The GDKP ban in WoW: Forever covers only North America and Europe, according to Blizzard's Clay Stone in an interview with 4Gamers Taiwan reported on October 9, 2026. Separately, Josh Greenfield said on October 8 that over 2,100 gold buying accounts had already been closed in the beta.
GDKP ban: only NA and EU realms
Blizzard first said GDKP raids would not be allowed in Forever at its September 17, 2026 developer Q&A. GDKP is a raid format where loot is auctioned for gold and the pot is split among the group.
In the 4Gamers interview with Clay Stone and Holly Longdale, Stone clarified that the rule applies to North America and Europe. Other regions are not covered, which matches how Blizzard handled GDKP in Season of Discovery and on the Anniversary realms.
Why Blizzard banned GDKP
Blizzard's stated reasons focus on social play and the economy. In short, the team argues that GDKP can push aside regular guild raiding, prices out players with less gold, and creates demand for bought gold that lets bad actors launder gold.
Stone also said that Forever players will earn much more gold than in original Classic, and that Black Lotus is capped at 50 gold. More on raids is on our Forever raids page.
2,100+ gold buyer accounts closed in the beta
On the third episode of the official WoW: Forever podcast, released October 8, 2026, Senior Game Designer Josh Greenfield gave the first ban numbers from the beta.
| Group | Accounts closed in beta | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Accounts that bought gold | Over 2,100 | Podcast Ep. 3, October 8 |
| Gold selling or botting accounts | Almost 1,600 | Podcast Ep. 3, October 8 |
Greenfield said this stance will continue at launch and detection will keep improving. He also said the team can tell normal trades, such as a tip for a portal or a crafting fee, apart from RMT.
Timeline of Blizzard's RMT statements
| Date (2026) | What Blizzard said |
|---|---|
| September 17 | GDKP will not be allowed in Forever (developer Q&A) |
| September 28 | Illicit gold will be removed from buyers; accounts can be closed |
| October 1 | Buyers face gold removal, suspensions or closures; trade warning announced |
| October 8 | 2,100+ buyer and ~1,600 seller or bot accounts closed in beta |
| October 9 (reported) | GDKP ban limited to NA and EU |
| October 13 | Temporary Economy Holds introduced |
The newest step is covered in our Temporary Economy Holds report, which explains how suspicious accounts lose trade and Auction House access during an investigation.
What it means at launch on November 4
If you plan to play on NA or EU realms, expect raid loot to go through normal guild or group loot rules, not gold auctions. Players in other regions should watch for local announcements. Realm details are on our servers and launch page.
Gold for repairs, mounts and consumables will come from play; our gold guide covers the basics, and Forever account prices show what leveled characters cost.
Frequently asked questions
Is GDKP banned in every WoW: Forever region?
No. Per Clay Stone's 4Gamers interview, the ban applies to North America and Europe only.
How many gold buyers were banned in the beta?
Over 2,100 gold buying accounts, plus almost 1,600 gold selling or botting accounts, per Josh Greenfield on October 8, 2026.
Can I still tip players or pay crafters?
Yes. Blizzard says it distinguishes tips and crafting payments from RMT trades.
Sources
- Wowhead: GDKP ban only applies to NA and Europe realms (4Gamers interview)
- Wowhead: 2,100+ gold buying accounts banned on WoW: Forever beta
- Blizzard forums: WoW: Forever Podcast Episode 3
- Blizzard forums: Gold buying rules (September 28)
- Blizzard forums: Actions Taken Against Botting and RMT (October 1)
- Inven Global: WoW Forever bans GDKP runs