Guide · October 24, 2026

What You Need to Play WoW Forever at Launch: A Checklist

To play World of Warcraft: Forever (WoW Forever) when it launches on November 4, 2026, you need a Battle.net account with an active World of Warcraft subscription or Game Time, a computer that meets Blizzard's requirements, and the Battle.net app to install it. Blizzard says Forever falls under that same subscription or Game Time requirement, and Icy Veins says no edition is required.

Quick answer: Sign in to Battle.net, keep a subscription or Game Time active, check your PC, install Forever from the version list and pick a ruleset instead of a realm. The upgrade packs are optional, except for the Skyborne race.

The WoW Forever launch checklist: Battle.net account, subscription or Game Time, a Windows or Mac PC (reported 128 GB of SSD space), install from the Battle.net version list, choose a ruleset, then reserve a two-part name and create a character, with launch at 3:00 p.m. PST on November 4, 2026. — Six steps before the gates open. Packs, the add-on and Willo are optional.

A road-warden counts your pack before the gates open: rope, water, a name to give at the other end. The list is shorter than most travelers fear, and it begins with a single account.

Key facts

Launch: November 4, 2026, 3:00 p.m. PST (Blizzard)
Required: a World of Warcraft subscription or Game Time (Blizzard)
Platforms: Windows and macOS are listed; PC Games Hardware says the product page names both
Rulesets: Normal, PvP, Roleplaying and Roleplay-PvP at launch (Blizzard)

Do you need a subscription to play WoW Forever?

Yes. Blizzard's launch post says World of Warcraft, including Forever, "requires World of Warcraft Subscription or Game Time." Icy Veins lists no free trial. Each Battle.net account needs its own, and a lapsed one blocks login until you renew.

For cost, Warcraft Wiki lists the US price as $15 for one month, $14 a month for three and $13 a month for six, with no change planned as of March 2024. Confirm current prices on Battle.net. Invite-A-Friend guests play November 4 to 11 without one.

Do you need to buy an edition or Legacy?

No. Icy Veins says "you do not need to purchase anything to play Forever." The packs add extras: the Skyborne Heroic Pack unlocks the Skyborne race, and the Epic Pack and Collection add 30 days of Game Time. Blizzard's announcement lists no prices. Warcraft Tavern and Gfinity report $29.99, $59.99 and $79.99 for the Heroic, Epic and Collection packs, which Tavern sources to the Battle.net shop listing; treat them as unofficial reports and check the shop. See editions.

Legacy is earned in play through challenges, not bought.

What computer do you need?

Blizzard's graphics-card post names AMD GCN 1, Nvidia Maxwell and Intel Skylake as the oldest families that can run it, and calls them "well below the minimum requirements." Outlets report the rest of the Battle.net shop listing as Windows 10 64-bit, a four-core 3.0 GHz CPU, 8 GB RAM, a 4 GB DirectX 12 GPU and 128 GB of SSD space. Recommended is Windows 11, 16 GB and an 8 GB GPU. HostedGG says it could not verify these tables and suspects some were copied from another expansion's.

Sources also disagree on platforms. Icy Veins lists only Windows; PC Games Hardware and Gfinity say Windows and macOS, with no Mac specifications. Gfinity says there is no native PlayStation or Xbox version, and Blizzard confirmed official gamepad support. See the graphics settings guide.

How do you install WoW Forever?

Icy Veins says to sign in to Battle.net, open World of Warcraft, choose Forever in the version dropdown and click Install. Per Warcraft Tavern, beta progress does not carry over.

Which ruleset replaces the realm?

Forever has no realm list. Blizzard says you pick a ruleset instead: Normal, PvP or Roleplaying at launch, plus Roleplay-PvP, which an update to Blizzard's post adds for launch day, with Hardcore "sometime after launch." You cannot group across rulesets, and switching means a new character. On PvP you can make characters for only one faction; Blizzard says Normal, Roleplaying and Hardcore allow both, and does not say for Roleplay-PvP. See the rulesets guide and Alliance vs Horde.

How do you create your first character?

Each character has two names, and the full combination must be unique in your region. Early Name Reservation runs October 27 to November 3 with any pack, for up to three characters, and names are not guaranteed. Blizzard says race decides your class options; check the race and class list.

Do you need the Lore Forever add-on or Willo?

No. The free Lore Forever add-on adds readable zone lore, needs no account and runs on Windows and Mac. Willo, an optional Windows voice companion, is free to start. Both are fan-made.

What is not confirmed yet?

Official system requirements: Blizzard's own list, and any Mac list
Pre-download: no date found
Pack prices: Blizzard lists none; the figures above come from news sites
Beta end date: Blizzard's launch post says October 21; Warcraft Tavern, citing Blizzard's forum, reports an extension to 10 a.m. PDT on October 23, which we could not confirm on a Blizzard page

Frequently asked questions

What do you need to play WoW Forever?

A Battle.net account with an active World of Warcraft subscription or Game Time, a PC that meets the requirements, and the Battle.net app. Launch is November 4, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. PST.

Is WoW Forever free to play?

No. Blizzard says it requires a subscription or Game Time. Invite-A-Friend guests play free for launch week only.

Do you need to buy an edition to play WoW Forever?

No. Editions are optional, but the Skyborne race needs the Skyborne Heroic Pack or higher.

How do you start WoW Forever?

Install it through Battle.net, choose a ruleset, then create a character with a unique two-part name.

Can you play WoW Forever on Mac or console?

Reports say Windows and macOS, with no native PlayStation or Xbox version, though Blizzard confirmed gamepad support.

Sources

Reviewed October 24, 2026. Requirements and prices may change; check Battle.net. Lore Forever and Willo are fan-made and are not affiliated with Blizzard Entertainment.