LOOKING AHEAD / VERIFIED PREVIEW

Roadmap

Dates and times below preserve the precision Blizzard published. Planned later features have no invented dates, and the Q&A clock time is separate from the beta start.

ANNOUNCED MILESTONES

The journey ahead

ANNOUNCED MILESTONE

Beta begins

Blizzard’s announced beta start, with no clock time specified.

Announced dateSeptember 17, 2026

Evidence

Claim · dateSeptember 17, 2026

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified: September 15, 2026

Blizzard Entertainmentdirect
Pre-Purchase World of Warcraft: Forever Upgrades and Begin Your Next Journey in Azeroth Published September 12, 2026 · Section: Step Into Beta and Prepare for Launch

Announced

Summary evidence

Claim · summaryBlizzard’s announced beta start, with no clock time specified.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified: September 15, 2026

Blizzard Entertainmentdirect
Pre-Purchase World of Warcraft: Forever Upgrades and Begin Your Next Journey in Azeroth Published September 12, 2026 · Section: Step Into Beta and Prepare for Launch

ANNOUNCED MILESTONE

World of Warcraft Live Q&A

A developer Q&A on the official Warcraft Twitch and YouTube channels; Blizzard says a VOD will follow.

Announced dateSeptember 17, 2026

Evidence

Claim · dateSeptember 17, 2026

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified: September 15, 2026

Blizzard Entertainmentdirect
Submit Your Questions for the World of Warcraft Live Q&A September 17 Published September 12, 2026 · Section: When / Where

Q&A timeSeptember 17, 2026, 10:30 a.m. PDT

Superseded evidence

Claim · timeSeptember 17, 2026, 10:00 a.m. PDT

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified: September 15, 2026

Editor note: This is the Q&A time, not the beta start time.

Blizzard Entertainmentdirect
Submit Your Questions for the World of Warcraft Live Q&A September 17 Published September 12, 2026 · Section: When / Where

Current evidence

Claim · timeSeptember 17, 2026, 10:30 a.m. PDT

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified: September 16, 2026

Editor note: The newer watch article separates Modern WoW at 10:00 a.m. from WoW: Forever at 10:30 a.m. PDT.

Blizzard Entertainmentdirect
Watch the World of Warcraft Live Q&A September 17 Published September 15, 2026 · Section: When / Where

Announced

Summary evidence

Claim · summaryA developer Q&A on the official Warcraft Twitch and YouTube channels; Blizzard says a VOD will follow.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified: September 15, 2026

Blizzard Entertainmentdirect
Submit Your Questions for the World of Warcraft Live Q&A September 17 Published September 12, 2026 · Section: When / Where

ANNOUNCED MILESTONE

Beta scheduled to end

The scheduled end of the beta window announced by Blizzard.

Announced dateOctober 21, 2026

Evidence

Claim · dateOctober 21, 2026

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified: September 15, 2026

Blizzard Entertainmentdirect
Pre-Purchase World of Warcraft: Forever Upgrades and Begin Your Next Journey in Azeroth Published September 12, 2026 · Section: Step Into Beta and Prepare for Launch

Announced

Summary evidence

Claim · summaryThe scheduled end of the beta window announced by Blizzard.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified: September 15, 2026

Blizzard Entertainmentdirect
Pre-Purchase World of Warcraft: Forever Upgrades and Begin Your Next Journey in Azeroth Published September 12, 2026 · Section: Step Into Beta and Prepare for Launch

ANNOUNCED MILESTONE

Early Name Reservation

A period for eligible upgrade purchasers to create and customize up to three characters.

BeginsOctober 27, 2026

Evidence

Claim · startDateOctober 27, 2026

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified: September 15, 2026

Blizzard Entertainmentdirect
Pre-Purchase World of Warcraft: Forever Upgrades and Begin Your Next Journey in Azeroth Published September 12, 2026 · Section: Step Into Beta and Prepare for Launch

EndsNovember 3, 2026

Evidence

Claim · endDateNovember 3, 2026

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified: September 15, 2026

Blizzard Entertainmentdirect
Pre-Purchase World of Warcraft: Forever Upgrades and Begin Your Next Journey in Azeroth Published September 12, 2026 · Section: Step Into Beta and Prepare for Launch

Announced

Summary evidence

Claim · summaryA period for eligible upgrade purchasers to create and customize up to three characters.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified: September 15, 2026

Blizzard Entertainmentdirect
Pre-Purchase World of Warcraft: Forever Upgrades and Begin Your Next Journey in Azeroth Published September 12, 2026 · Section: Step Into Beta and Prepare for Launch

ANNOUNCED MILESTONE

Global launch

The announced launch for World of Warcraft: Forever.

Announced dateNovember 4, 2026

Evidence

Claim · dateNovember 4, 2026

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified: September 15, 2026

Blizzard Entertainmentdirect
Pre-Purchase World of Warcraft: Forever Upgrades and Begin Your Next Journey in Azeroth Published September 12, 2026 · Section: Begin Your Forever Journey

Launch timeNovember 4, 2026, 3:00 p.m. PST

Evidence

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

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified: September 15, 2026

Blizzard Entertainmentdirect
Pre-Purchase World of Warcraft: Forever Upgrades and Begin Your Next Journey in Azeroth Published September 12, 2026 · Section: Begin Your Forever Journey

Announced

Summary evidence

Claim · summaryThe announced launch for World of Warcraft: Forever.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified: September 15, 2026

Blizzard Entertainmentdirect
Pre-Purchase World of Warcraft: Forever Upgrades and Begin Your Next Journey in Azeroth Published September 12, 2026 · Section: Begin Your Forever Journey

ANNOUNCED MILESTONE

First new raids unlock

The first announced raid unlock milestone.

Announced dateDecember 9, 2026

Evidence

Claim · dateDecember 9, 2026

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified: September 15, 2026

Blizzard Entertainmentdirect
World of Warcraft: Forever What’s Next Panel Recap Published September 12, 2026 · Section: A Roadmap for the Journey Ahead

Announced

Summary evidence

Claim · summaryThe first announced raid unlock milestone.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified: September 15, 2026

Blizzard Entertainmentdirect
World of Warcraft: Forever What’s Next Panel Recap Published September 12, 2026 · Section: A Roadmap for the Journey Ahead

DATE TBA / ANNOUNCED PLANS

Future updates

Hardcore, more group content, PvP, world additions, and other updates are planned without individual dates.

Planned, date TBAHardcore, more raids, more dungeons, PvP updates, world content, additional level 1–60 quests, a revamped iconic raid, major future updates

Evidence

Claim · plansHardcore, more raids, more dungeons, PvP updates, world content, additional level 1–60 quests, a revamped iconic raid, major future updates

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified: September 15, 2026

Blizzard Entertainmentdirect
World of Warcraft: Forever What’s Next Panel Recap Published September 12, 2026 · Section: A Roadmap for the Journey Ahead

Announced

Summary evidence

Claim · summaryHardcore, more group content, PvP, world additions, and other updates are planned without individual dates.

AnnouncedConfidence: highLast verified: September 15, 2026

Blizzard Entertainmentdirect
World of Warcraft: Forever What’s Next Panel Recap Published September 12, 2026 · Section: A Roadmap for the Journey Ahead

OPENING THE CODEX

Opening the Codex…

Gathering the requested field notes.