Blizzard Entertainment has announced the release of World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, a major new expansion for its popular online role playing game. It’s available now in North America, Europe, Argentina, Chile, Russia, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand, and costs $39.99.

[ad#Google Adsense 300×250 in story]The world of Warcraft – the land of Azeroth – has been reshaped by the return of the “Dragon Aspect” known as Deathwing. He has left a trail of devastation in his wake, reshaping continents, destroying cities and leaving much of the world in ruins.

Players who purchase the new expansion set will be able to play two new races – worgen and goblins – and a new level cap has been increased to 85. Newly revealed locations have been added, many new missions and quests have been employed, more raid content has been added, new race and class combinations are available, a new secondary profession – Archaeology – has been added, and much more.

This is arguably the most significant expansion to hit World of Warcraft since its first release six years ago. Players discovered more than a week before Cataclysm’s release that Deathwing had already taken flight, laying waste to huge tracts of Azeroth and resetting all of their quest logs in the process.

Cataclysm was launched with midnight sales through each progressive time zone where it was made available. In addition to buying a physical product – available in standard and deluxe editions – Cataclysm is also available for download.