Unofficial returning player guide
WoW Forever
You should not need ten news articles to make one decision. Check your beta route, whether a pack is worth buying, which regional date applies, and how this version differs from the WoW you know.
Current milestone
The official schedule is in the beta window
This site has not verified live server availability
Official launch
November 4, 2026
Base requirement
Active WoW subscription or game time
Start with the question you need answered
Can I enter the beta?
Separate sign-up selection, Heroic, and pack-included beta access.
Check accessWhich pack is the minimum?
Choose by Skyborne, beta, 30 days of game time, and Warcraft III needs.
Compare packsWhich date applies to me?
Keep the English schedule, Taiwan store, and mainland status separate.
Check regionsWhat is Forever?
A direct explanation of the version lines for returning players.
Get the overviewThree points to settle first
Where players are most likely to overspend or misread access
The base game is not a separate purchase
Base Forever play is included with an active WoW subscription or game time. You do not need a pack merely to own the base version.
Signing up does not guarantee an invite
The official sign-up offers a chance to test. The lowest pack that explicitly includes Beta Access is Skyborne Epic Pack.
Skyborne requires a pack
Skyborne and its Zephras Isle start require Heroic Pack or higher. A subscription alone covers base access.
For returning players
Think of Forever as another long-running WoW line
It begins from the foundations of WoW's first era, but it is not a simple re-release. Official descriptions include expanded zones, 1,000+ new quests, new dungeons, class and specialization reworks, Legacy progression, and system changes.
Modern
Current expansion line
Continues existing retail characters, systems, and expansion progress.
Classic
Historic version line
Focuses on recreating past versions and staged progression. Forever pack items do not automatically apply.
Forever
A renewed long-term world
Builds on early Azeroth with new zones, quests, visuals, and systems, with ongoing updates planned.
Official launch
Three key windows before launch
- 1 Sep 17 - Oct 21
English official beta schedule
Sign-up selection and pack access are separate routes.
- 2 Oct 27 - Nov 3
Early name reservation
All three packs list this benefit; names remain first come, first served.
- 3 11.04
English official launch date
The Taiwan store displays November 5 because of the regional calendar difference.
Make one decision without reading everything
Get a clear answer on access, packs, or dates in about a minute.