After initially launching to critical acclaim for the PC in 2010, Blizzard’s StarCraft 2 franchise has been a staple in the competitive gaming scene. Although it first released as a direct successor to RTS great, StarCraft: Brood War, the game has already seen one expansion significantly change its gameplay while another expansion is nearing release.

While Blizzard has been refreshingly open about a lot of information regarding StarCraft 2: Legacy of the Void, the newest expansion to their StarCraft 2 series, they have been tight-lipped about key details like the release date. Today Blizzard revealed that those who are fans of both StarCraft and other Blizzard titles will be in for a treat if they're willing to spend a little extra money.

In an announcement released this afternoon, Blizzard announced that Legacy of the Void will be available for purchase as three different versions: standard, Deluxe, and Collector's. Blizzard also revealed that the Deluxe and Collector's Editions of the new Starcraft 2 expansion will come with multiple digital items for other Blizzard titles. Both of these editions will contain:

The Collector's Edition also includes portraits and character-skins for Legacy of the Void players, a hardcover manual, a special-features DVD complete with cinematics, and the game's soundtrack. For people not looking to spend extra on the game, though, all editions of Legacy of the Void will include a unique StarCraft hero for Heroes of the Storm, to be announced later. The preorders list the Standard edition at $40, the Deluxe at $60, and the Collector's Edition at $80.

This isn't the first time Blizzard has included digital item incentives in other games for a new release title. Pre-orders for Diablo 3 saw a similar approach, with purchasers being offered unique incentives in StarCraft 2 and World of Warcraft. At the time, the approach was good enough to make it the fastest selling PC game of all time, and cross-game events and even settings have since become a staple of Blizzard game world building.

While the news is exciting for gamers who love multiple Blizzard titles, it remains to be seen whether or not these items are simply cosmetic add-ons or if they add any new gameplay features. In particular, the Protoss Card Pack sounds like a group of cards that only Hearthstone players who have purchased the Deluxe or Collector's Edition of Legacy of the Void can play. However, Blizzard has yet to allow for players to gain an advantage from in-game purchases, and their stance is unlikely to change.

What do you think of the new digital content? Does the addition of extra items in other games make you more likely to purchase a Deluxe or Collector's Edition of StarCraft 2: Legacy of the Void? Let us know in the comments.

StarCraft 2: Legacy of the Void will be available on PC and the Mac OS X. The release date has yet to be announced.

Source: Gamespot