World of Warcraft Forever Overview and New Features

World of Warcraft Forever is Blizzard's take on Classic+, releasing on November 4th, 2026. Built on the Vanilla WoW foundation but rewriting Azeroth with an entirely new storyline, the Skyborne race and more, it is a permanent game mode with long-term investment running alongside Retail.

The project was initially codenamed as "Project Camelot", likely as a nod to Dark Age of Camelot, a PvP MMO that served as initial inspiration for World of Warcraft development.

Here is some initial known information about Forever:

• Release Date: November 4, 2026
• Beta Start: September 17, 2026
• Price: Free with your WoW subscription, extra benefits start at $29.99 with the Skyborne Heroic Edition
• New Races: Skyborne
• Level Cap: 60
• Permanent or Seasonal?: Permanent

Ever since the original re-release of Classic WoW in 2019, fans have asked for new content using the Classic WoW formula. Forever keeps all of the foundations from Vanilla WoW: All nine original classes, its iconic spells and familiar structure, while building onto them.

Forever does have differences from Classic WoW, starting from its storyline: It will run on a different timeline than that of Classic. Forever will have long-term investment from Blizzard, running alongside Retail WoW and all Classic WoW gamemodes. Forever will also have the option to change your graphics between the Classic 2004 look, or the HD graphics seen since Warlords of Draenor on Retail WoW.

Forever will be released on November 4, 2026, with the Beta period started on September 17, 2026. Check our Beta guide for more information!

Forever is free with your World of Warcraft subscription. However, you can obtain rewards by purchasing special editions via pre-orders, divided in three tiers with increasing rewards: Skyborne Heroic Pack, Skyborne Epic Pack and Warcraft Forever Collection. You can check more information about them in our dedicated Forever Pre-Order guide. One of the benefits from pre-ordering is the ability to reserve your character names ahead of the launch.

Many new things that never existed in Classic WoW before are available in Forever outlined below. From class revamps and overhauls, new systems, new zones and even a new race!

Perhaps the biggest change to WoW Forever is that there are no realms to choose from! Instead, WoW Forever has rulesets - Mega realm-esque servers focused on specific playstyles: PvE, PvP, Roleplay (RP), RP-PvP, and Hardcore!

All existing classes from Classic WoW will receive revamps. In Classic WoW, certain specializations come to mind as nearly unplayable, be it by itemization, or just gameplay not being fleshed out for most of Classic. This will not be a thing in Forever - All specializations will be playable at a competitive level.

Check out more about the new classes in Forever in our dedicated guide!

In addition to all the races from Classic WoW, a new race will be joining the roster: the Skyborne, a neutral race available for both Alliance and Horde.

Another change to races coming to Forever is a rebalancing of racial abilities. This is aimed at attempting to secure a 50/50 faction balance on most Forever servers.

Check out more about the new and changing Races in Forever, in our dedicated guide!

Several new zones, never before explored in the history of WoW (be it Classic or Retail) will be explored in Forever. In BlizzCon 2026, four new zones were shown:

• Mount Hyjal
• Shen'dralas (between Mulgore and Desolace)
• Riverglades (between Redridge Mountains, Burning Steppes and Swamp of Sorrows)
• Zephras Isle (Skyborne race starting area)

Learn more about new and changing zones in our guide!

New systems will come up in Forever. These include:

• Camping, a new buff system that uses campfires to buff nearby players.
• Legacy, a journey system that rewards you for leveling and completing tasks.
• Transmogrification, the ability to change your gear's appearance while retaining your originally equipped gear's stats.

Check our guides to learn more about them!

The famous PvP system in Classic WoW is making a return for WoW Forever, with a new style, but still guaranteeing the same titles of old.

In addition to the above, two new gameplay systems are coming in WoW Forever: The ability to toggle between SD and HD graphics for a true Classic experience, as well as the ability to play WoW Forever using a controller.

No, Forever will be available through the same subscription you already pay for both Retail and Classic WoW. However, purchasing the Forever pre-order editions grants you additional rewards such as beta access and early name reservation.

Check our guides for more information!

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