When Does the WoW Forever Beta End?
It already did — the World of Warcraft: Forever beta closed Friday, October 23, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. PDT, two days past its original October 21 date. Blizzard is using the gap for final fixes before launch.
TL;DR: Beta is over. World of Warcraft: Forever launches globally on November 4, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. PST. Early name reservation opens October 27 for anyone who bought an upgrade edition — you can claim up to three names before launch day.
The full timeline
| Date | What happened / happens |
|---|---|
| Sept 17 | Forever beta begins — access bundled with the Skyborne Epic Pack and Warcraft Forever Collection |
| Oct 21 | Original beta end date — became a one-day stress test instead, open to every WoW account with no subscription needed |
| Oct 23 | Beta extended two extra days, then closed for good at 10:00 a.m. PDT |
| Oct 27 - Nov 3 | Early name reservation + character creation — up to three characters, first-come names, requires any upgrade edition purchase |
| Nov 4 | Global launch at 3:00 p.m. PST — included with a WoW subscription or game time |
| Nov 4 - 11 | Invite-a-Friend launch codes active — emailed to eligible players from launch day |
Between now and launch
Reserve your name (Oct 27)
The character creation system opens Tuesday, October 27 — pick your ruleset and grab your name before launch. Up to three characters; names are first-come, first-served. Needs any upgrade edition.
Beta progress is done
The beta realms are closed for good and stress test characters were deleted — your real journey starts fresh on November 4 on the live realms.
What launch needs
World of Warcraft: Forever is included with a normal WoW subscription or game time — no separate purchase required to play. Upgrade packs add cosmetics, game time and early perks only.
Miss the beta?
The Invite-a-Friend program covers November 4-11 — eligible invitees get launch access codes sent by email.
FAQ
When did the WoW Forever beta end?
Friday, October 23, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. PDT — extended two days beyond the original October 21 date after a final stress test.
Does beta progress carry over to launch?
No. Beta and stress test characters were test-only; everyone starts fresh on the live realms November 4.
When does WoW Forever launch?
November 4, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. PST, globally.
Can I still reserve a character name?
Yes — name reservation runs October 27 through November 3 for anyone who purchased an upgrade edition (Skyborne Heroic Pack, Skyborne Epic Pack, or the Warcraft Forever Collection). Three characters max.
Do I need to buy WoW Forever?
Access is included with an active WoW subscription or game time. The upgrade editions are optional and add cosmetic packs, 30 days of game time, and early-access perks.