Blizzard is launching the beta for World of Warcraft Forever this week, offering players a chance to experience the new permanent iteration of the game ahead of its November 4 release. Announced at BlizzCon, WoW Forever is set after Warcraft III Reforged: Forsaken Kingdom and before the Molten Core raid, returning players to the original continents with a level cap of 60.
The game introduces new storylines, a new class, and over 1,000 new quests. The beta period is scheduled to run from Thursday, September 17, to October 21, 2026. While official start times have not been confirmed, Blizzard typically releases updates between 11 AM and 2 PM ET.
Access to the WoW Forever beta can be guaranteed by pre-ordering the Skyborne Epic Pack for $59.99 or the Warcraft Forever Collection for $79.99, both available on the Battle.net store. Alternatively, players can opt-in for beta access via the WoW Forever website, though this method does not guarantee entry. It is important to note that while WoW Forever will be included with a standard World of Warcraft subscription or game time upon release, access to the new Skyborne race will require an upgrade.
Players will have the opportunity to reserve their character names for WoW Forever from October 27 to November 3, 2026, with any upgrade purchase granting this ability. During this early reservation period, up to three characters can be created and customized, with names being reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.
The beta will initially feature a level cap of 20, which will be raised to level 30 after a few weeks. The full release of WoW Forever will include new dungeons, raids, a PvP battleground, and the aforementioned Skyborne race.