Players in the European region are encountering significant lag and disconnection issues during the beta test for World of Warcraft: Forever. These problems, which manifest as extremely high ping spikes and disconnects, appear to stem from the beta servers being primarily located in the US, with Blizzard not accounting for EU-region network routing.
While a typical beta test might involve some expected launch-day issues, the severity of the lag has made the game unplayable for many. Players have reported experiencing ping levels of 300ms, spiking to 2000ms, and subsequently disconnecting. This has led to frustration, especially as the beta is tied to the purchase of the Skyborne Epic Pack, which grants access.
Fortunately, a workaround has been identified by the affected player base. By utilizing a Virtual Private Network (VPN) and routing their connection through a US server, players have reported a stable ping of around 100ms and a smooth, disconnection-free experience. This solution has been corroborated by numerous other EU players on the World of Warcraft: Forever beta forums, where discussions about the connection problems and the VPN fix are frequent.
Despite the workaround, players have expressed dissatisfaction with needing to use a VPN to achieve a playable connection to a game they have paid for. Some forum posts highlight that while a VPN resolves the lag, it should not be a requirement for a stable connection, particularly when beta access is a purchasable item.
The World of Warcraft: Forever beta page, as well as the EU shop page for the Skyborne Epic Pack, do not mention the server locations or the potential for connection issues. The store page lists beta access as a feature of the pack, alongside the dates of the beta period.
While VPNs can help circumvent routing issues and improve connection stability, they do not inherently increase internet speed. Their effectiveness in this scenario suggests a specific network routing problem affecting EU players connecting to the US-based servers.
As of now, these connection problems are not listed as a known issue on the official forums. Blizzard has been contacted for comment regarding the situation, and the article will be updated should a response be received.