Blizzard World of Warcraft Forever - What It Is & How to Play

World of Warcraft: Forever is Blizzard's new permanent third branch of WoW - a reimagined original Azeroth launched November 4, 2026, running alongside retail and Classic.

Live now Included with WoW sub PC & Mac Level cap 60
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WoW Forever is included with any WoW subscription or game time - no extra purchase needed to play. Optional Skyborne packs add the new race and cosmetics. Servers launched November 4 at 3:00 p.m. PST.

What Forever actually is

Announced at BlizzCon 2026 as the community's long-requested "Classic+" - original Azeroth, new content, permanent level 60.

The premise

A third permanent version of WoW alongside retail and Classic - set after Warcraft III Reforged: Forsaken Kingdom, before Molten Core. Level 1 to a permanent cap of 60 with horizontal progression.

New race: Skyborne

Playable on both factions with six classes - Warrior, Hunter, Rogue, Druid, plus Horde-only Shaman and Alliance-only Mage. Starts on the new Zephras Isle.

New zones

Mount Hyjal (level 60 endgame), Shen'dralas (hidden zone between Mulgore and Desolace), Riverglades (35-45), and Zephras Isle (1-12 Skyborne start).

Modern touches

Updated visuals - global illumination, volumetric fog, god rays - rebalanced classic talents so every spec is viable, plus new raids starting December.

How to start playing

  1. 1
    Have an active WoW subscription or game time

    Forever is part of the standard subscription - same account as retail and Classic.

  2. 2
    Select Forever in the game version dropdown

    It appears alongside modern and Classic in the Battle.net launcher.

  3. 3
    Optional: Skyborne packs

    The Heroic and Epic packs unlock the Skyborne race and Zephras Isle starting experience early, plus mounts and cosmetics - not required to play.

Launch note: Forever set Blizzard's concurrent-player record at launch and saw congestion plus maintenance in week one - expect queues on high-population realms.

FAQ

Is World of Warcraft Forever free?

It needs a WoW subscription or game time like the other versions - the content itself is included, with optional cosmetic/race packs.

How is Forever different from Classic?

Classic recreates the original game as it was; Forever keeps the 2004-era world and level-60 cap but adds new zones, the Skyborne race, new raids and rebalanced talents - an alternate timeline.

Does Forever progress past level 60?

No - the cap is permanent. Progression is horizontal: new stories, zones, raids and systems instead of higher numbers.

What platforms is it on?

Windows and macOS through Battle.net, same as the other WoW versions.