World of Warcraft Forever beta starts on 17 September 2026

The beta is scheduled to run from 17 September 2026 to 21 October 2026. According to the source, guaranteed access is tied to specific pre-order packs.

The shared description mentions a return to the original continents, a level cap of 60, new stories, a new class, and more than 1,000 new quests.

What happened

Blizzard announced World of Warcraft Forever during BlizzCon as a new variant of World of Warcraft Classic. In its description, Blizzard calls the game a “new permanent home” alongside both the modern version of World of Warcraft and Classic WoW. The YouTube description for the gameplay trailer repeats that wording and explicitly ties the announcement to BlizzCon.

According to the source, World of Warcraft Forever takes place after the events of Warcraft III Reforged: Forsaken Kingdom, but before Molten Core. The game returns to the original continents and uses a level cap of 60. Blizzard also mentions new stories, a new class, and more than 1,000 new quests. That mix of classic content and new additions forms the core of the trailer description.

The beta runs from 17 September 2026 to 21 October 2026. The source does not give an official start time, but notes that Blizzard has often rolled out updates between 11:00 and 14:00 ET in the past. That is an expectation based on previous behavior, not a confirmed schedule for this beta.

Access to the beta is reportedly included with the Skyborne Epic Pack and the Warcraft Forever Collection. Those packs cost $59.99 / £51.99 and $79.99 / £69.99 respectively. Opting in through the WoW Forever website may also grant access, but that is not guaranteed. The source also states that pre-ordering one of the listed packs is the only guaranteed way to get in.

Background

The trailer description reiterates that Blizzard is positioning WoW Forever as a permanent home alongside the existing versions of World of Warcraft. That same description also mentions the level 60 cap, the return to the original continents, and the addition of new content. The combination of a classic setup with new stories, a new class, and more than 1,000 quests makes it clear Blizzard is framing the project as a separate variant within the broader WoW lineup.

The source places the game in a specific period: after Warcraft III Reforged: Forsaken Kingdom and before Molten Core. That detail comes from the provided description and matters because Blizzard is claiming a fixed place in franchise history. The text also says the announcement was made during BlizzCon, though no year is given in the excerpt. As a result, only the BlizzCon reference itself remains.

The access information is also spelled out clearly in the source. The Skyborne Epic Pack and the Warcraft Forever Collection are named as the two bundles that guarantee beta access, priced at $59.99 / £51.99 and $79.99 / £69.99. Opting in through the official website is also mentioned as a possible route, but without a guarantee. The source therefore distinguishes between a certain and an uncertain way to enter the beta.

Related GAME-scanner articles

• World of Warcraft: Forever - A return to nostalgia
• World of Warcraft: Forever - A new horizon for players
• New paladins for night elves, undead and trolls in World of Warcraft: Midnight
• The Last Titan: new World of Warcraft expansion revealed

Sources

• GameSpot: The WoW Forever Beta Starts This Week, Here’s How To Get Access
• Blizzard / World of Warcraft YouTube video: World of Warcraft: Forever | Gameplay Trailer