Starcraft II: Heart of the Swarm launch dated

The next installment in the Starcraft II trilogy is set to arrive on March 12th, with Blizzard opening up pre-orders for standard and digital deluxe editions starting today.

Blizzard solidifies the target date after noting last week in its financial report that the company hoped to launch the expansion sometime within the first half of 2013.

Starcraft II: Heart of the Swarm will be offered in three packages: Standard, Digital Deluxe, and Collector’s Edition.

The standard edition runs $40 and contains only the game, while the $60 Digital Deluxe version packs in a World of Warcraft pet, a bonus skin, Zerg portraits/decals, Kerrigan’s wings, and a Zerg sigil for Diablo III characters.

The $80 retail Collector’s Edition will include all the aforementioned goodies from the Digital Deluxe package, plus a 144-page hardcover art book, Zerg mouse pad, behind-the-scenes DVD, and soundtrack CD.

The Collector’s Edition pre-order availability date wasn’t shared as part of the announcement, but both the regular and Digital Deluxe offerings are available for pre-order as of right now.