Blizzard’s WoW Forever beta begins ahead of November launch

Blizzard’s World of Warcraft: Forever beta began September 17, with the full game scheduled to launch November 4, 2026. The new Classic-era branch is designed as a separate experience alongside Modern and Classic, using the early game’s style and mechanics while adding new zones, quests and other content. The project revisits the setting and slower, exploration-focused play of the original World of Warcraft, but follows a distinct continuity. Blizzard has described it as a way to expand on parts of the early world without changing progression in the existing versions. The announced launch content includes three new zones, more than 1,000 quests, nine dungeons, two raids and the Skyborne as a playable race. World builder Matthew Armstrong said he is making the game for Classic players and people whose accounts lapsed because they were dissatisfied with changes to the game. He characterized authenticity as a guiding principle for his work, while noting that he could not speak for the rest of the team. In an interview, lead designer Tim Jones said the developers intend for all 27 talent trees to be viable across content, while retaining distinct strengths and weaknesses.