Hordes of World of Warcraft (WoW) fans lined up outside of stores in the U.S. and in Europe last night to be the first to pick up a copy of Wrath of the Lich King, the next expansion for the online multiplayer role-playing game that's 11 million subscribers strong.
In the UK, reports say cues to buy the game rivaled that of the lines that were formed to buy the PlayStation 3 or the Apple 3G iPhone. At a Best Buy in New York, fans lined up despite cold November weather to be the first to buy the game and meet members of the game's development team.
Wrath of the Lich King is the "next epic chapter" of the wildly popular game for PC and Mac, which was first introduced in the U.S. in 2004. Advanced players will be able to explore a new snow-covered continent called Northrend. Players will also be able to advance characters to level 80 (the previous cap was level 70), will reveal a new achievement system, introduce new player-vs-play options and introduce the necromantic death knight -- the game's first Hero class.
The previous game expansion, The Burning Crusade, sold 2.4 million copies on its first day, beating out last week's first-day sales for Xbox 360 game, Gears of War 2, which sold 2.1 million. Early predictions say the Lich King will outsell both.
Lich King can be picked up at all major retail outlets today for $39.99. Players must also own a copy of World of Warcraft, available for $20 and a monthly subscription fee of $15.
A $70 collector's edition of the new expansion is also available and is packed with extras, such as a Lich King art book, an exclusive in-game pet (Frosty, the baby frost wyrm), a behind-the-scenes DVD, the game's soundtrack, mouse pad, and a starter deck for the related collectible card game.
World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King
Blizzard brings the latest expansion to World of Warcraft with Wrath of the Lich King. New lands, powers and adventures await in the newest addition to the world's most popular MMO. (Screenshot 1 of 35)
Blizzard brings the latest expansion to World of Warcraft with Wrath of the Lich King. New lands, powers and adventures await in the newest addition to the world's most popular MMO. (Screenshot 2 of 35)
Blizzard brings the latest expansion to World of Warcraft with Wrath of the Lich King. New lands, powers and adventures await in the newest addition to the world's most popular MMO. (Screenshot 3 of 35)
Blizzard brings the latest expansion to World of Warcraft with Wrath of the Lich King. New lands, powers and adventures await in the newest addition to the world's most popular MMO. (Screenshot 4 of 35)
Blizzard brings the latest expansion to World of Warcraft with Wrath of the Lich King. New lands, powers and adventures await in the newest addition to the world's most popular MMO. (Screenshot 5 of 35)
Blizzard brings the latest expansion to World of Warcraft with Wrath of the Lich King. New lands, powers and adventures await in the newest addition to the world's most popular MMO. (Screenshot 6 of 35)
Blizzard brings the latest expansion to World of Warcraft with Wrath of the Lich King. New lands, powers and adventures await in the newest addition to the world's most popular MMO. (Screenshot 7 of 35)
Blizzard brings the latest expansion to World of Warcraft with Wrath of the Lich King. New lands, powers and adventures await in the newest addition to the world's most popular MMO. (Screenshot 8 of 35)
Blizzard brings the latest expansion to World of Warcraft with Wrath of the Lich King. New lands, powers and adventures await in the newest addition to the world's most popular MMO. (Screenshot 9 of 35)
Blizzard brings the latest expansion to World of Warcraft with Wrath of the Lich King. New lands, powers and adventures await in the newest addition to the world's most popular MMO. (Screenshot 10 of 35)
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