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WoW Forever Launch Week Checklist: 8 Steps for Nov 4

Before World of Warcraft: Forever (WoW Forever) launches on Wednesday, November 4, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. PST, do eight things: secure access, reserve names by November 3, install the game, choose a ruleset, set your language, check the launch time for your zone, use Invite-A-Friend codes between November 4 and 11, and plan for raids on December 9.

Quick answer: Names close November 3, the game opens November 4, friend codes work November 4 to 11, and the raids unlock December 9. Hardcore comes sometime after launch.

Key dates around the WoW Forever launch: codes emailed from October 20, names October 27 to November 3, launch November 4, friend window to November 11, raids December 9, Collection ends January 11, 2027.
Dates around the WoW Forever launch from Blizzard: Invite-A-Friend codes emailed from October 20, name reservation October 27 to November 3, launch November 4 at 3 p.m. PST, launch-week friend window November 4 to 11, three raids on December 9, and the Warcraft Forever Collection available through January 11, 2027.

Launch week is the last evening at the inn before a long march: you pack, check the road and agree on the hour of departure.

Key facts

  • Launch: November 4, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. PST, global (Blizzard)
  • Names: Early Name Reservation October 27 to November 3, up to three characters (Blizzard)
  • Friend codes: Invite-A-Friend window November 4 to 11, codes emailed from October 20 (Blizzard)
  • Raids: Barrow Deeps, Hyjal Summit and Onyxia's Lair unlock December 9 for level 60 (Blizzard)
  • Hardcore: "sometime after launch" (Blizzard)

What is the WoW Forever launch week checklist?

  1. Access. Included with a subscription or Game Time; the Epic Pack and Collection add 30 days of Game Time from November 4, and the Collection is available through January 11, 2027.
  2. Names. Pre-purchasers reserve up to three names by November 3: how to reserve.
  3. Install. Update graphics drivers, then pick World of Warcraft: Forever in the Battle.net Game Version menu.
  4. Ruleset. Pick one; see below.
  5. Language. Set your preferred online language.
  6. Time. Convert 3:00 p.m. PST to your clock.
  7. Friends. Share or redeem Invite-A-Friend codes.
  8. Expectations. Raids and Hardcore are not day-one content.

What time does WoW Forever launch?

Blizzard's pre-purchase article, and its "Carve a New Path" announcement, say the game launches globally on November 4, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. PST. PST is UTC minus eight hours, so by my arithmetic that is 23:00 UTC on November 4. kami-labs gives it as about midnight Paris time going into November 5, which matches that arithmetic (Paris is UTC plus one in early November, again by my arithmetic). Warcraft Wiki's timeline lists November 4 at 0:00 UTC, which does not match Blizzard's wording, so follow Blizzard. See the launch time guide, with Australia and Europe conversions.

Which ruleset should you pick before launch?

Blizzard's ruleset article, updated October 22, says players choose Normal, PvP, Roleplaying or Roleplay-PvP instead of a realm, and that Roleplay-PvP arrives with launch. Grouping, dungeons and raids work only inside your ruleset, Horde and Alliance cannot group, and playing a different ruleset means creating a new character. Blizzard also says you set a preferred online language under Game Menu, Options, Languages and Social; it is account-wide with a 24-hour cooldown. Read the rulesets guide.

How do Invite-A-Friend launch codes work?

Blizzard says codes are emailed from October 20: one with the Heroic Pack, three with the Epic Pack or Collection. Friends redeem them through Battle.net and can play without a subscription or Game Time from November 4 to 11. The codes do not include beta access, gift purchases are excluded, and other restrictions apply.

What is not in WoW Forever on launch day?

The raids. Blizzard says three level 60 raids unlock on December 9, "giving players time after launch to reach level 60": Barrow Deeps for 10 players, Hyjal Summit for 20 and Onyxia's Lair for 40. Hardcore arrives "sometime after launch"; Warcraft Wiki lists winter 2026/2027, a single source. See the raids guide.

How can the Lore Forever add-on and Willo help with this?

Launch week is for wandering. The free Lore Forever add-on tells the story of every zone, city and dungeon up to level 30, with a Lore button on quests, recorded narration for places and people, and a Journey page of quests you have finished. Willo is a Windows companion app: hold your talk key, ask out loud, hear the answer, keep a notebook of to-dos for each character, and use the Friends tab to see which friends are out in the world and where they were last seen, when they share it. She can be wrong. Willo is free to start with 50 answers a day, and the add-on is optional for her. Lore Forever is fan-made and not affiliated with Blizzard.

What is not confirmed yet

  • What happens to reserved names that go unused after November 3.
  • The exact Hardcore date.
  • Whether the October 27 name-check bug is fixed.

Frequently asked questions

When does WoW Forever launch?

November 4, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. PST, globally, according to Blizzard.

Do you need a subscription to play WoW Forever at launch?

Blizzard says access is included with a subscription or Game Time. Invite-A-Friend codes let invited friends play without either from November 4 to 11.

When do the WoW Forever raids open?

December 9, 2026, for level 60 characters, according to Blizzard.

Is Hardcore available at launch?

No. Blizzard says Hardcore will be available sometime after launch.

Until when can you reserve a character name?

Through November 3, 2026, for pre-purchasers, according to Blizzard.

Sources

Reviewed October 29, 2026. Lore Forever is fan-made and is not affiliated with Blizzard Entertainment.

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