You won’t be able to play Cataclysm until December 7th at 12:00am PST, but Blizzard Entertainment has released a hefty digital download that’ll let preorderers play the WoW expansion as soon as it goes live, and you can download it right now.
Note that the digital download only works for the standard edition of Cataclysm: Collector’s Edition “is exclusive to physical retail copies.”
Blizzard’s full FAQ on the subject:
Q. When will my credit card (or other payment method) be charged?
A. You will be charged on the day that you place your pre-order for World of Warcraft: Cataclysm.
Q. Why do I need to log in to the game once after I’ve upgraded?
A. The first time you log in after pre-ordering, your account will become eligible to begin receiving the Cataclysm data when it’s available. The data will automatically download in the background while you play World of Warcraft or while you have the Launcher window open.
Q. Can I pre-order a physical copy of Cataclysm and have it shipped?
A. Not from Blizzard Entertainment, but many retailers offer pre-orders of physical boxes and Collector’s Editions.
Q. In what regions is the Cataclysm pre-sale available? What day/time is Cataclysm launching in my region?
A. The pre-sale is available in the following regions, with realms scheduled to launch at the following times:
Americas, Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia – December 7 at 12:01 a.m. PST Europe and Russia – December 7 at 12:01 a.m. CET
Q. Will a digital version of the Collector’s Edition, with the exclusive pet, be available?
A. No. The World of Warcraft: Cataclysm Collector’s Edition is exclusive to physical retail copies. The digital version consists of the standard edition.
(WoW Forums via Joystiq | Predownload link)
