Blizzard Entertainment begins WoW Forever beta testing

Blizzard Entertainment has announced the beta phase for ‘World of Warcraft: Forever’, a new permanent MMORPG experience inspired by the game’s first year. The beta is scheduled to begin on September 17, 2026, and will run until late October 2026, ahead of the official full release on November 4 or 5, 2026.

Unlike previous testing phases, guaranteed beta access is tied to specific paid editions. Players can secure a spot by purchasing the ‘Epic’ or ‘Collector’ packages, while a free entry option exists via Battle.net registration, though selection for the free tier is not guaranteed. The game will maintain a level cap of 60 and features new content including the Celonatos playable race, the Zefras Island, over 1,000 quests, and various new dungeons and raids.

Developers have also confirmed that the game will implement restrictions on computational combat add-ons, similar to the policies seen in the modern ‘Retail’ version of the game. This move aims to limit programmatic tools that automate player communication or combat assignments, though UI-based customizations like timers and icons are expected to remain functional.