What does a launch code actually do?

Think of it as a launch-week pass for a friend who isn't paying for WoW right now. Anyone already subscribed doesn't need one, so the code is best spent on a lapsed player or someone new to WoW.

Launch is November 4 at 3:00 p.m. PST (23:00 UTC), and November 11 is the last day to redeem, so there's no sitting on a code. If you want to log in together at launch, send it over before the 4th.

Short answer

Invite-A-Friend Launch Codes give a friend WoW Forever access from November 4 to 11, 2026 without a subscription. Heroic comes with 1 code, Epic and the Collection with 3. Codes arrive by email; Blizzard said on October 29 that they had started going out and don't grant beta access.

Who should get your code?

Is a launch code worth sending? It depends on your friend
Your friendDoes the code help?Why
Hasn't paid for anything and has no sub Yes They get Forever from November 4 to 11 with no sub
Already subbed to WoW Not needed Their sub already covers Forever; give the code to someone else
Bought Heroic, Epic or the Collection No Codes can't be used on an account that bought an upgrade
Wants into the beta No Blizzard Support confirmed on September 21 that launch codes don't grant beta access
Wants to play Skyborne Partly They get into Forever, but Skyborne and Zephras Isle need Heroic or higher

How many codes do you get?

Invite-A-Friend codes by purchase
PurchasePrice (US / EU)Launch codes
Skyborne Heroic Pack $29.99 / €29.99 1
Skyborne Epic Pack $59.99 / €59.99 3
Warcraft Forever Collection $79.99 / €79.99 3
Upgrade from Heroic to Epic or Collection Check the shop +2 (3 total)
Upgrade from Epic to Collection Check the shop +0
Collector’s Edition (Blizzard Gear Store) $150 (US) +3 extra (up to 6 total)

Gift purchases don't come with codes, and Collector's Editions from local retailers in Korea, Australia and New Zealand don't either. The three extra CE codes only apply to the box from the Blizzard Gear Store.

What the devs said in the live Q&A about playing with friends

  • There's no realm list. You pick a ruleset, and each one works like one huge realm. Battlegrounds can match you with players from other rulesets. 1:08:48
  • "Realmless, not regionless": regions like EU stay. Oceanic players can play with US friends, but joining a group hosted in another data center can change your ping. 1:12:04
  • Last names are mandatory and names are unique across the region, on every ruleset. 1:13:40
  • No cross-faction play. 1:23:14

Checklist for actually playing together

  • Same region. WoW has no Global Play, and Blizzard puts you in a home region based on where you live. A friend on another region can't join you.
  • Same ruleset. Groups, dungeons and raids only work within one ruleset, so agree on Normal, PvP or RP first.
  • Same faction. Horde and Alliance can't group.
  • PvP ruleset is one faction per account. If you have Alliance characters there, you can't roll Horde.
  • Skip Skyborne if you're starting together. Your friend's code doesn't unlock the race.
  • Names: Early Name Reservation is for upgrade owners only, so your friend picks a name when they log in. Names are region-wide.
Official painting of Horde characters overlooking a valley
Horde art from the Battle.net Shop · 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 ↗

Launch code timeline

  1. September 12: pre-purchase opens and code counts per upgrade are announced.
  2. September 21: Blizzard Support updates its beta article; launch codes don't grant beta access.
  3. October 20, 2026 (PST): the delivery date Blizzard first announced.
  4. October 29, 2026: the Warcraft account said Epic and Heroic owners start receiving their codes "today". No code yet? Check your inbox and spam folder.
  5. October 27 to November 3, 2026 (PST): Early Name Reservation for upgrade owners.
  6. November 4, 2026, 3:00 p.m. PST: Forever launches and invited friends can log in.
  7. November 11, 2026: last day to redeem, and the end of the free window.

What launch codes don't do

  • They don't unlock the Skyborne race or the Zephras Isle starting zone.
  • They aren't Game Time. Your friend gets a week of Forever, not sub time on their account.
  • They didn't cover the beta, which closed October 23, before codes start working on November 4.
What happens to my friend's character after November 11?
Blizzard hasn't said. What's certain is that staying in Forever takes an active WoW subscription or Game Time, same as everyone else.

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