Mac and PC game publisher Blizzard Entertainment announced Tuesday that it’s shipping Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne, the hotly anticipated expansion pack for last year’s smash-hit Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos. The add-on should be in stores now and is available on hybrid CD-ROM for both Mac and Windows users.
Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos set records last year on its release. The game features the world of Azeroth, a war-torn land populated by different species of warlike creatures including Humans, Orcs, Night Elves, and the Undead. Each vie for control of the land as they battle one another, lead by Heroes each with unique powers and abilities. The game features extensive multiplayer support through Battle.net, Blizzard’s own free online gaming service.
Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne picks up where Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos left off. Several months have passed since Archimonde and the Burning Legion were defeated at Mount Hyjal. Now the Night Elf renegade Illidan and the Death Knight Arthas are determined to reach Icecrown Glacier, the icy prison of the soul of the evil Lich King Ner’zhul.
Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne adds four new single-player campaigns to the original game, including a bonus “RPG-style” mini campaign designed to demonstrate the world editor (which runs natively in Mac OS X). Four new race-specific heroes have been added, along with two new units per race. Three new tilesets are included, featuring new lands, new creeps and new critters. Player-built shops are available, equipped with unique items for each race, and new neutral buildings can supply additional units, magic items, and new transportation.
What’s more, multiplayer options in Warcraft III are enhanced with the new release: Clan and tournament play is now supported, and new multiplayer maps have been added.
And players who create their own scenarios using the world editor can now incorporate cut-scenes and voiceovers into their custom campaigns, as well.
Look for Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne in stores now for US$35.
In related news, Blizzard also released an update to Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos to bring that version to v1.10. The new update is available for download by connecting to Battle.net. More details are available online.