Key information
Blizzard Entertainment launched World of Warcraft: Forever on September 17, 2026, charging 59.99 € for beta access with all progress slated for erasure by October 21. Although the temporary test and its wiped character progression initially appeared to be a financial risk, the initiative triggered massive audience engagement and server strain.
The Epic Pack of the Aeolides includes 30 days of game time for the official launch on November 4, 2026, alongside the new Skyborne race, mounts, pets, housing decor for WoW: Midnight, and an Invite-a-Friend system with three launch keys. Players do not need to buy a box at launch, as the title will be accessible via the standard monthly subscription.
Executive producer Holly Longdale announced on X that the beta population cap had to be increased again due to high demand. Senior producer Tom Ellis noted that launch server outages were slightly excessive, while Classic lead designer Josh Greenfield described the figures as the craziest in his career.
PC Gamer journalist Harvey Randall observed that players do not mind the progression wipe because they are happy to explore. The financial barrier also served as a technical filter to regulate server saturation and ensure qualitative bug reports from invested testers.
