What do you actually pay to play WoW Forever?

There's no box price. Blizzard's pre-purchase announcement and the Battle.net Shop both say Forever access is included with an active WoW subscription or Game Time. If your sub is running on November 4, you can log in without paying anything extra.

It's the same subscription that already covers modern WoW and Classic, so if you're playing either right now, Forever costs you nothing more.

WoW Forever upgrade prices

WoW Forever upgrades on the Battle.net Shop (September 16, 2026)
UpgradeUSEUHeadline contents
Skyborne Heroic Pack $29.99 €29.99 Skyborne race and Zephras Isle start, Early Name Reservation, Cerulean Prideclaw mount, 1 Invite-A-Friend code
Skyborne Epic Pack $59.99 €59.99 Everything in Heroic, plus guaranteed beta, 30 days of Game Time, bear mount, 4 pets, 3 Invite-A-Friend codes
Warcraft Forever Collection $79.99 €79.99 Everything in Epic, plus Warcraft III: Reforged, the Forsaken Kingdom campaign and housing decor; on sale until January 11, 2027

EU prices include VAT. The shop shows prices based on your account's region, so if you're outside the US or eurozone, log in to see what you'll actually pay.

Skyborne Heroic Pack in-game rewards: mount, outfit, back item and decor
The in-game rewards in the Skyborne Heroic Pack: a mount, outfits, a back item and decor · Image: Blizzard Entertainment
Source / rights
Image / usage information: (c) Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. Official World of Warcraft: Forever media from Blizzard announcement pages (downloaded 16 Sep 2026); shown with source link, no ownership asserted. · Image source ↗

What do you miss if you skip the upgrades?

Not the game itself. A subscription gets you into Forever and lets you level like anyone else. Here's what's tied to an upgrade:

  • The Skyborne race and the Zephras Isle starting zone (Heroic and up)
  • Early Name Reservation from October 27 to November 3, 2026, for up to three characters (any upgrade)
  • Guaranteed access to the beta that starts September 17 (Epic and Collection)
  • 30 days of Game Time, added from November 4 (Epic and Collection)
  • Cosmetics like mounts, transmog, tabards, pets and a toy
  • Invite-A-Friend launch codes

The housing decor in the upgrades is for modern WoW and needs Midnight, which is sold separately.

Can a friend play without a subscription?

For one week, yes. Upgrades come with Invite-A-Friend launch codes: one with Heroic, three with Epic or the Collection. A friend who redeems one can play Forever from November 4 to 11, 2026 without a sub.

Codes start arriving by email on October 20 and can be redeemed until November 11. They don't unlock Skyborne, don't count as Game Time and can't be used on an account that bought an upgrade. Upgrades bought as gifts don't come with codes.

FAQ

How much is a WoW subscription?
Blizzard's Forever announcements don't list a subscription price. Log in to the Battle.net Shop to see the current price for your region.
Does the Game Time I already have work for Forever?
Yes. Forever access is included with an active subscription or Game Time, so there's no Forever-only time to buy.
When does the Epic Pack's 30 days of Game Time start?
It's added to your account from November 4, 2026. Beta doesn't require Game Time anyway, so those 30 days line up with launch.
Can I upgrade from Heroic to Epic later?
Yes. Moving from Heroic to Epic or the Collection also adds two more Invite-A-Friend codes. Going from Epic to the Collection doesn't add any.

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