Release
WoW Forever Release Date, Launch Time & Access
World of Warcraft: Forever launches November 4, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. PST. See subscription access, beta timing, and the launch-week invite window.
World of Warcraft: Forever launches globally on November 4, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. PST. Blizzard says access is included with an active World of Warcraft Subscription or Game Time, so Forever is not presented as a separate base game that every subscriber must buy again.
Confirmed launch details
| Detail | Confirmed information |
|---|---|
| Launch date | November 4, 2026 |
| Launch time | 3:00 p.m. PST |
| Access | Included with WoW Subscription or Game Time |
| Beta | September 17–October 21, 2026, PST |
| Early Name Reservation | October 27–November 3, 2026, PST |
| New raids unlock | December 9, 2026 |
Blizzard has described Forever as a permanent new home alongside modern and Classic WoW, not as a temporary season. The launch version begins a level 1–60 journey through original Azeroth and adds new regions, quests, dungeons, raids, systems, and the Skyborne race.
Do you need to buy an edition to play Forever?
No separate upgrade is required just to access World of Warcraft: Forever if you already have the required subscription or game time. Optional upgrade packs add benefits such as the Skyborne race, Zephras Isle starting experience, Early Name Reservation, cosmetics, beta access, game time, and other extras depending on the edition.
See Editions & Pricing for the complete benefit breakdown.
Launch-week Invite-A-Friend access
Qualifying upgrade purchases include Invite-A-Friend Launch Codes. Blizzard says eligible invitees can redeem a code to access Forever without a subscription or game time from November 4 through November 11, 2026.
Codes begin arriving by email on October 20, 2026, PST. The Heroic Pack includes one code, while the Epic Pack and Warcraft Forever Collection include three total codes.
What launches after November 4?
The first major scheduled unlock already confirmed is the new raid content on December 9. Blizzard has also promised continued raids, dungeons, PvP updates, world content, additional level 1–60 quests, Hardcore, a revamped iconic raid, and major evergreen updates after launch.
For the longer timeline, use the WoW Forever Roadmap.
Timing note: Blizzard's current purchase page and What's Next recap list the global launch as 3:00 p.m. PST. We will update this page if Blizzard publishes a region-by-region launch schedule or maintenance window.