The beta for World of Warcraft: Forever has seen its server capacity increased multiple times, indicating a surge in player interest. Holly Longdale, executive producer for World of Warcraft at Blizzard, shared the news on her personal X account, stating that the "WoW: Forever Beta population cap [had] to be increased again. The wild ride continues."
This latest adjustment follows earlier indications of the beta's significant popularity. Josh Greenfield, a long-time developer for World of Warcraft: Classic, remarked that the beta's launch generated "the craziest numbers I've seen in 17 years working at Blizzard and almost 8 years on classic." This period of 16-18 years ago is widely considered the peak of World of Warcraft's popularity, coinciding with the Wrath of the Lich King expansion and a time when the game reached approximately 12 million paying subscribers worldwide.
It is important to note that access to the World of Warcraft: Forever beta currently requires the purchase of the Skyborne Epic pack, priced at £51.99 / $59.99 / €59.99. The full game, scheduled for launch on November 4, will adopt a monthly subscription model instead of a substantial one-time purchase. Consequently, player numbers are anticipated to rise further upon full release.
The strong player response may not be entirely surprising, given the success of previous Classic releases. World of Warcraft Classic's launch in 2019 marked the largest increase in subscriber numbers in the series' history. The prospect of a return to an earlier era of the game, meticulously developed for the long term, appeals to many players who feel that World of Warcraft: Forever has successfully recaptured the essence of the original MMO experience.