WRITTEN ARTICLE · BETA AND LAUNCH
WoW Forever beta access, launch date and name reservation explained
The beta is live: access, Battle.net installation, the starting level cap, first-week content and the announced launch schedule.
The announced dates
Blizzard’s upgrade announcement gives the following schedule. Its launch time is 3 p.m. PST, equivalent to 23:00 GMT on 4 November in the UK. The beta start date alone does not establish an opening hour.
| Event | Announced window |
|---|---|
| Beta | 17 September–21 October 2026 |
| Early name reservation | 27 October–3 November 2026 |
| Global launch | 4 November 2026, 3 p.m. PST |
In this article
Artwork © Blizzard Entertainment
Subscription access and upgrade benefits
Launch access is included with a WoW subscription or Game Time. The optional Skyborne Heroic Pack adds the Skyborne race and name reservation. Beta access is included with the Skyborne Epic Pack and Warcraft Forever Collection; Heroic alone does not include it.
Any upgrade includes early creation and customisation of up to three characters during name reservation. Names are first come, first served. Epic and the Collection include 30 days of Game Time starting November 4.
The beta is live: installation and access
Blizzard announced the beta live on September 17. Select World of Warcraft: Forever Beta under In Development in Battle.net’s Game Version menu, install it and launch the test. Access comes through selection after opting in or an eligible bundle; downloading the client is not an invitation.
What can you test in week one?
The opening cap is level 20, with 30 planned later. Blizzard lists Skyborne and Zephras Isle, Hall of Thanes (13–18), Ruins of Lordaeron (15–20), and zone content through 20. The last full testing day is October 21.
Plan one test goal at a time. Keep later-level talent plans separate from what your current character can reach, and check the current schedule before arranging a group.
What follows launch?
Blizzard’s What’s Next recap dates the new raid unlocks to December 9. Further raids, dungeons, PvP updates, world content and Hardcore are on the longer-term roadmap. Treat a roadmap window as a plan that still needs release-specific details.
A short preparation plan
Our recommendation is to start with the way you want to play. Write down your preferred faction, likely class, and whether your first sessions will be solo or with friends. Then decide whether you want to participate in testing or simply begin at launch.
If you do test, use one small goal per session: check a quest chain, record a travel connection or inspect the profession trainer. Keep a dated note of the client build and what you actually observed. That makes feedback easier to reproduce and helps you distinguish a remembered announcement from the behaviour on screen.
Before committing to an upgrade, read the current regional shop listing for its exact price and benefits. This article is an access explainer, not a recommendation to buy a particular edition.
Related reading and guides
- The current level 30 beta cap
- Beta known issues and troubleshooting
- Addon support, built-in UI tools and controllers
- Raid release date, sizes, bosses and Onyxia attunement
- Choose a ruleset and start with friends
- Hardcore release plans and progression rules
- WoW Forever levelling guide: zones, dungeons and XP
- All nine new dungeons and corrected level ranges
Sources and review notes
- Blizzard: Forever upgrade editions and access dates
- Blizzard: Forever What’s Next panel recap
- Blizzard: Watch the World of Warcraft Live Q&A September 17
- Blizzard: the Forever beta is now live; access and first-week content
This article reports pre-beta information. No route timings, class rankings or gold returns are claimed as playtested results. We will review the relevant details against future official updates and documented client testing.
