World of Warcraft: Cataclysm Coming to China on July 12th

Chinese publisher NetEase has announced that they’re bringing the revitalized addiction that is World of Warcraft: Cataclysm to mainland China in just a few short weeks, on July 12th, 2011. I’m sure this means that World of Warcraft subscriber numbers are about to get another jolt:

World of Warcraft: Cataclysm to Launch in Mainland China on July 12, 2011

SHANGHAI, June 21, 2011 – Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. and NetEase.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTES) today announced that World of Warcraft®: Cataclysmâ„¢, the third expansion for Blizzard Entertainment’s award-winning massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), will launch in mainland China on July 12, 2011. In preparation for the expansion’s release, players can now begin the process of background downloading data for version 4.1 of the game client, which will be required to play the expansion upon its release. Complete downloading instructions are available at www.warcraftchina.com/news/2011/6/21/1.html.

“With Cataclysm, we built on everything we learned since launching World of Warcraft to revitalize the game world for existing players and make it even more accessible to new ones,” said Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. “We’ve always appreciated Chinese gamers’ passion and support for World of Warcraft, and we’re excited that they’ll soon be able to enjoy all of the great new content this expansion has to offer.”

“Ever since it first launched in China, World of Warcraft has been one of the most popular online games among players here. With all of the new features and content it introduces, Cataclysm takes the game experience to a whole new level,” said William Ding, CEO of NetEase. “We’re fully prepared on all fronts to provide great service and support to new and returning players throughout China, and we look forward to welcoming them to the revamped Azeroth.”

In Cataclysm, the face of Azeroth will be forever altered by the return of the corrupted Dragon Aspect Deathwing. Players will explore once-familiar areas of the world that have been reshaped by the devastation and filled with new opportunities for adventure. In an effort to survive the planet-shattering cataclysm, two new playable races — worgen and goblins — will join the struggle between the Alliance and the Horde. As players journey to the new level cap of 85, they’ll discover newly revealed locations, acquire new levels of power, and come face to face with Deathwing in a battle to determine the fate of the world.

For more information on World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, visit the official website at www.warcraftchina.com.

About Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.

Best known for blockbuster hits including World of Warcraft® and the Warcraft®, StarCraft®, and Diablo® franchises, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. (www.blizzard.com), a division of Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ: ATVI), is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment software renowned for creating some of the industry’s most critically acclaimed games. Blizzard Entertainment’s track record includes thirteen #1-selling games and multiple Game of the Year awards. The company’s online-gaming service, Battle.net®, is one of the largest in the world, with millions of active players.

About NetEase.com, Inc.

NetEase.com, Inc. is a leading China-based Internet technology company that pioneered the development of applications, services and other technologies for the Internet in China.  NetEase’s online communities and personalized premium services have established a large and stable user base for the NetEase websites which are operated by its affiliates.  In particular, NetEase provides online game services to Internet users through its in-house development or licensing of massively multi-player online role-playing games, including Fantasy Westward Journey, Westward Journey Online II and III, Tianxia II, Heroes of Tang Dynasty and Datang, as well as the licensed game, Blizzard Entertainment’s World of Warcraft and StarCraft II.