World of Warcraft: Forever launches on 4 November 2026 at 3:00 p.m. PST. The beta runs 17 September to 22 October, name reservation opens 27 October, and the base game is included with a World of Warcraft subscription — but the Skyborne race and beta access are paid upgrades.
Forever is Blizzard's Classic+: vanilla Azeroth continued forward with new content instead of frozen or re-released. The level cap is 60 and Blizzard has said it will not be raised.
Key dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Announced at BlizzCon | 12 September 2026 |
| Beta opens | 17 September 2026 |
| Beta closes | 22 October 2026 |
| Name reservation | 27 October 2026 |
| Launch | 4 November 2026 |
| Raids unlock | 9 December 2026 |
| Hardcore ruleset | Winter 2026/27 |
| First major update | Spring 2027 |
What each edition costs
| Edition | Price | What it adds |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription or Game Time | — | The base game from 4 November. Nothing else. |
| Skyborne Heroic Pack | $29.99 | Skyborne race and its starting zone, Cerulean Prideclaw ground mount, Shen'dorei Skyseer's Garb transmog, Shen'dorei Windwell toy, Skyborne housing decor, early name reservation |
| Skyborne Epic Pack | $59.99 | Everything above, plus beta access from 17 September, 30 days of Game Time from 4 November, extra cosmetics, pets and tabards, and three Invite-A-Friend launch codes |
| Warcraft Forever Collection | $79.99 | Everything above, plus Warcraft III: Reforged, the Forsaken Kingdom campaign, and Forsaken and Human figurine housing decor for modern WoW |
| Collector's Edition | Blizzard Gear Store | Physical box plus the Warcraft Forever Collection code |
The distinction that catches people out: the game is included with a subscription, the race is not, and beta access is not. Playing as a Skyborne needs at least the $29.99 Heroic Pack; playing before 4 November needs the $59.99 Epic Pack.
Full breakdown in our Collector's Edition and tier comparison, and the beta specifically in how to get beta access.
What is actually new
- Around 1,000 new quests across revamped and entirely new zones.
- Four new zones: Zephras Isle (the Skyborne starting zone, 1–12), the Riverglades (mid-30s to mid-40s), Shen’dralas and Mount Hyjal. Details on our zones page.
- The Skyborne, a new playable race — winged elves who can play warrior, hunter, rogue, druid, shaman and mage. Requires the Heroic Pack or higher.
- Nine new dungeons, and three raids unlocking 9 December: Barrow Deeps (10 players), Hyjal Summit (20) and Onyxia’s Lair (40). See dungeons and raids.
- A new battleground on the Darkspear Islands.
- Class revamps — new talents and abilities, plus class and race combinations vanilla never allowed.
The level cap matters more than it sounds
The cap is 60, and Blizzard describes Forever as “not a mode, a season, or a new version of Classic” but an evergreen Azeroth that keeps expanding: more to do at 60 rather than a higher number to chase. Its 2026/2027 roadmap lists raids on 9 December, Hardcore in winter, and major updates in Spring and Summer 2027. Blizzard has not announced a fixed update cadence; the widely repeated “every four months from March 2027” is a press estimate, not a Blizzard date. Full timeline on our roadmap page.
For anyone who has watched a retail character become obsolete with each expansion, this is the practical difference. A geared 60 in Forever does not get invalidated by the next patch raising the cap — there is no next cap.
How Forever relates to the Classic you already play
Blizzard has said the existing WoW Classic versions continue as they are. Classic Era, Hardcore, Season of Discovery and the Anniversary realms are not being replaced or merged, and Forever runs alongside them as its own thing.
Whether characters can move between them has not been announced. Assume they cannot until Blizzard says otherwise.
What is still unknown
- The Collector's Edition price and shipping date.
- Whether character transfers from Classic Era or Season of Discovery will exist.
- Realm structure and how many servers launch on day one.
- Anything about endgame progression beyond the two launch raids.
This page is updated as Blizzard confirms more.
Frequently asked questions
When does WoW Forever release?
World of Warcraft: Forever launches on 4 November 2026 at 3:00 p.m. PST. Name reservation opens 27 October.
Is WoW Forever free with a subscription?
The base game is included with a World of Warcraft subscription or Game Time. The Skyborne race is not: it requires the Skyborne Heroic Pack at $29.99 or higher.
What is the level cap in WoW Forever?
The cap is 60, and no level increase is on Blizzard’s roadmap. Content is added horizontally instead: raids on 9 December 2026, then major updates in Spring and Summer 2027.
Does WoW Forever replace WoW Classic?
No. Blizzard calls Forever a new home “alongside modern and Classic WoW” and has not announced closing any existing Classic version. Forever runs alongside them.
Buying a WoW Forever account on METAMMO
Every account is checked by hand before it is listed and every purchase carries a lifetime warranty against recovery: if the original owner ever recovers the account, you get a refund or a replacement, and verified claims are resolved within 48 hours. Delivery happens in a private support ticket after payment, where we walk you through changing the email and setting up two-factor authentication.
See WoW Forever account services or browse WoW Classic accounts available now.