WoW Forever Price and Editions

WoW: Forever is not free to play, and you do not buy it on its own. It is included with any active World of Warcraft subscription or Game Time, the same subscription that covers modern WoW and WoW Classic. The Skyborne packs are optional upgrades: you only need one if you want to play the new Skyborne race or want the bonus items. Prices below are from the US Battle.net Shop on October 24, 2026.

Is WoW Forever free?

No. Blizzard says World of Warcraft, including World of Warcraft: Forever, requires a WoW Subscription or Game Time, and the Battle.net Shop says the same: “Access to World of Warcraft: Forever is included with your active World of Warcraft subscription or game time.” You also need an internet connection, a Battle.net account and the Battle.net desktop app.

The one free route is an Invite-A-Friend Launch Code. Players who buy an upgrade pack get one or three codes to give away, and a friend who redeems one can play Forever without a subscription from November 4 to November 11, 2026 (launch week). Codes were sent by email from October 20. They do not include beta access, gift purchases do not qualify, and other restrictions apply.

Subscription price

Plan	Price (US)
1 Month	$14.99 per month
3 Months	$13.99 per month
6-Month Special Offer	$12.99 per month
12-Month Special Offer	$12.99 per month, billed $155.88 every 12 months

One subscription covers World of Warcraft (levels 1–80), WoW Classic (1–60), Mists of Pandaria Classic (1–90) and WoW: Forever. Subscriptions renew automatically and Blizzard notes that prices may vary by region. The 6- and 12-month offers come with in-game bonuses that change over time; check the shop for the current ones.

Upgrade editions compared

You do not need any of these to play Forever. Each one includes everything in the edition above it.

Edition	Price (US)	What it adds
Skyborne Heroic Pack	$29.99	The Skyborne race and its Zephras Isle starting experience, Early Name Reservation, the Cerulean Prideclaw ground mount (you still buy the riding skill in game), Shen’dorei Skyseer’s Garb, Veteran Adventurer’s Rucksack, Shen’dorei Windwell toy, Skyborne housing decor for modern WoW, 1 Invite-A-Friend Launch Code
Skyborne Epic Pack	$59.99	Everything in Heroic, plus beta access (September 17 to October 21), 30 days of Game Time added on November 4, more Veteran Adventurer cosmetics, tabards, pets, and 2 more Invite-A-Friend codes (3 in total)
Warcraft Forever Collection	$79.99	Everything in Epic, plus Warcraft III: Reforged, the new Warcraft III Reforged: Forsaken Kingdom campaign, and Forsaken and Human figurine decor for housing in modern WoW. Limited time: on sale until January 11, 2027

Some in-game items work in both modern WoW and Forever, others only in Forever; Blizzard says none of them are available in WoW Classic.

Which edition is worth it?

• You only want to play: none. Your subscription already includes Forever.
• You want to play a Skyborne: the Heroic Pack is the cheapest way. Blizzard is explicit that the Skyborne race and the Zephras Isle starting quests need the Heroic Pack or higher.
• You were going to buy a month of Game Time anyway: the Epic Pack includes 30 days of Game Time from launch. Its beta access no longer matters, because the beta ran from September 17 to October 21.
• You also want Warcraft III’s new Forsaken Kingdom campaign: the Warcraft Forever Collection bundles it with the Epic Pack.

Every upgrade also includes Early Name Reservation: from October 27 to November 3 you can create up to three characters before launch. It applies only to the WoW account the upgrade was bought for, and buying several copies does not raise the limit on one account.

Collector’s Edition

The physical World of Warcraft: Forever Collector’s Edition is sold through the Blizzard Gear Store (and in Australia and New Zealand through regional retailers). Blizzard lists its contents as:

• A Warcraft Forever Collection digital code (Skyborne Epic Pack, Warcraft III: Reforged and Warcraft III Reforged: Forsaken Kingdom)
• A 13-inch Dwarf and Bear statue
• A Zephras Isle mousepad
• Art prints
• Collectible pins
• A companion journal

Things to know before you order:

• The digital code is inside the box, so you only get the in-game items when the box arrives. The first run ships in November 2026; orders from the September restock ship in February 2027. The Gear Store limits it to one copy per household.
• If you want to play with the bonuses sooner, buy a digital edition now. When you redeem the Collector’s Edition code before December 31, 2027, the cost of your original digital purchase is credited back as Battle.net Balance. Upgrades between editions (for example Heroic to Epic) are not credited automatically; Customer Support can help with those.
• Owning Warcraft III: Reforged already does not give a discount, and its cost is not credited.

Blizzard’s posts do not give the Collector’s Edition price; check the Gear Store or your retailer.

Do I need the Midnight expansion?

No. Forever only needs a subscription or Game Time. The one thing that needs Midnight is the housing decor included in the packs, which can only be used in Housing in modern WoW, and Housing requires World of Warcraft: Midnight.

What is not confirmed yet

• Prices outside the US. They differ by region; the Battle.net Shop shows your local price.
• Whether more editions or bundles will be added after launch.

Related guides

• WoW Forever release date and launch time
• Name reservation
• WoW Forever system requirements
• WoW Forever FAQ
• Skyborne race guide