You do not buy World of Warcraft: Forever as a separate game. From its global launch on 4 November 2026 at 3:00 p.m. PST, the full base game is included with any active World of Warcraft Subscription or Game Time. That same access covers modern WoW and WoW Classic, so an existing subscriber pays nothing extra. Upgrade packs are optional: they add the Skyborne race, cosmetics, name reservation and, at higher tiers, Game Time or Warcraft III content. A physical Collector’s Edition is a collectible bundle, not a requirement for play.
At a glance
| Name | Best for | Key spec | Free plan / price | Platforms | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subscription or Game Time | Everyone who only wants the base game | Levels 1–60, all base classes and races | No free plan; WoW access required | Windows, Mac | Nov 2026 |
| Skyborne Heroic Pack | Skyborne or early name reservation | Skyborne race and Zephras Isle start | $29.99 / €29.99; no Game Time | Windows, Mac | Nov 2026 |
| Skyborne Epic Pack | Skyborne plus a month of play time and cosmetics | 30 days of Game Time from launch | $59.99 / €59.99 | Windows, Mac | Nov 2026 |
| Warcraft Forever Collection | Epic contents plus Warcraft III story content | Includes Forsaken Kingdom campaign | $79.99 / €79.99; sold through 11 Jan 2027 | Windows, Mac | Nov 2026 |
| Collector’s Edition | Physical collectors | Collection digital code and physical memorabilia | $150; physical release | Windows, Mac (digital code) | Nov 2026 |
What do I actually need to play WoW: Forever?
You need a Battle.net account, the Battle.net desktop app, an internet connection, a supported Windows or Mac computer, and either a recurring WoW Subscription or prepaid Game Time. There is no Forever-only subscription, box price or separate expansion purchase. If your account already has modern WoW or WoW Classic time, Forever unlocks automatically at launch.
Blizzard’s launch statement is explicit: “When World of Warcraft: Forever launches globally on November 4, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. PST, access will be included with your World of Warcraft Subscription or Game Time.” The subscription is shared access rather than a license tied to one mode, and Forever begins everyone at level 1; no character copy from retail or Classic has been announced.
Is WoW: Forever free?
Forever is not free-to-play. It has no permanent free trial, but it also has no additional purchase beyond the normal WoW Subscription or Game Time. A one-month US subscription is listed at $14.99; three months is $13.99 per month; six- and 12-month offers are $12.99 per month, with the 12-month US plan billed at $155.88. European shop pricing is €12.99, €11.99 and €10.99 per month for the 1-, 3-, and 6-/12-month plans, with the 12-month plan billed at €131.88. Battle.net shows the authoritative total for your account currency, and these prices were checked in November 2026.
The only announced free access window is Invite-A-Friend launch week, 4–11 November 2026 PST. A friend who receives and redeems a launch code from a pack owner can play during that window; it is not a standing trial. Heroic buyers receive one code, while Epic and Collection buyers receive three total.
What does a normal subscription include?
Subscription access is the complete base Forever game. It covers the reimagined original Azeroth across Eastern Kingdoms, Kalimdor and new or expanded zones; levels 1–60; all nine classes; and the eight original races. Blizzard’s class combinations include new options such as Orc Mage, Undead Paladin, Dwarf Shaman, Gnome Priest, Human Hunter and Troll Warlock.
New zones and dungeons are available from day one, while raids unlock on 9 December 2026. Forever also has account-wide progress: Legacy Points and collections are shared across Normal, PvP and Roleplaying rulesets. The Battle.net Shop describes more than 1,000 new quests.
The subscription does not include the Skyborne race or the Zephras Isle starting questline. Those require the Skyborne Heroic Pack or a higher edition. It also excludes pack cosmetics, mounts, pets, tabards, toys, modern-WoW housing decorations, Warcraft III: Reforged and the Forsaken Kingdom campaign, and the physical items in the Collector’s Edition.
Which WoW: Forever edition should I buy?
The practical default is subscription or Game Time only. Choose a pack only for a specific feature; none is required for the base game.
Subscription or Game Time only
Buy nothing beyond your normal WoW access if you are happy with the eight original races and base cosmetics. This is the only option that avoids an upgrade cost, and it still grants the entire launch game. It is also the right choice if you do not want a reserved name, Skyborne, Warcraft III extras or physical merchandise.
Skyborne Heroic Pack — $29.99 / €29.99
Heroic is the least expensive route to the Skyborne race and Zephras Isle starting experience. It also opens Early Name Reservation from 27 October through 3 November 2026 PST for up to three characters on the account that bought the pack. Names are first come, first served and not guaranteed.
- Cerulean Prideclaw ground mount for Forever and modern WoW; the riding skill must still be purchased in game.
- Shen’dorei Skyseer’s Garb transmog, Veteran Adventurer’s Rucksack and Shen’dorei Windwell toy.
- Skyborne housing decor for modern WoW Housing, which itself requires World of Warcraft: Midnight separately.
- One Invite-A-Friend Launch Code.
Heroic contains no Game Time and no beta access. The beta is closed, so buying Heroic now is not a way to enter it.
Skyborne Epic Pack — $59.99 / €59.99
Epic contains everything in Heroic and adds 30 days of Game Time, credited to the account starting 4 November 2026 rather than on the purchase date. If that month begins on launch day, it runs to roughly 4 December; continued play then requires a subscription or more Game Time.
- Veteran Adventurer’s Loyal Companion bear mount and Outdoor Wear transmog.
- Zergling, Panda, Diablo and Pachimari pets, plus Lordaeron and Shen’dorei tabards for Forever.
- Three Invite-A-Friend codes in total.
Epic was the tier that included beta access during the announced testing period (17 September–21 October, later extended to 23 October 2026), but the beta is closed as of 29 October. Its $30 premium over Heroic is partly offset if you would have bought a US month of Game Time for about $14.99 anyway.
Warcraft Forever Collection — $79.99 / €79.99
The Collection includes all Epic contents, plus Warcraft III: Reforged, the Warcraft III Reforged: Forsaken Kingdom campaign and Forsaken and Human figurine decor for modern WoW Housing. The campaign bridges into Forever’s story with the fall of Lordaeron, the Undercity and the first Forsaken Paladin.
It adds nothing further inside Forever beyond what Epic already provides. Blizzard lists the Collection for sale through 11 January 2027, so this is the time-limited choice for players who specifically want the Warcraft III bundle.
Collector’s Edition — $150
The physical Collector’s Edition includes a Warcraft Forever Collection digital code, so it carries Epic’s Skyborne features, 30 days of Game Time and the Warcraft III content. The box adds a Dwarf hunter and bear statue, Zephras Isle mousepad, Hyjal Summit and Riverglades art prints, two pins and a companion journal.
The Gear Store SKU lists the statue at 7.5 inches, while Blizzard’s 24 September Collector’s Edition news post says 13 inches; treat the Gear Store product specification as the item-specific figure and note the discrepancy. The box is limited to one per household. The Gear Store listed it as sold out on 14 October 2026, with restock orders placed from 24 September scheduled to ship in February 2027, after launch. Selected North and South American locations are served by the Gear Store; Australia and New Zealand use JB Hi-Fi and EB Games, with UK and European retailers named in Blizzard’s restock notice.
A late physical shipment misses Early Name Reservation and launch week unless you also buy a digital pack. The included digital code can be redeemed in NA, LATAM, SA, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Redeeming the Collection code by 31 December 2027 can qualify you for Battle.net Balance credit for an eligible digital Forever purchase made to play before the box arrives; Blizzard’s support terms exclude some upgrade paths. Retail Collector’s Editions in Korea, Australia and New Zealand do not include Invite-A-Friend codes.
How these recommendations were chosen
The order prioritizes what changes your ability to play, then the exclusive Skyborne start, included Game Time, Warcraft III content, and finally physical collectibles. There is no published Blizzard statistic showing that one edition is the most popular, so the choice should follow the feature you actually want rather than an alleged community ranking.
Subscription, Game Time and the WoW Token: what is the difference?
A subscription is recurring Battle.net billing that continues until cancelled. Game Time is a prepaid block of days. Blizzard treats either as valid access for Forever. Public product text does not confirm whether pack-granted days stack in a particular way with an already-billing subscription, so check the account’s Game Time and renewal display before changing a plan.
Clayton Stone, associate production director on WoW Classic, said Blizzard has “no plans for anything like a WoW token or a boost,” adding, “The journey really is what the game is.” That describes the current plan, not a permanent promise. The retail WoW Token remains a separate modern-WoW system, and no Forever-specific Token implementation has been announced. Buying gold for real money violates Blizzard’s rules and can result in account action.
Do I need retail WoW, Classic or Midnight?
No. You do not need to own or play modern WoW, WoW Classic or Midnight to start Forever. You only need the shared WoW Subscription or Game Time, a Battle.net account and the supported client. Midnight is relevant only if you want to use the pack’s housing decorations in modern WoW Housing.
Forever is a fresh level-1 experience. No character transfer or copy from retail or Classic has been announced, and no second Forever subscription exists.
When can I reserve a name and start playing?
Pack owners can reserve up to three character names from 27 October through 3 November 2026 PST. Reservation applies only to the WoW account that purchased the pack, is first come, first served and does not guarantee that a preferred name will be available.
Global launch is 4 November 2026 at 3:00 p.m. PST (6:00 p.m. US Eastern, 11:00 p.m. UK time, and midnight CET on 5 November). Epic, Collection and Collector’s Edition Game Time is added on that date. The launch-week friend window runs 4–11 November, and the first raids unlock on 9 December.
What computer and platform do I need?
Forever is announced for Windows and Mac through Battle.net, with no console version announced. Official gamepad support is available, although the shop’s minimum specification still says a keyboard and mouse are required.
| Requirement | Minimum listed by the Battle.net Shop | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 10 64-bit, May 2019 Update or newer | Windows 11 |
| Processor | 4 cores at 3.0 GHz; Intel Haswell or AMD Zen | 8 performance cores, up to 5.2 GHz boost; Intel Core Ultra Series 2 or AMD Zen 5 |
| Graphics | DirectX 12, 4 GB GPU; NVIDIA GTX 10 series, AMD RDNA 1 or Intel Iris Xe2-LPG Lunar Lake | DirectX 12, 8 GB GPU; RTX 40, AMD RDNA 3 or Intel Arc B-Series |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Storage | 128 GB SSD | 128 GB SSD |
| Display and connection | 1280×720 and broadband internet | Broadband internet |
Blizzard’s GPU guidance sets an architecture floor of AMD GCN 1 (2012), NVIDIA Maxwell (2014) or Intel Skylake (2015) and newer. Its examples of compatible cards such as Radeon HD 7850, GTX 750/750 Ti and Intel HD Graphics 530 are described as still below the minimum requirements; Radeon HD 6950, GTX 760/770/780, GTX 8xxM and Intel HD 6000 are examples of unsupported hardware. Blizzard has not published full numeric Mac specifications in the announcements covered here, so use the live Battle.net Shop listing for your Mac model.
What dates and purchase traps should I watch?
- The beta is closed. Blizzard’s original notice ended it on 21 October, while later reporting documented a two-day extension to 23 October at 10:00 a.m. PDT.
- The Collection leaves the shop on 11 January 2027; Heroic and Epic have no announced end date.
- Epic, Collection and Collector’s Edition Game Time starts on 4 November, not when you pay. After 30 days, access requires a subscription or additional Game Time.
- Do not buy a physical Collector’s Edition expecting launch access if it ships in February 2027; use a digital purchase as well if you need to play immediately.
- Digital packs are sold through Battle.net. Unofficial key sellers can have keys revoked, so the account’s Battle.net shop total is the reliable regional price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a refund on a Forever pre-purchase?
Blizzard’s general refund policy governs these purchases; there is no separate Forever refund rule published. Pre-purchases are commonly eligible before release unless a claimed benefit or more than two hours of pre-purchase early access changes eligibility, so check the policy and your order status before requesting one.
Will Skyborne eventually become part of the regular subscription?
Blizzard has announced no date or commitment for adding Skyborne to standard subscription access. For now, the Heroic Pack or a higher edition is the stated requirement for both the race and Zephras Isle start.
Can I buy a digital pack in a currency other than dollars or euros?
Battle.net displays localized totals, including published Korean and Taiwan prices, and the amount shown for your account is authoritative. Blizzard’s public European shop text does not provide an official GBP list price, so do not convert the euro figure as a promised UK price.
What happens if I already have an active subscription when pack Game Time is added?
Blizzard says the 30 days are added to the account on 4 November but has not publicly explained every interaction with an existing recurring renewal. Review your account’s remaining Game Time and next billing date after the credit posts before cancelling or changing the subscription.