World of Warcraft: Forever is a new persistent version of WoW launching on 4 November 2026 that will run alongside modern World of Warcraft and WoW Classic. It is set in a reimagined original Azeroth and comes with the regular subscription, so you do not need to buy anything extra. Below you will find what Forever offers, how it works without traditional servers, what the optional packs include and which dates matter before launch. Everything is based on official Blizzard information as of 20 October 2026.
What WoW: Forever is
Blizzard calls Forever a „full new World of Warcraft game set in a reimagined original Azeroth“. It is a complete new game in the original world, rebuilt with new and expanded zones plus improved graphics and lighting. Unlike Classic, it is not meant to stay frozen in time. Blizzard plans to keep developing it with regular patches.
The story picks up after Warcraft III: Reforged and its Forsaken Kingdom campaign and takes place before Molten Core. You play on the original continents and level up to 60. Blizzard promises more than 1,000 new quests, new dungeons and raids. The official overview lives on the WoW Forever page.
What is new in Forever
- Skyborne: a new race starting on Zephras Isle, joining the Windshaper Horde or the High Order Alliance.
- New combinations: Forsaken Paladin and Dwarf Shaman.
- Reworked classes: every class and specialization has been revisited.
- Legacy: an account-wide benefits system.
- Camping: a new camping system.
- Professions and Honor: both have been changed.
For one example from the beta, read our news piece on the shaman tank.
Realmless: rulesets instead of servers
Forever has no traditional realms. According to Blizzard Support, you choose a ruleset instead of a server. At launch the options are Normal, PvP and Roleplaying, with Hardcore coming later. The game is still split by region.
Is Forever included in the subscription?
Yes. From 4 November 2026, access to WoW: Forever is part of your World of Warcraft subscription or game time. One subscription covers modern WoW, every Classic version and Forever. Prices and plan lengths are in our guide to the subscription price. The current 12-month subscription offer adds the Tabard of Eternal Exploration, the Eternal Explorer’s Backpack and the Azurky pet for Forever. Blizzard says the bonuses must be redeemed by 30 April 2027.
Optional packs and prices
The packs are optional, with one catch: the Skyborne race and Zephras Isle are only unlocked by the Heroic Pack or higher. Prices from the Battle.net Shop on 20 October 2026, in EUR including VAT:
| Pack | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Skyborne Heroic Pack | 29.99 EUR | Skyborne race and Zephras Isle, Early Name Reservation, Cerulean Prideclaw mount, Shen’dorei Skyseer’s Garb, Veteran Adventurer’s Rucksack, Shen’dorei Windwell toy, Skyborne Housing decor, 1 Invite-A-Friend code |
| Skyborne Epic Pack | 59.99 EUR | Everything in the Heroic Pack, beta access, 30 days of game time from 4 November, more cosmetics, tabards and pets for Forever, 3 Invite-A-Friend codes in total |
| Warcraft Forever Collection | 79.99 EUR (until 11 January 2027) | Everything in the Epic Pack, Warcraft III: Reforged with the Forsaken Kingdom campaign and Housing figurines |
The Cerulean Prideclaw needs a riding skill that you buy in game. Some pack items only work in Forever (pets, tabards), others in both modern WoW and Forever, none of them in Classic. The decor can only be used in modern WoW Housing, which requires the Midnight expansion. A physical Collector’s Edition is sold through the Blizzard Gear Store while stocks last. You can find the packs in the Battle.net Shop.
Key dates before launch
| What | When | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Beta | 17 September to 21 October 2026 | Epic Pack and Collection owners |
| Name reservation | 27 October to 3 November 2026 | Up to 3 characters, first come first served |
| Launch | 4 November 2026 | Everyone with a subscription or game time |
| Invite-A-Friend codes | Emailed from 20 October, valid 4 to 11 November 2026 | Invited friends without a subscription (no beta, not for gift purchases) |
Blizzard lists the packs and dates in its pre-purchase announcement.
System requirements
According to Blizzard Support, Forever has the same minimum and recommended specs as modern WoW with Midnight. The Windows minimum is Windows 10 64-bit, a six-core CPU, a DirectX 12 GPU with 4 GB of memory, 8 GB RAM and an SSD with 128 GB free. Full tables for Windows and Mac are in our system requirements guide.
How Forever differs from Classic
WoW Classic is a faithful recreation of the original game with its original mechanics, and nothing fundamental changes there. Forever takes the same world and rebuilds it: new zones, a new race, new class combinations, new systems and regular patches. Both versions will run side by side and both are included in the subscription. Classic Era, Hardcore and Anniversary are explained in our overview of WoW Classic versions, and our news on the developer’s comments covers why Blizzard is making Forever for Classic players too.
Join our Discord to team up for the Forever launch: Discord GamersTogether.
FAQ
World of Warcraft: Forever launches globally on 4 November 2026. Character name reservation runs from 27 October to 3 November 2026.
No. Access is included with a World of Warcraft subscription or game time. The Heroic, Epic and Collection packs are optional, but the Skyborne race is only unlocked by the Heroic Pack or higher.
According to the Battle.net Shop on 20 October 2026, the Skyborne Heroic Pack costs 29.99 EUR, the Skyborne Epic Pack 59.99 EUR and the Warcraft Forever Collection 79.99 EUR.
Not traditional realms. Forever is realmless and you choose a ruleset instead: Normal, PvP and Roleplaying at launch, with Hardcore coming later.
Level 60. The game is set on the original continents after the events of Warcraft III: Reforged and before Molten Core.
Information verified on 20 October 2026. We will update this guide after the 4 November launch. More World of Warcraft help is in our WoW guides, the latest stories in our WoW news.