Blizzard Announces World of Warcraft Forever

Blizzard Entertainment has officially announced World of Warcraft Forever, a new, permanent version of its long-running MMORPG set in the game's original "vanilla" era. The announcement was made by executive producer Holly Longdale during the BlizzCon 2026 opening ceremony on September 12, 2026. World of Warcraft Forever is designed to exist as a separate, third version of the game, running alongside the current Retail and Classic versions. Longdale described it as "a new beginning that never ends" and a "time bubble" set during the first year of the original World of Warcraft, which launched in 2004. The game will maintain a level cap of 60, focusing on horizontal expansion rather than vertical progression. The new version will launch on November 4, 2026, with a public beta test beginning on September 17, 2026. At launch, it will feature three new zones, over 1,000 new quests, two new raids, nine new dungeons, a new battleground, and a new playable race called the Skyborne Elves. The game will also include updated world visuals and new reputations.