Blizzard has announced that Mists of Pandaria, World of Warcraft’s fourth expansion, will be released on September 25th, 2012.  The standard edition of the expansion will cost $39.99 and will be available both as a disc and as a digital download.

What was once an April’s Fools Joke is now a reality.

Blizzard is also offering a Digital Deluxe Edition and a Collector’s Edition.  The Digital Deluxe Edition will be priced at $59.99 and will include exclusive in-game items such as a pet and mount for World of Warcraft, a portrait for Starcraft II, and a banner sigil for Diablo III.  The Collector’s Edition will be available for $79.99 and will include everything from the previous editions, as well as a Behind-the-Scenes DVD and Blu-Ray, the soundtrack from the expansion, a concept art book, and a mouse pad.

Mists of Pandaria’s main features include the Pandaren as a new playable race and Pandaria as a new continent.