
Blizard games (not Blizzard themselves) are bit notorius for being sold before the release date.
Diablo 2 had max level charecters by the time the offical release date hit due to being sold early.
moxie Nov 11th 2008 9:25PM
We found our copies earlier tonight at a 7-11 in the north Virginia/DC metro area. Had to go to about ten 7-11s to find one that a. had the boxes and b. would sell early, but it paid off.
Bad news: it looks like each store only got 2-3 copies.
Hint: Some 7-11s have big red signs in their windows saying something like "get your games here!" along with a picture of the 7 games they are selling. Those are the stores you want to check, we found that stores without the sign didn't carry games at all.
seveneleven Nov 11th 2008 9:35PM
Confirmed, I just got my Wotlk copy at a 7-11 in Hollywood. It was the only copy they had. I checked a couple of other 7-11's. One of them had several empty "please bring to cashier to purchase" boxes but they apparently they didn't have the actual games in stock yet. I'll continue to check more locations tomorrow so I hopefully don't have to wait till the midnight release at Gamestop or Best Buy.
Penny Nov 11th 2008 9:36PM
Thank you 7-11, Just got my copy after about 12 stores. One even told me that they could not sell it till sunday lol.
First boat out of Stormwind here I come.
Trebor Nov 11th 2008 9:48PM
Called all local 7-11's and they will only give you one if you pre-ordered it from them already.
Vapori Nov 11th 2008 9:57PM
Wait...7/11 carries video games??? The 7/11's here only carry bad hot dogs, toqiutos, slurpies and other fine junk food.
Deathgodryuk Nov 11th 2008 10:13PM
I got mine at the first 7/11 I went to. They had to crack open the box they came in but I bought the only two copies they had. Thank heaven for 7/11.
Callara Nov 11th 2008 10:34PM
After checking out the article on 7-11 earlier today I decided to check out both of the 7-11's around our house, sure enough they both had WotLK and had it up for sale. Interestingly enough the ads for games they had in the store showed other games with release dates and Wrath only had "Sometime in November" listed. Anyway thanks for the tip wowinsider! Now I won't have to wait up in line for BestBuy in the rain tomorrow night.