When does WoW Forever launch?

November 4, 2026 in the Americas. In Europe that is midnight CET on November 5.

Do I need to pre-purchase WoW Forever?

No. A standard WoW subscription covers it. Packs add the Skyborne race, cosmetics and early name reservation.

When is name reservation?

October 27 to November 3 for buyers of the Heroic pack, Epic pack or Warcraft Forever Collection.

Which ruleset should I choose?

Normal is the simplest for new players. PvP locks your account to one faction. Hardcore opens after launch.

WoW Forever Launch Checklist: What to Do Before November 4

Launch day is crowded. A little preparation saves hours. This checklist uses the confirmed dates from Blizzard as reported by Warcraft Tavern, MeinMMO and Blizzard Watch, checked on October 21, 2026. Items marked unconfirmed may change.

Key takeaways

Stress test: October 21. Name reservation for eligible pack buyers: October 27 to November 3.
Launch: November 4 in the Americas, which is midnight CET on November 5 in Europe.
Pick your ruleset and faction before you create a character.
Only the Battle.net app is a safe download source.

Timeline

Date	What happens
October 21	Free stress test for any WoW account
October 23	Beta closes
October 27 to November 3	Name reservation for Heroic pack, Epic pack and Collection buyers
November 4	Launch; Invite-A-Friend launch week begins
After launch	Hardcore ruleset opens at a date not announced

World of Warcraft: Forever | New Horizons | Cinematic Trailer · YouTube

The checklist

Subscription: Forever is covered by a normal WoW subscription. Check that it is active. See the price guide.
PC: make room for 128 GB on an SSD and check 8 GB of VRAM. See the requirements guide.
Pre-install: install the client from the Game Version menu in Battle.net as soon as it is offered.
Ruleset: decide between Normal, PvP and RP. See the rulesets guide.
Faction: on PvP your account is locked to one faction.
Class: read the class guide and have two ideas ready.
Names: write down three name options. Names from the stress test are deleted.
Friends: agree on the same ruleset and faction, because groups cannot cross them.

Launch day tips

Expect queues and short outages, as with any big MMO launch. Do not repeat login attempts quickly, because that can make your own wait longer. Keep Battle.net open and wait for the official status post. If an error code appears, search Blizzard's support page and not a random website.

Scams to avoid

Watch the launch

Big streamers usually go live the minute servers open. Use the row below to see who is on now.

World of Warcraft: Forever | Gameplay Trailer · YouTube

Live nu: World of Warcraft

Se alle →

LIVE Twitch 7.831 LAST FEW DAYS OF BETA! LETS GOOO! YESSSSSSS! MULTISTREAMING! !wallet !vetra #ad !youtube Pikabooirlen

LIVE Twitch 2.392 💰 DROPS 🔥 ANYONE CAN PLAY FOR THE STRESS TEST TODAY!! | @esfandtv all socials !schedule !classicast EsfandTVen

LIVE Twitch 795 WOW FOREVER WAITING ROOM ! WHAT I AM SUPPOSE TO DO NOW PLAY TBC??? RETAIL?!!!! HELP!!!!!! Hozitojonesen

More on the WoW hub and in the stress test guide.

WoW Forever launch checklist: what to do before November 4