World of Warcraft: Forever is Blizzard's new World of Warcraft game set in the original Azeroth, with a level cap of 60, its own servers and new content such as the Skyborne race, the Legacy system and camping. It launches on November 4, 2026.

No. It needs a World of Warcraft subscription or game time. Optional packs add the Skyborne race and cosmetics. A friend with an invite code can play free during launch week (Nov 4-11).

Is WoW Forever a separate game?

Yes. It has its own servers and characters, and your characters from other versions of WoW do not move into it. Your subscription covers it.

Are there realms in WoW Forever?

No realm list. You choose a ruleset when you create a character: Normal, PvP, Roleplaying or Roleplay-PvP at launch, Hardcore later. Each ruleset is one large server per region.

What's new in WoW Forever?

A new race (the Skyborne), the Legacy system that rewards your whole account, camping, Waylaid Crates and Merchant's Favor for professions, account-wide transmog you can switch off, and new raids opening on December 9.

When do I unlock the Legacy system?

When your first character reaches level 25. Legacy points are shared by your characters on Normal, PvP, Roleplaying and Roleplay-PvP.

What is WoW Forever?

Same Azeroth you remember, friend, but the shopkeepers moved some shelves. Let a goblin show you around.

Announced by BlizzardLast verified: 29 Oct 2026

Release: Nov 4, 2026
Level cap: 60
To play: Subscription or game time
Rulesets: Normal · PvP · RP · RP-PvP (Hardcore later)

In five lines

World of Warcraft: Forever is Blizzard's new World of Warcraft game, set in the original Azeroth.
It launches on November 4, 2026, with a level cap of 60. → Release date & time
You play it with a World of Warcraft subscription or game time. Packs are optional. → Editions
A friend without a subscription can join you in launch week with an invite code. → Invite-A-Friend
It has its own servers and characters: you start fresh (your first hour in WoW Forever). Up or down right now? Check the WoW Forever server status.
No realm list: you pick a ruleset. Normal, PvP, Roleplaying or Roleplay-PvP at launch, Hardcore later. → Pick your ruleset

What's new

The Skyborne, a new race on both sides: High Order (Alliance) and Windshaper (Horde), starting on Zephras Isle. Needs a pack. → Races
Legacy: from your first level 25, challenges earn points that unlock perks for all your characters. → Legacy planner
Camping: build a camp anywhere and upgrade it with your professions. → Camping
Waylaid Crates & Merchant's Favor: a new way to spend profession work on rewards. → Crates & Favor
Transmog: appearances are shared across your account, and you can switch transmog off to see everyone's real gear.
First and second names: every character has both, unique across your region. With a pack you can reserve your name from October 27.
New zones: Zephras Isle, the Riverglades, Shen'dralas and Mount Hyjal, and Dalaran is back as a city. → WoW Forever new zones
New dungeons and places such as Hall of Thanes, Ruins of Lordaeron and the City of Dalaran. → Dungeons

What comes next

December 9, 2026: three raids open: The Barrow Deeps, Hyjal Summit and Onyxia's Lair. → Raids
After launch: the Hardcore ruleset (one life).
Spring and summer 2027: major updates announced with new raids, dungeons and zones.
The rhythm: one major update about every four months (17 weeks, three a year), slower than modern WoW, with some content unlocking between patches through a calendar of timed events. Principal game designer Kris Zierhut said so to IGN on October 28, 2026. → The IGN interview

Every Blizzard announcement, hotfix and new build lands in our WoW Forever news feed; release time, server status, patch notes and addons are gathered under More on WoW Forever.

Where to start

Choose a ruleset. → Rulesets
Choose a race and class. → Classes · Races
Plan your talents. → Talent calculator

"Fresh servers, fresh economy, fresh suckers. I mean customers. Welcome, friend!"

Questions players ask

What is WoW Forever?: World of Warcraft: Forever is Blizzard's new World of Warcraft game set in the original Azeroth, with a level cap of 60, its own servers and new content such as the Skyborne race, the Legacy system and camping. It launches on November 4, 2026.
Is WoW Forever free?: No. It needs a World of Warcraft subscription or game time. Optional packs add the Skyborne race and cosmetics. A friend with an invite code can play free during launch week (Nov 4-11).
Is WoW Forever a separate game?: Yes. It has its own servers and characters, and your characters from other versions of WoW do not move into it. Your subscription covers it.
Are there realms in WoW Forever?: No realm list. You choose a ruleset when you create a character: Normal, PvP, Roleplaying or Roleplay-PvP at launch, Hardcore later. Each ruleset is one large server per region.
What's new in WoW Forever?: A new race (the Skyborne), the Legacy system that rewards your whole account, camping, Waylaid Crates and Merchant's Favor for professions, account-wide transmog you can switch off, and new raids opening on December 9.
When do I unlock the Legacy system?: When your first character reaches level 25. Legacy points are shared by your characters on Normal, PvP, Roleplaying and Roleplay-PvP.

Last updated: 29 Oct 2026