BlizzCon 2010: Cataclysm will be available for digital download on launch day

by Zach Yonzon Oct 22nd 2010 at 2:24PM

Straight from the Mike Morhaime's mouth during opening ceremonies -- Cataclysm will be available for digital download at midnight Pacific Standard Time of December 7, 2010. For the first time in the game's history, the game will be available for purchase online at the same time as it launches in retail stores. Pre-orders for Cataclysm digital downloads will be available on the Blizzard site soon. Players eager to play the game right away but don't have the endurance (or geographical proximity) to attend a midnight launch can simply sit in the comfort of their homes and enter a broken Azeroth as the game goes live on launch day. CLARIFICATION: Morhaime mentioned that the game should be available for digital download ahead of the launch date, allowing players to have the full game when Cataclysm goes live.

Tags: breaking, breaking-news, BreakingNews, cataclysm-game, cataclysm-guide, cataclysm-news, digital-download, expansion, expansion-three, next-xpac, third-expansion, world-of-warcraft-cataclysm, wow-4.0, wow-4.0.2, wow-cataclysm, wow-expansion, wow-guide, wow-third-expansion

Filed under: News items, BlizzCon

Reader Comments (Page 2 of 5)

Tim Oct 23rd 2010 9:36AM

I'd like a disc also. This is the plan. If they offer the download a few weeks ahead. I will go ahead and do that. Then in about a year or so when someone is selling one on Amazon.com for a few dollars I'll buy that copy and have the disc for whatever reason I'd need. (Of course not a used one, for disc codes and all that nonsense.)

CrossEyed Oct 22nd 2010 2:32PM

With the new launcher design, will those of us who have jobs and no left over vacation time be able to just leave the launcher up that Monday night and it start downloading automatically at midnight or do we have to be up to start it?

Galestrom Oct 22nd 2010 2:33PM

Me likey. =)

Calieb- Oct 22nd 2010 2:35PM

i wonder if it is available at EST or is it specific to your ISP timezone?

Josin Oct 22nd 2010 2:38PM

I would assume it'll be PST, since Blizzard runs everything off the wrong coast. But word has it that you'll be able to download it a few days prior to the launch, then install when things click over at midnight EST.

Phaelan Oct 22nd 2010 2:56PM

actually the expansions are released starting at 12am EST, I would guess that anyone that downloads it would have access based on their timezone location.

Josin Oct 22nd 2010 3:57PM

I wasn't aware that my outlook was bad, just because I recognize that the entire world except Blizzard revolves around Eastern Standard.

Muse Oct 22nd 2010 9:30PM

When Wrath came out, the EU version unlocked on Moscow time.

(cutaia) Oct 22nd 2010 2:36PM

What, no header image? Come on Zach...how about a picture of Deathwing screaming, "I DOWNLOADED YOUR WORLD!"

(cutaia) Oct 22nd 2010 2:40PM

Oh sure, put something up right after I say that to make me look crazy.

Unless the image was always there, in which case, maybe I need to see someone about this...

Josin Oct 22nd 2010 2:40PM

Now he's got a header image that states it'll be starting at 3am EST. That's going to cause issues for the poor folks running The Queue.

Gen Man Oct 22nd 2010 2:43PM

I would also accept "I'M IN YOUR COMPUTER!"

Joe Oct 22nd 2010 3:14PM

The Deathwing chat bubble got old, very.

Yomamma Oct 22nd 2010 2:38PM

That's great news!

But, in an odd sort of way, I'm looking forward to standing in line at Gamestop to pickup my preordered copies.

WolfStar Oct 24th 2010 7:15PM

How soon can we preorder and download Cata? Does anyone know?

Metatron Oct 22nd 2010 2:39PM

However this still means EU players would have to wait several hours, so its best for us to either go to a midnight launch, preorder and hope we get it the day before delievered (like many did last time) or pre-order a cata key which will be emailed to us at midnight EU time.

But this is good news for those on the west coast in US no doubt.

Drakkenfyre Oct 22nd 2010 2:40PM

Considering most of the expansion's content is already downloaded and installed with 4.0.1, I was expecting them to announce that, and that it simply would require the CD Key to unlock.

Also, I call foul on the Doom 2 slide. They used the 3D pack made by a fan, instead of the original graphics.

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