WoW Forever launch: time, price, install
Which class?PlannerForumLaunch time where you are
| City / zone | Servers open |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles (PST) | Wed 4 Nov, 15:00 |
| New York (EST) | Wed 4 Nov, 18:00 |
| São Paulo | Wed 4 Nov, 20:00 |
| London (GMT) | Wed 4 Nov, 23:00 |
| Berlin / Paris (CET) | Thu 5 Nov, 00:00 |
| Istanbul | Thu 5 Nov, 02:00 |
| Moscow | Thu 5 Nov, 02:00 |
| Seoul | Thu 5 Nov, 08:00 |
| Sydney (AEDT) | Thu 5 Nov, 10:00 |
Launch time from Blizzard's launch post; local times converted from 23:00 UTC.
Everything else, in short
Does WoW Forever cost extra?
There's no separate box price. It's included with an active World of Warcraft subscription or Game Time (from $14.99 a month in the US). Optional packs cost extra and add Skyborne and cosmetics: Heroic $29.99, Epic $59.99, Warcraft Forever Collection $79.99 in the US shop. Confirmed Blizzard, 2 Nov 2026
Do I need to buy anything to play Skyborne?
Yes. The Skyborne race and its starting zone need the Skyborne Heroic Pack or a higher upgrade. Confirmed Blizzard, 1 Nov 2026
How do I install WoW Forever?
Install the Battle.net desktop app (Windows or Mac), pick World of Warcraft, choose WoW: Forever in the Game Version dropdown, choose your WoW account if you have several, then Install and Play. Confirmed Blizzard, 1 Nov 2026
What are the realm types?
There's no realm list: you pick a ruleset. Normal, PvP, Roleplay and Roleplay-PvP are available at launch; Hardcore (permanent death) comes later. The PvP ruleset locks you to one faction, and you can't hop between rulesets without making a new character. Confirmed Blizzard, 2 Nov 2026
Can I play with friends on another ruleset?
No. Groups, guilds, dungeons and raids only work with players on the same ruleset and faction. Battlegrounds can include players from other rulesets, except Hardcore. Confirmed Blizzard, 2 Nov 2026
What's the difference between the Classic and Enhanced presets?
Classic: standard-definition models, no quest markers or objective areas, separate bags, no transmog, camera-turning keys, the classic screen layout. Enhanced: HD models, quest markers and objective areas, one bag, transmog, strafe keys, a centralised layout. You can switch later in the options. Confirmed Blizzard, 1 Nov 2026
What's the level cap?
Levels 1 to 60. Confirmed Blizzard, 1 Nov 2026
When do raids open?
9 December 2026 for level-60 characters: The Barrow Deeps (10 players), Hyjal Summit (20) and Onyxia's Lair (40, with an attunement quest chain). Confirmed Blizzard, 1 Nov 2026
Are there phases after that?
Blizzard hasn't published a phase schedule beyond the 9 December raids. Unverified Blizzard, 1 Nov 2026
Do my Classic or retail characters carry over?
Blizzard's posts don't say anything carries over. The account-wide Legacy System tracks progress across your Forever characters. Unverified Blizzard, 1 Nov 2026
How many dungeons are there?
Nine new 5-player dungeons from level 13 to 60, plus a 15-vs-15 battleground (Battle for the Darkspear Islands, levels 30–60). Confirmed Blizzard, 1 Nov 2026
What are the system requirements?
Minimum: Windows 10 64-bit or macOS 12, 8 GB RAM, a 4 GB GPU and 128GB free on an SSD. Recommended: Windows 11 or macOS 15, 16 GB RAM. Blizzard says these can change, and asks you to update your operating system and graphics drivers first. Confirmed Blizzard, 2 Nov 2026
Which regions can play?
Blizzard calls it a global launch; times differ by region. Character names are unique within your region. Confirmed Blizzard, 1 Nov 2026
How do character names work?
Every character has a main name and a second name; the combination must be unique in your region. You can hide the second name on nameplates, but it still shows in chat. Early name reservation for Skyborne pack owners ends 3 November. Confirmed Blizzard, 2 Nov 2026
Can I use a controller?
Blizzard says controller support is available in beta. Keyboard and mouse is the standard. Beta data Blizzard, 1 Nov 2026
How many professions can I learn?
Two primary professions per character, plus all three secondary professions. Confirmed Blizzard, 1 Nov 2026
Launch-night problems and common questions
- Install greyed out or not available
- Can't log in, or servers down
- Can't create a Horde character or invite friends
- Name reservation (ends 3 November)
- System requirements: PC, Mac, install size
- Is it free? Price, Heroic Pack, Collector's Edition
- Forever vs Classic vs retail
- Normal, PvP or Roleplay: choosing a ruleset
- Classic or Enhanced preset
- Realmless explained: realm list, transfers, population
- Dungeon finder, dual spec, transmog, layers, guilds, Dalaran
- Races and classes chart
- Class weapons: hunter maces, paladin axes, shaman dual wield
- Haste explained: GCD, DoTs, parry haste
- Settings to change, and settings not saving
- Raid release date, sizes and schedule
- Gold buying: what Blizzard's rules say
First hour checklist
- Install early: the Game Version dropdown in the Battle.net app shows WoW: Forever.
- Pick your ruleset with your friends: you can only group within one ruleset and faction.
- Not sure which class? Which class should I main or the planner.
- Set up add-ons: install guide on wowforeveraddons.com.
- Words you'll see in guides: glossary.
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