WoW Forever: Release Date, Price and the Free Stress Test
calendar_month October 20, 2026 visibility 395 views
World of Warcraft: Forever is Blizzard's new, permanent version of WoW: back in the original world, levelling to 60 and staying at 60. It launches on 4 November 2026; a free public stress test already ran on 21 October. Here is what Forever is, when exactly it starts in Europe and America, what it costs and who can reserve names early, using only what Blizzard has announced.
What WoW Forever is
Forever returns to the original continents with new stories, experiences and updates, and the level cap stays at 60. Blizzard describes it as "a new permanent home alongside modern and Classic WoW". It is a third version of the game next to the other two, not a replacement for either, and modern WoW keeps going with its own seasons.
Release date and launch time
- Launch: 4 November 2026 at 3:00 p.m. Pacific time, at the same moment worldwide.
- Europe: that is midnight going into 5 November in Central Europe, which is why some sites list 5 November.
- Early name reservation: 27 October to 3 November (opening 27 October at 18:00 CET in Europe and 1:00 p.m. PDT in North America), only for buyers of an upgrade edition (Skyborne Heroic Pack, Skyborne Epic Pack or Warcraft Forever Collection). Up to three names, first come, first served.
- How to reserve: in the Battle.net app, install World of Warcraft: Forever, select the Forever version, choose a ruleset (Normal, PvP or Role-Play) and create up to three characters in total across all rulesets.
Is it free? Subscription, Game Time and the Skyborne packs
Forever is included with a World of Warcraft subscription or Game Time; there is no separate box to buy. On top of that, Blizzard sells optional packs:
- Skyborne Heroic Pack: access to the new Skyborne race and the Zephras Isle starting experience.
- Skyborne Epic Pack: adds beta access, extra cosmetics, pets and tabards, and 30 days of Game Time that start on 4 November.
- Warcraft Forever Collection: a limited-time bundle that also adds Warcraft III: Reforged and the Forsaken Kingdom campaign.
- Collector's Edition: sold through the Blizzard Gear Store while supplies last.
Prices differ by region, so check the Battle.net shop for yours.
The free stress test on 21 October
Blizzard ran a free public stress test of Forever on 21 October, open to anyone with a Battle.net account and no subscription needed, for a few hours in the evening European time. As announced, all characters, names and guilds on the test servers were wiped afterwards, so nothing from the test carries over. The next date is the launch itself on 4 November.
What we know, and what we are waiting for
Blizzard's own pages confirm the level 60 cap, the original continents with new stories, the Skyborne race and the editions above. Many sites also repeat numbers from the BlizzCon presentation, such as new dungeons, raids and zones; we will add the details here once Blizzard lists them on its own pages and the launch build is live, so this guide stays accurate.
Forever and modern WoW side by side
Forever does not change anything in modern WoW. Midnight Season 2 keeps running with patch 12.1.5: the one-boss raid The Unbinding of Kith'ix, the Labyrinth of Kindo'jan and Keystone Myth at 3600 rating, all covered in our 12.1.5 guide. If you play both, our self-play Kith'ix raid and Keystone Myth services save time on the modern side. Questions? Ask us on Discord.
