Forever's schedule now runs from an active beta to the first raid unlock in December. Most milestones specify calendar dates; launch is the exception, with a precise global opening time. The table below uses the newer beta guidance where an older announcement graphic differs.

The announced schedule

DateMilestoneWhat the announcement establishes
September 17Beta beganAccess is through selected invitations and eligible purchased access.
October 20Friend Launch Code emails beginDelivery begins on this date; the codes are for November launch-week play.
October 21Last full beta testing dayThe newer beta report supplies this date without an exact shutdown hour.
October 27–November 3Early name reservationEligible purchasers can create and customize up to three characters.
November 4, 3:00 p.m. PSTGlobal launchPST is UTC−8, making the opening 23:00 UTC on November 4.
November 4–11Friend Launch Code play windowEligible invited friends can play during this window without their own subscription or game time.
December 9First raid unlockThe official roadmap graphic lists Barrow Deeps (10 players), Hyjal Summit (20) and Onyxia's Lair (40).

Sources[1] Blizzard Entertainment[2] Blizzard Entertainment[3] Blizzard Entertainment

Inspect 10 claim records
Forever · beta start

Claim · betaStartSeptember 17, 2026

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:

Editor note: Day precision only. The Q&A clock time is a different event.

Forever · friend code delivery

Claim · friendCodeDeliveryOctober 20, 2026

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:

Editor note: Email delivery starts on this date; the source does not promise every code arrives at an exact hour.

Forever · beta final full testing day

Claim · betaFinalFullTestingDayOctober 21, 2026

BetaConfidence: highLast verified:
Forever · reservation start

Claim · reservationStartOctober 27, 2026

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Forever · reservation end

Claim · reservationEndNovember 3, 2026

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Forever · reservation characters

Claim · reservationCharactersup to 3 characters

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Forever · launch time

Claim · launchTimeNovember 4, 2026, 3:00 p.m. PST

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:

Editor note: Original local wall time and PST offset retained.

Forever · friend code window

Claim · friendCodeWindow2026-11-04, 2026-11-11

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:

Editor note: Day-only launch-week window. A Friend Launch Code does not include beta access.

Forever · first raids unlock

Claim · firstRaidsUnlockDecember 9, 2026

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Forever · raid unlock lineup

Claim · raidUnlockLineupDecember 9: Barrow Deeps, 10 players, December 9: Hyjal Summit, 20 players, December 9: Onyxia's Lair, 40 players

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:

Editor note: Read directly from the official infographic; it includes an existing raid alongside the new raids.

Blizzard's announcement roadmap for 2026 and 2027, including an older September 17 to October 22 beta window.
The older announcement roadmap labels the beta September 17–October 22. Blizzard’s newer beta-launch guidance names October 21 as the last full day of testing; the report uses that newer guidance while preserving the original graphic.Official artwork© Blizzard Entertainment

Why an older roadmap image shows October 22

The What's Next announcement graphic labels the beta September 17–October 22. Blizzard's later beta launch report specifically calls October 21 the last full testing day, and the updated purchase article also uses October 21. We use that newer written guidance for planning. It does not establish the final server shutdown hour or explain the older graphic's extra date.

Sources[3] Blizzard Entertainment[2] Blizzard Entertainment[1] Blizzard Entertainment

Inspect 3 claim records
Forever · roadmap beta window label

Claim · roadmapBetaWindowLabelThe earlier 2026–2027 roadmap image labels the beta September 17–October 22.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:

Editor note: Historical graphic wording. The newer beta launch article says October 21 is the last full testing day; no shutdown hour is inferred.

Forever · beta final full testing day

Claim · betaFinalFullTestingDayOctober 21, 2026

BetaConfidence: highLast verified:
Forever · beta end

Claim · betaEndOctober 21, 2026

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:

What name reservation includes

Purchasing an eligible Forever digital upgrade grants the early reservation window: October 27 through November 3. Blizzard allows up to three characters to be created and customized, giving purchasers a chance to establish their names before launch.

The names remain first come, first served. Buying an upgrade does not guarantee a particular name, and the reservation window is separate from both beta access and the global game opening.

Sources[1] Blizzard Entertainment

Inspect 5 claim records
Forever · reservation eligibility

Claim · reservationEligibilityIncluded with a qualifying upgrade purchase in Blizzard’s September 12 announcement.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Forever · reservation characters

Claim · reservationCharactersup to 3 characters

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Forever · reservation name policy

Claim · reservationNamePolicyEligible purchasers can create and customize up to three characters during early name reservation. Names are first come, first served and are not guaranteed.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Forever · reservation start

Claim · reservationStartOctober 27, 2026

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Forever · reservation end

Claim · reservationEndNovember 3, 2026

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:

Launch-week access for invited friends

Friend Launch Codes cover November 4–11. An eligible friend using one can play during that window without their own subscription or game time. Code emails begin October 20, allowing recipients to arrange their launch plans before the game opens.

The Skyborne Heroic Pack includes one code; the Skyborne Epic Pack and Warcraft Forever Collection include three in total. The codes do not include beta access. Gift purchases are excluded from the code offer, and Blizzard's offer page carries the remaining eligibility terms.

Sources[1] Blizzard Entertainment

Inspect 4 claim records
Forever · friend code window

Claim · friendCodeWindow2026-11-04, 2026-11-11

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:

Editor note: Day-only launch-week window. A Friend Launch Code does not include beta access.

Forever · friend code delivery

Claim · friendCodeDeliveryOctober 20, 2026

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:

Editor note: Email delivery starts on this date; the source does not promise every code arrives at an exact hour.

Forever · friend code eligibility

Claim · friendCodeEligibilityEligible friends can use a Friend Launch Code to play during November 4–11 without their own subscription or game time. Codes do not include beta access, and gift purchases are excluded from the code offer.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:

Editor note: Other eligibility restrictions apply; this is not a complete reproduction of the offer terms.

Forever · friend code counts

Claim · friendCodeCountsSkyborne Heroic Pack: one Friend Launch Code, Skyborne Epic Pack: three Friend Launch Codes in total, Warcraft Forever Collection: three Friend Launch Codes in total

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:

What you need for the November launch

Forever itself is included with a World of Warcraft subscription or game time. The digital packs add optional benefits, so the presence of name reservation or a beta invitation in an upgrade should not be confused with a requirement to buy an expansion for base access.

For beta planning, keep the later content phases separate from the launch calendar. Blizzard has announced a cap increase to 30 and a public Server Slam, but the beta launch report does not give either an exact date.

Sources[1] Blizzard Entertainment[2] Blizzard Entertainment

Inspect 3 claim records
Forever · access requirement

Claim · accessRequirementWorld of Warcraft: Forever access is included with a World of Warcraft subscription or game time; the digital upgrade packs are optional.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified:
Forever · planned later beta level cap

Claim · plannedLaterBetaLevelCap30 levels

BetaConfidence: highLast verified:

Editor note: Planned for a later testing phase; no date is stated.

Forever · server slam access

Claim · serverSlamAccessA later Server Slam will open testing to everyone for several hours; the announcement does not give its date or time.

BetaConfidence: highLast verified: