Diablo III: Book of Cain to release in US December 13, internationally February 7

Blizzard has announced the hardbound edition of Diablo III: Book of Cain will be released on December 13 for $35.00 in the US. A localized version for other regions will be released on February 7, 2012 internationally.

The illustrated book, which is available for preview over on Insight Editions, incluides artwork by Brom, Mark Gibbons, Jim Gurney, John Howe, Alan Lee, Iain McCaig, Jean-Baptiste Monge, and Adrian Smith.

Book of Cain chronicles the origins and history of the demon-plagued world of Sanctuary as told by the scholar Deckard Cain's journal, which was passed down to his adopted daughter, Leah. In it, the tale of Sanctuary's creation and the eternal war between the High Heavens and the Burning Hells is told, along with the rise of the Zakarum, Horadrim traditions, the genesis and geography of Sanctuary, and it notes key moments such as the destruction of Tristram which leads to the events in Diablo III.

Announced in July, the lore included in Book of Cain was given its own panel during BlizzCon in October.

Currently in beta, Diablo III will be released next year on PC and Mac.