Blizzard Entertainment has confirmed that the global release of World of Warcraft: Forever will take place on 4 November 2026. The new “third branch” of the long-running title, which aims to sit alongside the existing Modern and Classic versions of the game, will go live at 11:00 p.m. GMT.
The announcement follows the launch of a closed beta on 17 September, which is scheduled to run until 21 October. Access to the test phase is currently limited to players who have purchased eligible digital bundles.
World of Warcraft: Forever introduces a “horizontal progression” model, where the character level cap is permanently fixed at level 60. Instead of traditional expansions that increase power levels, the development team intends to focus on new content within the original world of Azeroth.
The Skyborne race
World of Warcraft: Forever features the Skyborne, a new elven race originating from Zephras Isle. According to official lore, the isle is a floating shard located within the elemental plane of wind.
Players must purchase a “Heroic Pack” or higher, priced at approximately £24.99 (€29.99), to access the Skyborne.
Faction restrictions and mechanics
The Skyborne will be available to both the Alliance and Horde factions, though Blizzard has implemented specific class restrictions to maintain faction identity. Skyborne players joining the Alliance will have access to the Mage class, while those joining the Horde will be able to play as Shamans.
The starting zone, Zephras Isle, will be accessible to both sides.
Existing World of Warcraft subscribers will find access to the “Forever” servers included in their standard monthly subscription at launch.
Official details regarding the server launch and beta access can be found on the Blizzard News website.
The developer has described the project as a way to preserve the “vanilla” atmosphere while allowing for fresh narrative developments that do not require the constant “power creep” associated with modern expansions when the servers open fully this November.