World of Warcraft Getting Ready For Launch

Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. announced that the Brazilian Portuguese-language version of its critically acclaimed massively multiplayer online role-playing game World of Warcraft^® will be available in retail stores throughout Brazil beginning December 6, 2011. On that date, players in Brazil will be able to purchase fully localized versions of the game and its expansions and begin playing on dedicated realms with the benefit of a Brazilian Portuguese-language customer service team.

Players will also have the option to purchase and download full Brazilian Portuguese versions of World of Warcraft and its expansions through Blizzard’s Battle.net^® website (http://us.battle.net/pt/) using international Visa or MasterCard, or by using various local debit cards, credit cards, cash payments, bank transfers, or eWallet options such as Boleto Bancario through Blizzard Entertainment’s payment-gateway partner, DineroMail, for no additional fee.

“The launch of World of Warcraft in Brazilian Portuguese is another big step toward our goal of making our games even more accessible to players around the world,” said Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. “We’re pleased to be able to enhance the World of Warcraft experience for our Brazilian Portuguese-speaking community with this fully localized version, and we look forward to welcoming a whole new group of Brazilian gamers into Azeroth.”

The Brazilian Portuguese version of World of Warcraft, which includes the content of the first expansion, The Burning Crusade^®, will be available in stores throughout Brazil at a suggested retail price of BRL 29.90. Fully localized versions of the second and third expansions, Wrath of the Lich King™ and Cataclysm™, will also be available the same day at a suggested retail price of BRL 99.90 each.Each game will come packaged in a DVD case and will include the game media and documentation in Brazilian Portuguese. Subscription plans will be available at launch at an expected price of BRL 15 (30 days), BRL 42 (90 days), and BRL 78 (180 day). Sixty-day time cards will also be available in retail stores at launch.

With the upcoming launch of the next World of Warcraft content update, Hour of Twilight (patch 4.3), current players on North American realms will be able to begin downloading and installing a free language pack to play World of Warcraft in Brazilian Portuguese. Designated Brazilian Portuguese realms will be opening on December 6 as an option for players who have installed the language pack or purchased the Brazilian Portuguese version of the game. Also beginning on December 6, Blizzard will for a limited time be offering free character transfers from specific North American realms with high Brazilian populations to the new Brazilian realms.Further details will be posted at www.worldofwarcraft.comcloser to launch.

To celebrate the release of the Brazilian Portuguese version of World of Warcraft, Blizzard Entertainment will be hosting an official launch event at Casa de Caldeiras in Sao Paulo on the evening of December 6. Players will have an opportunity to purchase localized versions of the game and its expansions, and Blizzard Entertainment representatives will be on hand to meet with players and sign copies of the game.In addition, the event will feature an array of entertainment, including a dance contest showcasing players' favorite moves from the game, with prizes for the winning competitors. For further details on the official launch event, visit the official World of Warcraft website at www.worldofwarcraft.com.