Blizzard Entertainment announced on Thursday that Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne has gone gold master. The forthcoming expansion pack for Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos is expected to hit store shelves on July 1st, simultaneously for Mac and PC.
Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne adds a new chapter to the story of Warcraft III, which was released last year. In the single-player campaign, gamers return to the world of Azeroth. Several months have passed since the events culminating in the final chapter in Reign of Chaos.
The evil Lich King Ner’zhul’s soul has been trapped within the Icecrown glacier. Both the Night Elf Illidan and the Death Knight Arthas seek Ner’zhul’s power. Players must traverse uncharted lands and battle new enemies while trying to thwart this evil plan.
The Frozen Throne incorporates four new single-player campaigns, along with what Blizzard describes as an “RPG-style mini-campaign” that’s designed to show off the game’s World Editor, which has been improved with the expansion pack. Four new race-specific Heroes have been added, each with their own special spells and abilities. Three new tilesets help to create new lands. Player-built shops, five new neutral heroes, new neutral buildings and other changes have been added, too.
What’s more, The Frozen Throne sports expanded multiplayer options over Battle.net, Blizzard’s free online multiplayer service, including clan and tournament support. New multiplayer maps have also been added.
Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne will be available from retailers for Mac and Windows formats for about US$35, starting July 1st. The game has been rated T for Teen by the ESRB. You can also order the game direct from Blizzard if you prefer.