Release Date
World of Warcraft: Forever launches worldwide on November 4, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. PST. Every region goes live at the same moment: late evening on November 4 in the UK, midnight in central Europe, and the morning of November 5 in Korea and Australia.
Base access is included with an active World of Warcraft subscription or Game Time, so you can play on launch day without buying anything extra. Optional upgrade packs add the Skyborne race, beta access, name reservation, and cosmetics.
Launch Time Near You
| Time Zone | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Pacific (PST) | Wed, Nov 4 | 3:00 p.m. |
| Eastern (EST) | Wed, Nov 4 | 6:00 p.m. |
| UTC / London (GMT) | Wed, Nov 4 | 11:00 p.m. |
| Central Europe (CET) | Thu, Nov 5 | 12:00 a.m. |
| Korea (KST) | Thu, Nov 5 | 8:00 a.m. |
| Sydney (AEDT) | Thu, Nov 5 | 10:00 a.m. |
Daylight saving time ends in the United States on November 1 and in Europe on October 25, so these times already use winter clocks.
Key Dates
| Date | What Happens |
|---|---|
| September 12, 2026 | WoW Forever announced at BlizzCon 2026 |
| September 17, 2026 – October 21, 2026 | Beta |
| October 20, 2026 | Invite-A-Friend Launch Codes start arriving by email |
| October 27 – November 3, 2026 | Name reservation: create up to three characters early |
| November 4, 2026, 3:00 p.m. PST | Global launch |
| December 9, 2026 | Barrow Deeps, Hyjal Summit, and Onyxia's Lair raids unlock |
| Winter 2026 | Hardcore ruleset launches |
Beta
The beta runs from September 17, 2026 through October 21, 2026 PST. The Skyborne Epic Pack and Warcraft Forever Collection include access, and a free opt-in gives everyone else a chance to join. Read the WoW Forever beta guide for every way in, the level cap, and how to install, and the schedule in the Americas for every date in Pacific time.
Upgrade Packs
| Pack | Skyborne Race | Beta Access | Invite Codes | Also Includes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skyborne Heroic Pack | Yes | — | 1 | Mount, cosmetics, toy, and housing decor |
| Skyborne Epic Pack | Yes | Yes | 3 | Everything in Heroic, plus more cosmetics and pets |
| Warcraft Forever Collection | Yes | Yes | 3 | Everything in Epic, plus Warcraft III: Reforged and the Forsaken Kingdom campaign |
Every pack includes the Skyborne race and its Zephras Isle starting experience. Invite-A-Friend Launch Codes arrive by email from October 20, 2026, and let a friend play Forever during launch week, November 4 to 11, without a subscription. Read more in the Skyborne guide.
Full pack contents: Blizzard's pre-purchase announcement.
Collector's Edition
The WoW Forever Collector's Edition sells for $150 on the Blizzard Gear Store and ships from November 2026. Alongside its physical collectibles, it includes the full Warcraft Forever Collection, so you get everything in the Skyborne Epic Pack, including beta access and 30 days of Game Time.
- Warcraft Forever Collection digital code: the Skyborne Epic Pack, Warcraft III: Reforged, and the Forsaken Kingdom campaign
- 13-inch Dwarf and Bear statue
- Zephras Isle mousepad
- Art prints, collectible pins, and a companion journal
If you want your digital rewards sooner, buy the Warcraft Forever Collection on the Battle.net Shop now. Some digital purchases qualify for a Battle.net Balance credit when you later redeem your Collector's Edition code; check the Gear Store listing for availability in your region.
Name Reservation
From October 27 – November 3, 2026 PST, every upgrade pack lets you create and customize up to three characters and lock in their names before launch. Forever is realmless, so names are unique per region rather than per server. Agree on a ruleset with your friends first, since grouping across rulesets is not supported.
Roadmap
Raids unlock on December 9, 2026: Barrow Deeps for 10 players, Hyjal Summit for 20, and Onyxia's Lair for 40. Hardcore follows in winter, and major updates arrive in spring and summer 2027. See the raids guide.
| Window | What Arrives |
|---|---|
| Autumn 2026 | Beta through October 21 with play up to level 30, name reservation from October 27, and the global launch on November 4. |
| Winter 2026 | Raids unlock December 9: Barrow Deeps (10 players), Hyjal Summit (20 players), and Onyxia's Lair (40 players). The Hardcore ruleset launches. |
| Spring 2027 | Two new raids (10 and 20 players), two new dungeons, new quests and a new playable area, a new legendary questline, and a PvP season refresh. |
| Summer 2027 | A revamped iconic raid, a new raid, expanded world content, two new dungeons, a PvP season refresh, and profession and Legacy updates. |
Common Questions
When is the WoW Forever release date?
WoW Forever launches worldwide on November 4, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. PST, which is 11:00 p.m. UTC. Every region opens at the same moment.
Can I reserve my character name?
Yes. Every upgrade pack includes name reservation from October 27 – November 3, 2026 PST, and you can create up to three characters before launch.
Do I need to buy WoW Forever to play at launch?
No. Base access is included with an active World of Warcraft subscription or Game Time. Upgrade packs add the Skyborne race, beta access, name reservation, and cosmetics.
When do the first raids open?
Barrow Deeps for 10 players, Hyjal Summit for 20 players, and Onyxia's Lair for 40 players all unlock on December 9, 2026, five weeks after launch.
When does Hardcore come to WoW Forever?
Hardcore launches after the main game, in the winter window of the official roadmap. Characters play in their own enclosed ruleset, and a Hardcore character that dies can move to another ruleset.
What is in the WoW Forever Collector's Edition?
The $150 physical edition includes a 13-inch Dwarf and Bear statue, a Zephras Isle mousepad, art prints, pins, a companion journal, and a Warcraft Forever Collection digital code. It ships from November 2026 through the Blizzard Gear Store.