WoW Forever Release Date: Live Since November 4
Short answer
US West Coast3:00 PM PSTWednesday, November 4
Central Europe12:00 AM CETThursday, November 5
WoW Forever is out. It went live worldwide at one moment on Wednesday, November 4 at 3:00 PM PST, which was 12:00 AM CET on Thursday, November 5 in Central Europe. You play it with a subscription or Game Time, the level cap is 60, and the first raids open on December 9.
In your time zone it was:
- Live worldwide
- Level cap 60
- Subscription or Game Time
Forever is live · day 2
The raids open in
Raids are open
Road to the raids
Day 2 of 35 · 8%
What is live in WoW Forever now
Everything you can play since launch on November 4, each with the guide for it.
Level 1 to 60
More than 1,000 new quests across the whole journey, with the level cap at 60 from day one.
New zones
Mount Hyjal, Shen’dralas, the Riverglades with 150+ quests for the mid 30s to mid 40s, and Zephras Isle for levels 1 to 12.
Skyborne and new combos
The new race starts on Zephras Isle, plus Orc Mages, Troll Warlocks, Undead Paladins, Human Hunters, Gnome Priests and Dwarf Shamans.
35 dungeons
Nine of them new, for levels 13 to 60. Until the raids open, this is the endgame.
Darkspear Islands
The new 15 vs 15 battleground off Dustwallow Marsh, plus PvP progression across the season.
Four rulesets
Normal, PvP, Roleplay and Roleplay PvP instead of a realm list. Hardcore comes later.
Legacy System
Account-wide progress through Legacy Challenges, Perks and Rewards, even on a single character.
Camping
A Basic Campfire becomes a shared camp where nearby players add up to three Camp Features from professions.
ConfirmedSource: Blizzard: World of Warcraft: Forever Now Live!
What time WoW Forever launched in every region
Blizzard started every region at the same moment, 23:00 UTC on November 4. This is what the clock said around the world.
The world at launch
23:00 UTC
Your time zone
US West
3:00 PM
Wednesday, November 4
PST · UTC−8 · Los Angeles, Seattle, Vancouver
US Mountain
4:00 PM
Wednesday, November 4
MST · UTC−7 · Denver, Salt Lake City, Calgary
US Central
5:00 PM
Wednesday, November 4
CST · UTC−6 · Chicago, Dallas, Mexico City
US East
6:00 PM
Wednesday, November 4
EST · UTC−5 · New York, Toronto, Miami
Brazil
8:00 PM
Wednesday, November 4
BRT · UTC−3 · São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro
UK and Ireland
11:00 PM
Wednesday, November 4
GMT · UTC±0 · London, Dublin, Lisbon
Central Europe
12:00 AM
Thursday, November 5next day
CET · UTC+1 · Berlin, Paris, Vienna, Zurich
Eastern Europe
1:00 AM
Thursday, November 5next day
EET · UTC+2 · Athens, Kyiv, Helsinki
Moscow
2:00 AM
Thursday, November 5next day
MSK · UTC+3 · Moscow, Istanbul, Minsk
Gulf
3:00 AM
Thursday, November 5next day
GST · UTC+4 · Dubai, Abu Dhabi
India
4:30 AM
Thursday, November 5next day
IST · UTC+5:30 · Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore
Southeast Asia
7:00 AM
Thursday, November 5next day
SGT · UTC+8 · Singapore, Hong Kong, Taipei
Japan and Korea
8:00 AM
Thursday, November 5next day
JST · UTC+9 · Tokyo, Seoul
Australia East
10:00 AM
Thursday, November 5next day
AEDT · UTC+11 · Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra
New Zealand
12:00 PM
Thursday, November 5next day
NZDT · UTC+13 · Auckland, Wellington
Full timeline: beta, launch, raids and Hardcore
From the beta start to the first raids. Each date links its source and today is marked on the line.
Sep 12, 2026
ConfirmedForever announced
Blizzard reveals World of Warcraft: Forever.
Source: Blizzard: Carve a New Path with World of Warcraft: ForeverSep 17, 2026
ConfirmedBeta goes live
Initial level cap 20. Week one includes zones up to level 20, Hall of Thanes and Ruins of Lordaeron.
Source: Blizzard: The World of Warcraft: Forever Beta Now LiveOct 1, 2026
ConfirmedBeta cap rises to 30
Level cap 30. The new Excavation Site: Wetlands (26–31) opens, and Razorfen Downs (from 25) and Uldaman (from 30) join the beta dungeons.
Source: Blizzard forums: WoW Forever Beta Development Notes, updated October 1 (Kaivax)Oct 8, 2026
ConfirmedCity of Dalaran opens
The new City of Dalaran (28–33) opens in the beta. Dungeon kills give about 20% more XP, and every beta player gets 16 Legacy Points to test the Legacy System.
Source: Blizzard forums: WoW Forever Beta Development Notes, updated October 8 (Kaivax)Oct 21, 2026
AnnouncedStress Test
For a few hours anyone with a WoW account could play, no subscription, Game Time or beta access needed. It started at 19:00 CEST in Europe, at 2:00 PM PDT in the Americas and Oceania, and on the morning of October 22 in Korea and Taiwan. Characters, names and guilds were wiped afterwards.
Source: Blizzard: Join the World of Warcraft: Forever Stress TestOct 23, 2026
ConfirmedBeta closes
The beta closed for good at 10:00 AM PDT, 19:00 CEST, after five weeks of testing, the last three at level cap 30.
Source: Blizzard forums: Thank You For Testing the WoW Forever Beta (Kaivax, October 23)Oct 27 – Nov 3
AnnouncedEarly name reservation
Owners of any upgrade pack created and customized up to three characters per account across all rulesets before launch, names first come, first served. It opened on October 27 at 18:00 CET in Europe (17:00 in the UK) and at 1:00 PM PDT in North America, and on October 28 at 07:00 in Korea and Taiwan.
Source: Blizzard: Claim Your World of Warcraft: Forever Character NamesOpens per region
- Europe18:00CET · October 27
- North America1:00 PMPDT · October 27
- Korea07:00KST · October 28
- Taiwan07:00CST · October 28
Nov 4, 2026
ConfirmedLive nowLaunch
Forever went live worldwide at one moment: Nov 4, 3:00 PM PST, Nov 5, 00:00 CET. Level cap 60, nine new dungeons and the Darkspear Islands battleground.
Wed, Nov 4 · 3:00 PM PST | Thu, Nov 5 · 12:00 AM CET
Source: Blizzard: World of Warcraft: Forever Now Live!Nov 5 – Nov 12
ConfirmedPouch of Violet Dust Twitch drop
Watch four hours of eligible WoW streams on Twitch from Nov 4, 4:30 PM PST to Nov 12, 4:30 PM PST for a launch toy that turns a campfire purple and stretches camp benefits from one hour to two. The toy only works during the Launch Celebration, which ends in early December.
Source: Blizzard: Set Your Campfire Ablaze with the Pouch of Violet Dust!Dec 9, 2026
AnnouncedNew raids unlock
The Barrow Deeps, Hyjal Summit and Onyxia’s Lair open for level 60 players.
Source: Blizzard: World of Warcraft: Forever Now Live!After launch
AnnouncedHardcore ruleset
Hardcore joins the other rulesets some time after launch. Blizzard has not named a date yet.
Source: Blizzard: World of Warcraft: Forever Now Live!Today
What comes next
On December 9, 2026 the first raids open for level 60: The Barrow Deeps, Hyjal Summit and Onyxia’s Lair. Until then the level 60 endgame runs through the dungeons, and every one of them is in our dungeon guides. If you want a character at 60 and in dungeon gear by then, our WoW Forever boost options cover leveling, dungeons and gear.
The Hardcore ruleset comes some time after launch, with no date yet. Beyond that Blizzard plans more raids and dungeons, PvP updates and new quests on the 1 to 60 journey (What’s Next recap).
Launch week: first hotfixes and known issues
What Blizzard fixed or announced since launch night, with the time in UTC. New hotfixes go here as Blizzard posts them.
Nov 6, 02:34 UTCConfirmed
Hotfixes of November 5
Quest NPCs in Durotar, Silverpine Forest and the Swamp of Sorrows spawn properly again, the Druid trainer on Zephras Isle trains, and the vendors there sell the apprentice profession bags. In battlegrounds Tauren Plainsrunning no longer stacks during the preparation phase, and carrying a flag clears the stacks.
Source: Blizzard forums: WoW: Forever Hotfixes, November 5 (Kaivax, posted November 6)Nov 5, 22:07 UTCConfirmed
Known issues on live
The PvP vendors in Orgrimmar, Stormwind and Dalaran are switched off for now, an Ashenvale quest is off because of a crash bug, and in Razorfen Kraul you can fall into a cauldron near Roogug and get stuck. The full list is on the patch notes page.
Source: Blizzard forums: Known Issues, WoW Forever (Kaivax, updated November 5)Nov 5, 06:39 UTCConfirmed
Portals while boats and zeppelins get lost
Some boats and zeppelins got lost for long stretches. As a stopgap there are portals near most docks or inside the zeppelin towers. The proper fix was due the next morning, and the portals go away once it works.
Source: Blizzard forums: temporary portals while boats and zeppelins get lost (Aggrend, November 5)Nov 5, 06:35 UTCAnnounced
Areas that feel too empty
Some areas feel emptier than they should. Blizzard plans to tweak the numbers the next day so they feel livelier.
Source: Blizzard forums: areas that feel too empty (Aggrend, November 5)Nov 5, 02:43 UTCConfirmed
Invite-A-Friend codes unblocked
Players who joined with an Invite-A-Friend code were wrongly blocked from some chat channels, leveling past 10, guilds, groups and trading. A hotfix fixed it. If it still happens to you, log out and back in.
Source: Blizzard forums: Issues Resolved for Invite-a-Friend Players (Kaivax, November 5)Nov 4, 23:44 UTCConfirmed
Check language and region
Check Options, System, Languages and Social right away. If anything there is not in your language, change it, then log out and back in.
Source: Blizzard forums: Language and Social Settings (Kaivax, November 4)
Can you buy WoW Forever?
You play it with a World of Warcraft subscription or Game Time. On top of that Blizzard sells three upgrade packs. The Skyborne race and early name reservation come only with one of them.
| Skyborne Heroic Pack | Includes betaSkyborne Epic Pack | Warcraft Forever Collection | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skyborne race and the Zephras Isle start | Included | Included | Included |
| Early name reservation, Oct 27 to Nov 3 | Included | Included | Included |
| A ground mount, an outfit, a toy and a rucksack | Included | Included | Included |
| Invite-A-Friend launch codes | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Beta access from September 17 to October 23 | –Not included | Included | Included |
| 30 days of Game Time from November 4 | –Not included | Included | Included |
| More cosmetics, tabards and pets | –Not included | Included | Included |
| Warcraft III: Reforged plus the Forsaken Kingdom campaign | –Not included | –Not included | Included |
Your plan for the first week
From your first login to your first dungeon, in the order it comes up. Each step links the guide or tool for it.
First login
Pick a preset and a ruleset
On your first login the game asks for an experience preset: Classic for the old look or Enhanced with more comfort features. Then you choose a ruleset. Groups, dungeons and raids stay inside one ruleset, so agree on it with your friends.
First minutes
Check language and region
Under Options, System, Languages and Social check text, audio, Preferred Online Language and account location. If anything is off, change it, then log out and back in to meet players who speak your language.
Before level 10
Plan your class and first talents
Your class hub shows the specs, what is new in Forever and the best way to level. The Talent Path tells you which talent to take at each level.
From level 1
Follow the route
Follow the leveling route from your start zone. The World Map shows quests, dungeons, trainers and flight paths. Boats and zeppelins got stuck on launch night, so most docks have a portal for now.
Level 13–18
Your first dungeon
Hall of Thanes is for levels 13–18 and Ruins of Lordaeron for 15–20, both new in Forever. The Dungeon Finder shows what fits your level.
First week
Pick up professions and camping
Take a gathering profession early, it earns gold while you level. The first Camping objects unlock at skill 20. Until November 12 a Twitch drop gives the Pouch of Violet Dust, which stretches the benefits of a camp to two hours.
Looking back: the beta from September 17 to October 23
Five weeks of testing before launch, first at level cap 20, then at 30. What each phase brought.
Beta run
Sep 17 – Oct 23 · 37 days
- Phase 1Confirmed
Level cap 20
September 17 to 30
- The Skyborne race and Zephras Isle
- Every zone up to level 20
- Hall of Thanes, dungeon for levels 13–18
- Ruins of Lordaeron, dungeon for levels 15–20
- Phase 2Confirmed
Level cap 30
October 1 to 23
- Excavation Site: Wetlands, new dungeon for levels 26–31
- Razorfen Downs from level 25 and Uldaman from level 30
- Since October 8: City of Dalaran, new dungeon for levels 28–33
- Since October 8: 16 Legacy Points for every tester and about 20% more XP from dungeon kills
- Darkspear Islands, the new battleground, was the only one in the beta queue, from October 6 at the latest
Source: Blizzard dev notes, October 1Source: Blizzard dev notes, October 8
- Stress TestAnnounced
Open to everyone
October 21, 2:00 PM PDT
- No subscription, Game Time or beta access needed, just a WoW account
- Europe 19:00 CEST, Americas and Oceania 2:00 PM PDT, Korea 06:00 KST and Taiwan 05:00 CST on October 22
- It was installed in the Battle.net app under In Development
- The beta went offline for the stress test, then opened again
- All stress test characters, names and guilds were wiped afterwards
- Beta closedConfirmed
Beta closed October 23
October 23, 10:00 AM PDT
- The beta went offline at 10:00 AM PDT, at level cap 30 to the end
- After it: name reservation from October 27 and the launch on November 4
Source: Blizzard forums, beta closeSource: Blizzard forums, beta closed
WoW Forever release FAQ
When did WoW Forever come out?
WoW Forever launched worldwide on November 4, 2026 at 3:00 PM PST. That was 6:00 PM EST in New York, 11:00 PM GMT in London and 12:00 AM CET on Thursday, November 5 in Central Europe. It has been live ever since.
What time did WoW Forever release in the UK and EU?
At 12:00 AM CET on Thursday, November 5 in Central Europe, which was 11:00 PM GMT on Wednesday, November 4 in the UK. Every region started at the same moment, so Europe did not start later.
What time did WoW Forever launch in Australia?
On Thursday, November 5 at 10:00 AM AEDT in Sydney and Melbourne, 7:00 AM AWST in Perth and 12:00 PM NZDT in Wellington and Auckland.
How do I download and install WoW Forever?
In the Battle.net app: pick World of Warcraft, choose World of Warcraft: Forever in the Game Version menu above the Play button, select Install, then Play. On your first login you pick the Classic or Enhanced preset, then your ruleset.
When does the Hardcore ruleset come out?
Some time after launch, Blizzard has not named a date yet. Normal, PvP, Roleplay and Roleplay PvP are live now.
Where are the boats and zeppelins?
Some boats and zeppelins got lost for long stretches on launch night. Until the fix is confirmed, there are portals near most docks or inside the zeppelin towers, so you can still travel between the continents.
Can I still reserve names in WoW Forever?
No, early name reservation for upgrade pack owners ran October 27 to November 3. Now you create characters like everyone else. A name has two parts, and together they are unique in your region.
Is WoW Forever out now?
Yes. Forever has been live since November 4, 2026 at 23:00 UTC, in every region at once. You need a World of Warcraft subscription or Game Time, then pick World of Warcraft: Forever in the Game Version menu of the Battle.net app.
What time did WoW Forever launch in the US?
On Wednesday, November 4 at 3:00 PM PST on the West Coast and 6:00 PM EST on the East Coast. Central time was 5:00 PM CST.
Can you buy WoW Forever?
You play it with a World of Warcraft subscription or Game Time, so there is no separate game to buy. Blizzard also sells three upgrade packs: the Skyborne Heroic Pack, the Skyborne Epic Pack and the Warcraft Forever Collection. The Skyborne race comes only with one of these packs.
When do WoW Forever raids unlock?
On December 9, 2026 The Barrow Deeps, Hyjal Summit and Onyxia’s Lair open for level 60 players. Until then the endgame runs through the level 60 dungeons.
Why can’t I chat, group or level past 10 with an Invite-A-Friend code?
That was a launch bug. Players who joined with an Invite-A-Friend code were wrongly blocked from some chat channels, leveling past 10, guilds, groups and trading. A hotfix on November 5 fixed it. If it still happens, log out and back in.
When was the WoW Forever beta?
From September 17 to October 23, 2026. It opened at level cap 20, went to 30 on October 1 with Excavation Site: Wetlands, Razorfen Downs and Uldaman, and added City of Dalaran on October 8. On October 21 a stress test let every WoW account play for a few hours. Name reservation ran October 27 to November 3.
What is the level cap in WoW Forever?
Level 60. The journey runs from level 1 to 60 through new and classic zones with more than 1,000 new quests and 35 dungeons, 9 of them new.
Sources
- Blizzard: World of Warcraft: Forever Now Live!
- Blizzard forums: World of Warcraft: Forever Launch Time (Kaivax, November 4)
- Blizzard forums: WoW: Forever Hotfixes, November 5 (Kaivax, posted November 6)
- Blizzard forums: Known Issues, WoW Forever (Kaivax, updated November 5)
- Blizzard forums: Issues Resolved for Invite-a-Friend Players (Kaivax, November 5)
- Blizzard forums: temporary portals while boats and zeppelins get lost (Aggrend, November 5)
- Blizzard forums: areas that feel too empty (Aggrend, November 5)
- Blizzard forums: Language and Social Settings (Kaivax, November 4)
- Blizzard: Set Your Campfire Ablaze with the Pouch of Violet Dust!
- Blizzard: Pre-Purchase World of Warcraft: Forever Upgrades
- Blizzard: Claim Your World of Warcraft: Forever Character Names
- Blizzard: The World of Warcraft: Forever Beta Now Live
- Blizzard: Join the World of Warcraft: Forever Stress Test
- Blizzard forums: Heads Up: WoW Forever Stress Test on October 21
- Blizzard forums: Thank You For Testing the WoW Forever Beta (Kaivax, October 23)
- Blizzard: What’s Next Panel Recap
- Blizzard: Deep Dive Panel Recap
- Blizzard: Carve a New Path with World of Warcraft: Forever
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