These are the questions players search for most about World of Warcraft: Forever. Every answer comes from Blizzard's own announcements, shop pages or support articles, listed under each answer. Where Blizzard has not said something yet, we say so instead of guessing.

The basics

What is WoW Forever?

World of Warcraft: Forever is a new World of Warcraft game set in a reimagined original Azeroth, after the events of Warcraft III Reforged: Forsaken Kingdom and before Molten Core. You level to 60 through an updated world with new and expanded zones, more than 1,000 new quests, new dungeons and raids, reworked classes and the new Skyborne race. More in what is WoW Forever.

Source: Carve a New Path with World of Warcraft: Forever; World of Warcraft: Forever Deep Dive Panel Recap; World of Warcraft: Forever (official page)

Is WoW Forever a new expansion?

No. Blizzard calls it a full new World of Warcraft game, separate from modern WoW and from WoW Classic. It uses the same subscription, so one subscription covers modern WoW, WoW Classic, Mists of Pandaria Classic and Forever.

Source: World of Warcraft: Forever Deep Dive Panel Recap; Battle.net Shop: World of Warcraft Subscription (US prices)

When does WoW Forever come out?

It launches globally on November 4, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. PST, which is 23:00 UTC. See the launch time in your time zone.

Source: Pre-Purchase World of Warcraft: Forever Upgrades; Blizzard Support: World of Warcraft: Forever

Is WoW Forever free to play?

No. It requires an active World of Warcraft subscription or Game Time; access is included with either. The exception is launch week: a friend who receives an Invite-A-Friend Launch Code can play from November 4 to November 11, 2026 without a subscription.

Source: Battle.net Shop: World of Warcraft: Forever (US prices); Pre-Purchase World of Warcraft: Forever Upgrades

How much does WoW Forever cost?

In the US, a subscription is $14.99 for one month, $13.99 per month for three months, and $12.99 per month on the 6- and 12-month offers. Optional upgrades cost $29.99 (Skyborne Heroic Pack), $59.99 (Skyborne Epic Pack) and $79.99 (Warcraft Forever Collection). Details on the price and editions page.

Source: Battle.net Shop: World of Warcraft Subscription (US prices); Battle.net Shop: World of Warcraft: Forever (US prices)

Do I need the Midnight expansion to play?

No. Forever only needs a subscription or Game Time. Midnight is only needed to use the housing decor from the Forever packs, because those decor items work in Housing in modern WoW.

Source: World of Warcraft: Forever (official page); Battle.net Shop: World of Warcraft: Forever (US prices)

Editions, beta and name reservation

Do I need to buy something to play the Skyborne?

Yes. The Skyborne race and its Zephras Isle starting quests require the Skyborne Heroic Pack or a higher edition. Everything else in Forever is included with your subscription. See the Skyborne guide.

Source: World of Warcraft: Forever (official page); Battle.net Shop: World of Warcraft: Forever (US prices)

How does early name reservation work?

Anyone who pre-purchases an upgrade can create up to three characters per WoW account from October 27 to November 3, 2026. Names are first come, first served. On the PvP ruleset you cannot have characters of both factions at once, and character creation can be paused for a faction that is far ahead. Times for every region are on the name reservation page.

Source: Blizzard Support: How to Reserve a Character Name in WoW: Forever; Pre-Purchase World of Warcraft: Forever Upgrades

Is the WoW Forever beta still running?

No. The beta ran from September 17 to October 21, 2026, for owners of the Skyborne Epic Pack or the Warcraft Forever Collection.

Source: Pre-Purchase World of Warcraft: Forever Upgrades

Can I install WoW Forever before launch?

No. Blizzard Support says the live game is not available until November 4, 2026, and players cannot install it before then, even after buying an upgrade.

Source: Blizzard Support: Can't Install World of Warcraft: Forever

What is an Invite-A-Friend Launch Code?

A code that comes with the upgrade packs: one with the Heroic Pack, three with the Epic Pack or the Warcraft Forever Collection. Codes were emailed from October 20. A friend who redeems one through Battle.net can play Forever from November 4 to November 11 without a subscription. The codes do not include beta access, and gift purchases do not qualify.

Source: Pre-Purchase World of Warcraft: Forever Upgrades

Realms, rulesets and playing with friends

Does WoW Forever have realms or servers?

No realms. Instead of a server you pick a ruleset: Normal, PvP, Roleplaying or Roleplay-PvP at launch, with Hardcore later. The game is still split by region. More on the rulesets page.

Source: [Updated 10/22] Choose Your Ruleset in World of Warcraft: Forever; Blizzard Support: WoW Forever Realmless

Can I move a character to another ruleset?

No. You cannot freely move between rulesets; to play on another one you create a new character there. The one exception: once Hardcore arrives, a Hardcore character who dies can transfer to another ruleset.

Source: [Updated 10/22] Choose Your Ruleset in World of Warcraft: Forever

Can I play with friends on a different ruleset or faction?

Not in groups. You can group, run dungeons and raid only with players on the same ruleset, and Horde and Alliance still cannot group together. Battlegrounds may include players from other rulesets, except Hardcore.

Source: [Updated 10/22] Choose Your Ruleset in World of Warcraft: Forever

Is Hardcore available at launch?

No. Blizzard says Hardcore will be available sometime after launch. Hardcore characters will stay in their own ecosystem.

Source: [Updated 10/22] Choose Your Ruleset in World of Warcraft: Forever; World of Warcraft: Forever Deep Dive Panel Recap

Gameplay

What is the level cap?

Level 60. The first raids are designed for level 60 players.

Source: Carve a New Path with World of Warcraft: Forever; World of Warcraft: Forever Raid Overview

Is there flying or level scaling?

No. Blizzard says Forever has no flying mounts and no level scaling.

Source: World of Warcraft: Forever What's Next Panel Recap

How do mounts and riding work?

Forever uses the Burning Crusade-style approach: the up-front cost moves into riding training, and you get a mount when you learn the riding skill. Mounts from the upgrade packs still need the riding skill bought in game.

Source: World of Warcraft: Forever Deep Dive Panel Recap; Pre-Purchase World of Warcraft: Forever Upgrades

Is there transmog?

Yes, but it is optional. Choosing Classic Mode at first launch turns it off, and transmogrifiers in certain cities let you configure outfits or disable the system. Transmog follows item types (plate to plate, cloth to cloth), and low-level characters cannot use high-level appearances until level 60. You keep collecting appearances even with it turned off.

Source: World of Warcraft: Forever Deep Dive Panel Recap; World of Warcraft: Forever What's Next Panel Recap

Is there dual spec?

Yes. Dual Specialization becomes available at level 40. Talents start at level 10, and you change them, including Legacy talents, at a class trainer in a major city. Plan a build with the WoW Forever talent calculator.

Source: Class Deep Dives — Priest and Warrior; Class Deep Dives — Hunter and Druid; Class Deep Dives — Paladin

Is there player housing in WoW Forever?

Blizzard has not announced housing for Forever. The housing decor in the Forever packs is for Housing in modern WoW, which requires Midnight.

Source: World of Warcraft: Forever (official page); Battle.net Shop: World of Warcraft: Forever (US prices)

How many new dungeons and raids are there?

Nine new five-player dungeons for levels 13 to 60, and three raids that open on December 9: Barrow Deeps, Hyjal Summit and Onyxia's Lair. See the dungeons and raids guides.

Source: Explore the New Dungeons of World of Warcraft: Forever; World of Warcraft: Forever Raid Overview

What new systems does Forever add?

The account-wide Legacy system with points, perks and rewards, camping with profession camp features, more than 600 new profession recipes, crafted food that can give a small experience bonus, and changes to Honor for PvP.

Source: World of Warcraft: Forever (official page); Get to Know the World of Warcraft: Forever Legacy System; Gather Around the Campfire in World of Warcraft: Forever; World of Warcraft: Forever Deep Dive Panel Recap

PC, Mac and controllers

What are the system requirements?

Minimum on Windows: Windows 10 64-bit, a 4-core 3.0 GHz CPU, a DirectX 12 GPU with 4 GB, 8 GB RAM and 128 GB free on an SSD. Mac needs macOS 12 and an Apple M2 or 9th generation Intel Core. Full tables on the system requirements page.

Source: Blizzard Support: World of Warcraft: Forever System Requirements

Can I play with a controller?

Blizzard announced official gamepad support for players who prefer a controller. Its requirements article still lists keyboard and mouse as required input.

Source: World of Warcraft: Forever What's Next Panel Recap; Blizzard Support: World of Warcraft: Forever System Requirements

Is WoW Forever on console, Steam Deck or Linux?

Blizzard lists Windows and Mac only. No console version has been announced, and Steam Deck and Linux are not on the supported list.

Source: Blizzard Support: World of Warcraft: Forever System Requirements

Related guides

Sources

Facts on this page come from the sources below: official Blizzard posts unless marked as a secondary source. If Blizzard changes something, we update the page and the date above.