World of Warcraft: Forever will launch without flying mounts or level scaling. Blizzard is also keeping the adventure between levels 1 and 60 while it adds new quests, zones, dungeons, raids, and ways to keep progressing.

The new version arrives November 4, 2026, as a permanent branch beside modern World of Warcraft and the existing Classic servers. Its beta begins September 17.

What is World of Warcraft: Forever?

Forever begins after Warcraft III: Reforged — Forsaken Kingdom and before the original Molten Core raid. Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor return, but Blizzard is opening parts of the map that players could not fully explore in 2004.

This is not WoW 2, a short season, or a replacement for the current game. Blizzard plans to keep expanding this version of Azeroth with its own quests, raids, dungeons, PvP updates, and story.

A stone path crosses the green hills of Zephras Isle in World of Warcraft: Forever.
Zephras Isle is the new level 1–12 starting area for the Skyborne. Image: Blizzard Entertainment.

Why are flying mounts and level scaling gone?

Blizzard wants the world itself to shape how players move and level. Without flying, roads, towns, terrain, and nearby players stay part of the trip. Without level scaling, each zone can keep its own difficulty instead of changing to match every character.

Forever is not removing every modern convenience. Players can choose transmog, switch between modern and Classic visual presets, use high- or standard-definition character models, and play with official controller support.

What new content is included?

Blizzard confirmed a substantial launch lineup at BlizzCon:

  • More than 1,000 new quests across the level 1–60 journey.
  • Mount Hyjal, Shen’dralas, Riverglades, and Zephras Isle as new or reimagined regions.
  • Nine new dungeons, including the Drowned City, Ruins of Lordaeron, and City of Dalaran.
  • A 20-player Hyjal Summit raid and a 10-player Barrow Deeps raid.
  • The Darkspear Islands, a new 15v15 Battleground.
Bright coral surrounds a shipwreck in the Drowned City dungeon in World of Warcraft: Forever.
The Drowned City is one of nine new dungeons announced for launch. Image: Blizzard Entertainment.

The Skyborne are the new playable race. Players choose the Horde or Alliance during character creation. Horde Skyborne can become Shamans, Alliance Skyborne can become Mages, and both sides can play Warriors, Hunters, Rogues, and Druids.

A blue-skinned Skyborne character stands against a bright cloudy sky in World of Warcraft: Forever.
The Skyborne can join either the Horde or Alliance, with faction-specific class options. Image: Blizzard Entertainment.

How will progression work at level 60?

Blizzard has not published every endgame rule yet. It has confirmed Legacy progression for players who level multiple characters and Camping, which lets adventurers build campfires, contribute through professions, and share buffs.

The first raids open December 9. Later updates will add more raids, dungeons, quests, PvP content, Hardcore, and a rebuilt version of an older raid. Forever is designed to grow without sending players through the old expansion order again.

When can you play WoW: Forever?

The beta starts September 17 for players who pre-purchase the Skyborne Epic Pack or Warcraft Forever Collection. Blizzard has not announced a free open beta.

World of Warcraft: Forever launches globally November 4 at 3 p.m. Pacific. Access to the full game is included with a World of Warcraft subscription or game time. Optional packs add cosmetics and Skyborne access; the Epic Pack and Warcraft Forever Collection also include beta entry.

Our full World of Warcraft: Forever breakdown covers the original announcement. BlizzCon also brought back Warcraft III with Forsaken Kingdom, its first new campaign in 23 years.

Forever is asking players to travel, level, and group up the old way, then giving them new places to do it. The September beta will show whether Blizzard has found the right balance between Classic rules and new content.