Battle.net announces that background downloads are now underway for StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void, the upcoming conclusion to Blizzard's real-time strategy sequel. The client is around 5 GB, but there should still be ample time to get it before the game officially launches next month. Here's word:

The download will be around 5GB in size and include things like models, textures, art files, and other upcoming Legacy of the Void content that is already complete. By making this data available early, you’ll have less to download once Legacy of the Void is released.

The background download is encrypted and won’t make any changes to the live game or Battle.net service until Legacy of the Void is released. In the meantime, you will be able to play StarCraft II as normal, and your in-game experience should remain unaffected by the download.

In order for the background download to begin, StarCraft II must be installed on your computer and patched up to the latest build. Please note that you will be eligible for the background download even if you have not pre-purchased Legacy of the Void.