What World of Warcraft: Forever includes

What Forever is

The official Forever page hero copy lists new and expanded zones, new gameplay enhancements, and upgraded graphics.

Blizzard’s What’s Next panel recap states Forever sits alongside modern World of Warcraft and Classic. The recap states: “This is not a mode, a season, or a new version of Classic.”

The BlizzCon 2026 announcement article places Forever after the events of Warcraft III Reforged: Forsaken Kingdom and before Molten Core. Players return to the original continents and adventure to level 60.

The panel recap lists four pillars: approachable and familiar; the world as the main character; the journey before the destination; and protecting and nurturing social experiences.

The recap states there are no flying mounts and no level scaling. It states leveling remains as important as endgame, and that rewards come from leveling, running dungeons, making friends, exploring, and taking on new challenges. Catch-up is playing the game. The panel said nothing is off the table for the long term, including new classes. No new class is named.

Dates and access

World of Warcraft: Forever launches globally on November 4, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. PST. Access requires a World of Warcraft Subscription or Game Time.

The Forever beta begins September 17, 2026, and is available through October 21, 2026.

Early Name Reservation is available October 27 through November 3. The official page states this benefit applies to the specific World of Warcraft account it was purchased for, and that character names are limited. Character creation uses a Main Name and a Secondary Name. Both are required. Display of the secondary name can be turned off in settings. The client labels that pane Full Name, with Type Main Name and Type Secondary Name fields.

New raids unlock on December 9. The panel recap then lists further raids, dungeons, PvP updates, world content, additional quests throughout the level 1–60 journey, Hardcore, a revamped iconic raid, and major updates.

New zones listed on the official page

The official page section “Undiscovered Vistas Await” states: “Journey through an updated and expanded Azeroth dense with new stories and secrets hidden across familiar vistas and never-before-seen locales.”

Three zones are named on that page: Zephras Isle, Riverglades, and Mount Hyjal.

Zephras Isle official copy: “Once a secluded island oasis in the sky, Zephras Isle now welcomes the next generation of WoW’s newest race – the Skyborne – to protect this floating island and secure its future.”

The spoken What’s Next panel: thousands of years ago Highborne exiles forged a pact with wind spirits and built in Skywall. Thunderfury and Prince Thunderaan are named as classic precedent. The air spirits that protected the islands have vanished; structures are failing. Skyborne are split — some seek the wind spirits, some the arcane of their ancestors, some darker powers. Levels 1–12. Classic aesthetics plus Skywall-inspired architecture. What's Next, 15:18

Riverglades official copy: “A sprawling landscape in the Eastern Kingdom which shifts from lush hillsides to ruined keeps of old.”

The spoken panel places Riverglades on the eastern coast of the Eastern Kingdoms between Redridge, Burning Steppes, the Badlands, and Swamp of Sorrows. Human forces once pursued retreating orcs here; help never came, and descendants still live on the frontier. Humans, orcs, ogres, gnolls, goblins, and murlocs compete. Mid-30s to mid-40s, 150+ quests, both factions, new reputations, a neutral goblin port. Krol’dok Stronghold is the outdoor ogre dungeon — framed as another option besides running Scarlet Monastery again. What's Next, 13:13

Mount Hyjal official copy: “Threats both old and new stalk the slopes of the mountain, eager to claim its power and destroy anyone daring enough to get in their way.”

The spoken panel: after Archimonde’s defeat, how the mountain recovers, how the forests heal, how the Wild Gods are affected, what dangers remain. Players journey through Darkwhisper Gorge. New stories, rewards, reputations, solo and group content. Hyjal Summit is a launch raid on the mountain. One of three Barrow Deeps raid entrances is there. What's Next, 11:13

Shen’dralas sits in ruins between Mulgore and Desolace. The story ties to the Shen’dralar, Eldre’Thalas, Dire Maul, and Prince Tortheldrin. Gelkis and Magram centaur storylines continue, with new reasons to visit Maraudon and Razorfen Downs. It is not one of the three zone tabs on the official Forever page. What's Next, 12:32

The panel named unfinished vanilla stories as potential, not launch zones: Gilneas, Mount Hyjal, Uldum, the mountains north of Un’Goro, forgotten kingdoms, Titan mysteries, the Emerald Dream, the Caverns of Time. Hyjal is the one from that list that ships as a launch zone. What's Next, 10:12

Explore Untold Stories

The official Features section is introduced as “A Legend Reborn” under the heading “Adventure. Forever.” Official copy: “Experience an Azeroth that stays anchored in WoW’s first age while promising never-ending new adventures in an expanding world.”

Explore Untold Stories official copy: “With over 1000+ new quests, new dungeons, and new secrets hidden around all corners, Azeroth promises a journey of discovery and surprise for both novice and veteran adventurers.”

The panel recap states more than a thousand new quests are woven throughout the level 1–60 journey.

Soak in Breathtaking Expanses

Soak in Breathtaking Expanses official copy lists improved lighting and upgraded environments.

A later official heading, “Azeroth in a New Light,” states: “Upgrades to lighting and environments breathe new life into long-beloved locales and yet-to-be-explored lands.”

Clay Stone: not every zone is locked to sunrise or sunset. The pass is environmental effects, not a new art style: rivers in Elwynn, fog rolling into Duskwood at night, moonlight through Ashenvale leaves. What's Next, 34:00

Take Unknown Paths

Take Unknown Paths official copy: “Begin your next adventure as Azeroth’s newest race –the Skyborne – or as one of the newest class and race combos: the Forsaken Paladin or Dwarf Shaman.”

Claim New Power

Claim New Power official copy: “Rediscover a favorite class or journey as someone entirely different with revamps to all classes and specializations.”

Nora: class work follows the 2005–2006 talent pass — uniqueness, not making every class good at everything. Paladins get a new seal to tank more effectively, talents that enable a bit of group healing, and Retribution “maybe now’s your time to shine.” Talents moved off tiny incremental nodes toward choices you notice and real trade-offs. The demo talent trees still cap at 51 points. What's Next, 30:30 What's Next, 31:01

Hundreds of new items with on-use and on-equip effects. Named examples: Sharkmane Cutlery as a farm weapon; a grave robber’s shovel. Existing items were updated too: Tidal Charm is now super effective against certain sea-dwellers; Whitemane’s Chapeau increases healing and damage done and reduces resurrection cast time. What's Next, 31:41

Racial sneak peek on that panel: Dwarf 5% damage against beasts; Undead 5% chance to drain health from the target. The rest of the racial pass was pointed at the Sunday Deep Dive. What's Next, 32:26

Every Journey Matters

The official Features section includes a heading titled Every Journey Matters.

The panel recap states Forever adds Legacy progression for players who level and run alternate characters.

The demo Legacy pane awards one point per completed challenge. Challenges cover exploring, leveling classes, raising tradeskills, earning PvP ranks, maximizing reputations, and clearing dungeons and raids. The pane grouped those goals under six tabs: classes, trade skills, PvP, adventure, dungeons, and raids.

Points spend in a three-branch tree: Professions, Adventure, and Resourcefulness. Most nodes are passive. Dedicated Study is a 25-second cast with a 23-hour cooldown. None of the shown bonuses are combat rotations. Rank examples: Working Overtime 4% tradeskill skill-up chance; Well Rested 4% faster rest and 4% higher rest cap; Talented starts talent points at level 9 with a 51-point cap; Thrill of Adventure returns 1% health and mana over 10 seconds on a non-trivial kill, off in dungeons, raids, and battlegrounds; Permanence extends raid-wide long buffs and camp rest by 50%. There is a cap on unlockable perks. How that cap grows is unpublished.

A separate cosmetic track uses total points earned, not leftover unspent points. Demo rewards include a Replica Ironforge Air Rifle, a Spectral Bear Cub, a Spectral Bear tabard, and Reins of the Spectral Bear.

System Revamps

The official Features section includes a heading titled System Revamps.

Camping doubles down on tradeskills. Almost anywhere in the open world you craft a campsite. Others stop, use tradeskills for the camp, and grant a buff. You sit a moment before the buffs, so people might talk. What's Next, 35:18

The Deep Dive: a campfire makes a campsite with vendors, repairs, tradeskill workspaces, and one-hour buffs. Blacksmithing places Sharpening Wheel (20), Anvil (140), or Master Forge (300). The wheel grants 34 Strength, exclusive with Strength of Earth Totem. Camps are for the wilderness. Cooks teach the campfire.

The recap lists opt-in transmog; modern and Classic visual presets; High-Definition (HD) and Standard-Definition (SD) character-model options for characters, models, and the world; restored Classic animations for HD character models; official gamepad support; and riding-skill updates.

Transmog is entirely opt-in. On: everyone can look their best. Off: you see original gear — “clown suits for everyone.” Further Classic-specific transmog rules, plus more camping and Legacy, were deferred to the Deep Dive. What's Next, 38:13

The Deep Dive first-login presets: Classic starts SD, quest blobs off, one bag off, transmog off. Enhanced starts HD, quest blobs on, one bag on, transmog on. Fyrenz Vishonar can disable transmog so you only see the gear other players actually have equipped.

The Deep Dive: Realmless Azeroth. You pick a playstyle — PvP, PvE, Roleplay, and Hardcore coming later. Each playstyle shares a version of the world. Grouping stays inside a playstyle. Factions stay separate.

Character models are a game-wide HD or SD toggle: your character, NPCs, and other players together. Classic animations were restored onto HD character models so an HD dwarf can run with Classic animation sets — “no bouncy dwarves.” What's Next, 39:48

Clay also listed systems they did not have time to walk: new professions content, new reputations, itemization that blows up much of the old meta, the new PvP system, the first new legendary, riding-skill changes meant to keep the moment you earn your first mount, official gamepad support (playable on the show floor in an in-development state), and integration of previously unfinished and unused vanilla content. What's Next, 41:36

Summer’s “revamped iconic raid” line: the original iconic raids have not opened yet. They want players to rediscover them later. The winter gap on the roadmap is Hardcore. Clay says Hardcore is coming to Forever and points to a Hardcore panel the next day. Forever is not a seasonal experimental realm. What's Next, 44:00 What's Next, 45:34

The client includes a native Controller Map. Bindings use an Xbox-layout pad, the HUD draws button prompts on the action bars, and Controller Info lives in the Main Menu. Official copy labels the gamepad option as alpha. Currently it can be tested on the Skyborne 1–10 experience only, not the dungeon playtest. In the Skyborne starting zone, press any button on the gamepad to switch.

The client includes a retail-style ping wheel in the open world. It posts to chat and rate-limits if too many pings go out at once.

Skyborne

Official Skyborne copy: “Stand with a new race of windswept elves as their once-secluded home faces an existential threat. Follow the path of the Windshaper Horde or the High Order Alliance in your quest to defend Zephras Isle.”

The panel recap states that at character creation, a Skyborne character joins the Horde or the Alliance. Horde-aligned Skyborne gain access to the Shaman class. Alliance-aligned Skyborne gain access to the Mage class.

Both factions can play Warrior, Hunter, Rogue, and Druid. Alliance Skyborne follow Kirin Tor teaching for Mage. Horde Skyborne take elemental traditions for Shaman.

The recap lists new Skyborne druid forms, racials, customizations, voices, dances, and visual options. Demo forms shown: sky-blue bear, cat, travel, and boomkin. Tree form was not shown. Customization includes skin tones, hair, eyes, and markings.

The spoken panel: Skyborne are not a neutral race. Character creation picks Horde or Alliance. Horde Skyborne take elemental traditions with the Earthen Ring and get Shaman. Alliance Skyborne take Kirin Tor arcane and get Mage. Both factions play Warrior, Hunter, Rogue, and Druid. What's Next, 16:30

The official page states access to the Skyborne race or the Zephras Isle starting experience questline requires purchase of the Skyborne Heroic Pack or a higher edition.

Dungeons, raids, and battlegrounds

The panel recap lists nine new dungeons. Recommended ranges and what sits inside them: Hall of Thanes beneath Ironforge (13–18, royal burial chambers, disturbed tombs, ghostly whispers; Horde can find a way in); Ruins of Lordaeron (15–20, lingering Scourge and a necromancer preparing another attack; Alliance can find a way in); Wetlands Excavation Site above Whelgar’s (24–29, mysterious lights, drifting mist, rogue Titan constructs); City of Dalaran (28–33 dungeon, barrier down, malfunctioning enchantments, constructs, demonic activity, plus a wider city to explore); The Drowned City off Stranglethorn (35–40, a lost troll kingdom risen after thousands of years; I'lalai, rival explorers, ancient horrors, and the serpent king Min'loth); Krol’dok Stronghold (40–55 outdoor ogre dungeon in Riverglades, kidnappings, raids on settlements, nighttime chanting); Alcaz Island Prison (48–53, previously inaccessible, Defias fighting naga, tied to rumors of Varian Wrynn’s captivity); Blackmaw Hold (55–60 furbolg city behind Azshara’s mysterious gate, corruption, tunnels toward the Barrow Deeps); and Shaper’s Terrace (58–60 Titan facility in the hills of Un’Goro, machinery, power crystals, uncontrolled wildlife).

The spoken panel fills in infiltration notes and dungeon flavor. City of Dalaran (28–33): Kirin Tor barrier after Warcraft III is down; enchantments backfiring; constructs haywire; demonic energy; “there are cats everywhere”; a whole city to explore; a ragtag group helping the Kirin Tor would look bad, so there is a roundabout way in. What's Next, 19:33

Ruins of Lordaeron (15–20): Forsaken reclaiming the city; family heirlooms still inside; a necromancer has moved in, with signs pointing to an attack on another city; Alliance has to sneak in. Hall of Thanes (13–18): Dark Irons suspected; Horde has to sneak or carve a way in. What's Next, 20:48 What's Next, 21:43

The Drowned City (35–40): trolls and naga spotted; a pirate ship crashed into it; playable on the BlizzCon show floor. Krol’dok Stronghold (40–55): twilight chanting, possibly cultists. Shaper’s Terrace (58–60) is compared to a Titan facility in Sholazar from Wrath Classic — spoken as “a whole lot like Jurassic Park.” What's Next, 23:30 What's Next, 26:10 What's Next, 25:43

Barrow Deeps is a 10-player raid: Night Elf prison for dangerous captives. “Rumor has it, an infamous demon hunter was once kept here.” Night elves, like the Blackmaw furbolgs, may be dealing with corruption. What's Next, 27:23

Hyjal Summit is 20-player. Reports say someone or something is draining power from the land around the summit. Snowy peaks, a river through ancient elven ruins, ghosts of the Third War. Legendary power is named as a reward. What's Next, 28:20

Darkspear Islands is 15 vs 15. Eye of the Storm-style control of positions, plus Arathi Basin-style flags you capture and stand on. Horde joins the Darkspear trolls. Alliance reports to the Theramore Expeditionary Force. What's Next, 29:24

Pre-purchase editions

The official page lists three upgrade editions: Skyborne Heroic Pack, Skyborne Epic Pack, and the limited-time Warcraft Forever Collection. Forever itself is included with a World of Warcraft subscription. The Skyborne Heroic Pack is listed at $29.99. It does not include guaranteed beta.

Skyborne Heroic Pack, as listed by Blizzard: access to the Skyborne race and Zephras Isle starting experience; Early Name Reservation; the Cerulean Prideclaw ground mount (riding skill must be purchased in-game); Shen’dorei Skyseer’s Garb; Veteran Adventurer’s Rucksack; Shen’dorei Windwell toy; Skyborne Housing decor items for modern World of Warcraft; and one Invite-A-Friend Launch Code.

Skyborne Epic Pack, as listed by Blizzard: everything in the Heroic Pack; Forever beta access beginning September 17; 30 days of Game Time added starting November 4; Veteran Adventurer’s Loyal Companion ground mount; Veteran Adventurer’s Outdoor Wear; Zergling, Panda, Diablo, and Pachimari pets; Lordaeron and Shen’dorei tabards; and two more Invite-A-Friend Launch Codes (three total).

Warcraft Forever Collection, as listed by Blizzard: everything in the Epic Pack; Warcraft III: Reforged; Warcraft III Reforged: Forsaken Kingdom; and Forsaken and Human Figurine decor for Housing in modern World of Warcraft. The Collection is available through January 11, 2027.

The physical Collector’s Edition includes a Collection digital code, a 13-inch dwarf-and-bear statue from the original cinematic, a Zephras Isle mousepad, art prints, pins, and a companion journal.

Invite-A-Friend Launch Codes grant an eligible invitee access to Forever from November 4 through November 11. Codes are delivered by email beginning October 20, 2026.

Official footnotes: some in-game items work in both modern World of Warcraft and Forever; some work only in Forever; included items are not available in WoW Classic. Housing decor requires Housing in modern World of Warcraft, which requires World of Warcraft: Midnight, sold separately. Internet connection, a Battle.net account, and the Battle.net desktop app are required to play.

Opening-ceremony wording

Holly Longdale’s opening-ceremony clip, recorded on Sodapoppin’s stream, states Forever is “your new permanent home,” “a new beginning that never ends,” and “another way to play WoW that’s friendly, familiar, and new,” living “right alongside our modern and classic games.” Sodapoppin, 5:27

The same clip states Forever is focused on “the world as a main character,” that players “carve your own path,” that the place is “dedicated to community,” and that “there’s no rush here. It’s the journey that counts, not the destination.” Sodapoppin, 6:04

It states the story “starts up after the events of Warcraft III, but before Molten Core. So essentially year one of Vanilla WoW,” that players “embark on the journey to 60, and stay at 60 indefinitely,” and that the reason is “we don’t want to race ahead and leave our accomplishments, our gear, and our friends behind.” Sodapoppin, 10:42

Launch is stated as November 4, “in seven weeks,” with beta “this Thursday,” and show-floor play for attendees. Sodapoppin, 4:49

BlizzCon demo observations

The show-floor demo had two queues: a solo player line and a dungeon line. Slesh, 1:07

Skyborne characters could be created as Alliance or Horde. Slesh played an Alliance Skyborne rogue. Slesh, 1:15

Walk on Air is described as a slow-fall racial. Slesh, 2:30

A ley-line interaction is described as restoring health and mana; Slesh says he remembers 100% regen and flags that he may have the exact numbers wrong. Slesh, 2:51

The Skyborne starting city is named Valinar in that demo account, with a Darnassus-style boat toward the mainland and an invisible wall beyond it. Slesh, 3:19

The demo UI included an in-game quest helper, new menus, and a Legacy pane that accumulates points by category and redeems them for cosmetics and mounts. Slesh, 1:47

WillE’s panel recap names six Legacy categories: trade skills, PvP, adventure, dungeons and raids, and classes, with points that carry to alts. Ace’s recap shows the same six headings: classes, trade skills, player versus player, adventure, dungeons, and raids. Xaryu describes the pane as similar to achievements. The demo perk tree spends those points on Professions, Adventure, and Resourcefulness bonuses, with a separate cosmetic track. WillE, 6:49 Ace, 6:48 Slesh, 1:54 Xaryu, 12:25

Xaryu’s dungeon demo opened the PvP tab: unranked, with a rank cap that increases each week up to 24,750 for Rank 14. Xaryu, 4:57

The same demo shows dual specialization. Xaryu, 21:35

Quest log capacity is stated as 40 slots. Xaryu, 12:07

Arachnophobia mode is present. Xaryu, 14:48

No dungeon map was available in that client. Xaryu, 14:18

No target markers were available. Xaryu, 22:41

Focus targets exist. Edit mode and nameplates exist. Xaryu could not disable the retail-style cast bar. Xaryu, 13:47 Xaryu, 8:09 Xaryu, 21:41

The dungeon run is labeled Drown City / Sunken Hollow. Trash includes fears and a shark pack. A first-boss line is “It’s time for a little blood.” Xaryu, 6:37 Xaryu, 16:36

Loot called out on that run: Giant Club of the Boar (strength, spirit); Twilight Armor of the Eagle; Maze of Healing, read as 53 healing done and 14 intellect. Xaryu says those Maze of Healing numbers cannot be right and looks like a typo. Xaryu, 7:03 Xaryu, 18:40 Xaryu, 15:23

Mage talent tooltips read on that client: Arcane Blast; Missile Barrage as a 40% chance tied to Arcane Blast; Hot Streak from non-periodic Fire crits, stacking up to three and reducing Pyroblast cast time by 25% per stack; Frostfire Bolt listed with Fire Blast and Scorch; no mage healer spec. An Arcane talent is read as 30% less threat. Xaryu, 0:40 Xaryu, 3:20 Xaryu, 1:33 Xaryu, 14:00

Marcelian’s demo station notes Holy Strike on Retribution Paladin, with seals still present. Additional race/class combos shown or named: Undead Paladin, Orc Mage, Human Hunter. Marcelian & Flame, 1:33 Marcelian & Flame, 2:14

Ace shows a trinket: stun the target for 3 seconds; if the target is Naga, stun 5 seconds extra and refund 80% of the cooldown. Ace, 6:02

Ace’s Skyborne druid-form stills show boomkin, travel, cat, and bear forms unique to the race. Tree form was not in those stills. Ace, 5:02

Ace states new raids shown so far are 10-player or 20-player, and that Onyxia remains 40-player. Ace, 1:54

Ace states Forever will not add Outland, Northrend, Pandaria, or the Broken Isles. Ace, 7:41

WillE places Riverglades around the Burning Steppes, Swamp of Sorrows, and Redridge. He states Hall of Thanes can be completed by both factions, with Horde using an alternative entrance. He describes City of Dalaran as both an open-world space and a dungeon. He states the approach to Hyjal is framed through Darkwhisper Gorge. WillE, 2:11 WillE, 2:41 WillE, 2:52 WillE, 1:54

WillE describes Camping as placing a campsite almost anywhere in the open world so other players can contribute trade skills and share buffs. The panel names Camping as a profession. WillE, 6:16

MetaGoblin’s trailer breakdown shows a moving boat at the Southshore lighthouse, an aerial route toward Skyborne land with Dalaran in the background, multiple transport lines from Zephras Isle, a crane-like mount under Skyborne riders, players fishing a lake with a pole that has a red orb, and an Un’Goro scene labeled new professions content. MetaGoblin, 0:20 MetaGoblin, 2:48 MetaGoblin, 3:40 MetaGoblin, 4:23 MetaGoblin, 10:32

Unverified claims in these videos

The following lines appear in the same videos and are not treated as features. They are creator inferences, not tooltips.

WillE infers that “PvP season refresh” on the 2027 roadmap means Rank 14 is being removed. The demo still shows a weekly climb to Rank 14. WillE, 8:33 Xaryu, 4:57

Ace describes Hyjal Summit as a War of the Ancients raid with Illidan as the final boss. That mixes the Barrow Deeps prison tease with Hyjal and is not in the official recap. Ace, 8:50

WillE asks whether 10- and 20-player raids hard-cap group size or flex like Season of Discovery Molten Core. Unanswered. WillE, 5:48

Marcelian reports a rumor that Enhancement tanking is possible because block-chance talents are on the Shaman tree. Not tested. Marcelian & Flame, 3:11

MetaGoblin reads trailer skirmishes at Southshore and the Crossroads as possible world-PvP events, foggy dwarven windows as Grim Batol, a keep rebuild as Stormguard, a bear head as Ursoc, a C’Thun-eyed weapon as an Old God raid, Key to the City as Season of Discovery loot returning, and Winterspring glaive NPCs as a new faction. He labels several of these as stretches. MetaGoblin, 1:01

WillE stacks the Barrow Deeps “infamous demon hunter” tease with pre-launch class polls and names Demon Hunter, Necromancer, or Tinker as possible later classes. The panel said new classes are not off the table. Those three names are still not announced. WillE, 10:00

Preach describes difficulty as Season of Discovery–level and “killable,” and wonders whether Forever items might unlock transmog in modern WoW. Those are readings, not published rules. Preach, 3:41 Preach, 9:08

Sources

Blue

• Official Forever page
• Forever What’s Next panel recap
• World of Warcraft at BlizzCon 2026
• Pre-purchase upgrades

Community

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