Looks like Blizzard fanboys won’t be working on their tans this summer, that is unless LCD screens start emitting UV rays. The long awaited and much anticipated Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty is officially set to launch this summer. That’s right, you’ll finally be able to get your hands on this real-time strategy game on July 27th.

Starcraft II will consist of a 29-mission single-player campaign, focusing on the Terran faction. The multiplayer allows gamers to engage in real-time strategy warfare as two additional factions, the hive-like Zerg and technologically advanced Protoss. Blizzard has two sequels in the works that focus on these factions, entitled Legacy of the Void and Heart of the Swarm.

As we previously reported, Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty will be available in a special edition set for $100, which will include an art book with illustrations and concept art, a 2GB USB flash drive loaded with the original StarCraft and the StarCraft: Brood War expansion, a behind-the-scenes DVD, and a 14-track soundtrack CD. You can also pick up the game alone for $60.

Those eager to get a chance to play earlier can pre-order Starcraft II from GameStop, which will allow them access to the beta. This is a big year for Blizzard, as they’re also releasing a new World of Warcraft expansion later this year.

While the world has no idea when Blizzard’s highly anticipated follow-up to Starcraft will be released, somehow the StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty Collector’s Edition has already been priced. According to Kotaku, the set will cost you a hefty $100.

Why one hundred smackaroos? This box set will include an art book packed with illustrations and concept art, a 2GB USB flash drive replica of Jim Raynor’s dog tag loaded with the original StarCraft and the StarCraft: Brood War expansion, a behind-the-scenes DVD, and a 14-track soundtrack CD.

But the most interesting inclusion to the special edition is a mini-Thor in-game World of Warcraft pet. Blizzard must be counting on us Warcraft players to switch over to StarCraft II while we wait impatiently for the next WoW expansion, Cataclysm. Those just waiting with baited breath for StarCraft II:Wings of Liberty can pick up the game for $60.

We’ll be bringing you the latest StarCraft II news, including its release date, in the coming weeks.

In case you were curious what Sam Raimi was up to these days, wonder no more because Blizzard Entertainment and Legendary Pictures just signed him to direct the upcoming movie based on the hugely popular game Warcraft. Raimi, of course, is the director of the blockbuster Spider-Man series and will now bring the forces of the Horde and the Alliance to life in an epic live-action film. He will also produce the pic in association with Charles Roven’s Atlas Entertainment.

“At its core, Warcraft is a fantastic, action-packed story,” said Raimi. “I am thrilled to work with such a dynamite production team to bring this project to the big screen.” In case you’re not familiar with Warcraft, its set in a rich fantasy universe that revolves around the epic conflict between the opposing forces of the Horde and the Alliance.

World of Warcraft, the subscription-based massively multiplayer online role-playing game set in the Warcraft universe, is the most popular game of its kind in the world. Its most recent expansion, Wrath of the Lich King, is the fastest-selling PC game of all time, with more than 2.8 million copies sold in its first 24 hours of availability and more than 4 million in its first month.

No other details on the movie such as cast, writers or a release date are available as of yet. But rest assured, when details emerge, we’ll bring them to you right here.