WoW Forever launch time in your time zone

Blizzard lists launch as 3:00 p.m. PST on November 4. The countdown on the official Forever page runs to 23:00 UTC, which lines up exactly. It's a single global launch, so every region goes live at the same moment.

WoW Forever launch time by time zone
Time zoneLaunch time
Pacific (PST) Wed, Nov 4, 3:00 p.m.
Eastern (EST) Wed, Nov 4, 6:00 p.m.
UTC / UK (GMT) Wed, Nov 4, 11:00 p.m.
Central Europe (CET) Thu, Nov 5, 12:00 a.m.
Sydney (AEDT) Thu, Nov 5, 10:00 a.m.
Short answer

WoW Forever launches worldwide on November 4, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. PST (11:00 p.m. UTC). An active WoW subscription or Game Time is all you need to play.

Key WoW Forever dates before and after launch

WoW Forever 2026–2027 schedule

  1. Beta (closed; extended from Oct 21): opened with a level 20 cap, raised to 30 on October 1. Guaranteed for Epic Pack, Collection and Collector's Edition owners; opt-in sign-ups may get picked

  2. Escape Together: a Scarlet Monastery escape room in Toronto (Escape Manor, King Street)

  3. From Oct 20, 2026

    Invite-A-Friend launch codes go out by email

  4. Escape Together livestream on Warcraft's Twitch and YouTube: Horde and Alliance teams in the Scarlet Monastery escape room

  5. Ongoing

    Early Name Reservation for upgrade owners, up to 3 characters

  6. Next

    Launch at 3:00 p.m. PST (November 5, 02:00 in Turkey)

  7. Friends with an Invite-A-Friend code can play without a subscription

  8. Raids unlock: Barrow Deeps (10), Hyjal Summit (20), Onyxia's Lair (40)

  9. Winter 2026–27

    Hardcore ruleset goes live (no date yet)

  10. Last day to buy the Warcraft Forever Collection

WoW Forever 2026–2027 roadmap: beta, launch, raids, Hardcore and spring and summer updates
Blizzard's 2026–2027 roadmap, from beta and launch through the December raids, Hardcore and the 2027 updates · 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 ↗

When did the WoW Forever beta end?

It closed on October 23 at 10:00 a.m. PDT. The pre-purchase announcement and the Forever page had given October 21 (the roadmap graphic said October 22); on October 21 Blizzard extended it to October 23.

If you run into a Blizzard post saying beta starts November 17, that's a typo: the beta went live on September 17 with a level 20 cap, and the cap went up to 30 on October 1.

What you need to play at launch

Forever doesn't have a box price. It's included with an active WoW subscription or Game Time. The Skyborne Heroic Pack, Skyborne Epic Pack and Warcraft Forever Collection are optional: they add the Skyborne race, Early Name Reservation, beta access (Epic and up) and cosmetics.

YouTubeWoW Forever official launch trailer: WARPATH Loading connects to this provider. Open original ↗
Blizzard's WoW Forever launch trailer.

What to do before launch night

  1. Update the Battle.net app. Blizzard's install path: World of Warcraft, Game Version menu, World of Warcraft: Forever, Install.
  2. Bought the Skyborne Heroic Pack, Skyborne Epic Pack or Warcraft Forever Collection? Reserve names from October 27: up to 3 characters total across all rulesets (18:00 CET in Europe, 1:00 p.m. PDT in North America). See the name reservation guide.
  3. Send your Invite-A-Friend codes before November 4; friends can play November 4–11 without a subscription.
  4. Make sure your subscription or Game Time is active on launch day.
  5. Login queue or error at launch? Check server status and login queue.

What comes after launch

The first big milestone is December 9, 2026, when Barrow Deeps (10-player), Hyjal Summit (20-player) and Onyxia's Lair (40-player) open. Hardcore is slotted for winter on the roadmap, but there's no day attached.

Spring 2027 is set to bring two more raids, two dungeons and a new legendary questline. Summer adds a revamped iconic raid, another new raid and two more dungeons. Blizzard notes the whole schedule can shift based on player feedback.

FAQ

When does WoW Forever pre-download start?
Pack owners install WoW: Forever from the Game Version menu in the Battle.net app for name reservation from October 27, per Blizzard's name reservation post. Blizzard's news so far gives no separate pre-download date for everyone else. Plan for 128 GB free on an SSD.
Can I create my character before launch?
If you own any upgrade, yes. Early Name Reservation runs October 27 to November 3 and covers up to three characters, and the roadmap lists character creation on the same date. Names are first come, first served.
Are raids open on day one?
No. The first three raids unlock December 9, 2026, five weeks after launch. Barrow Deeps is a max-level raid, so that window is your time to hit 60.
Can I play the beta without buying anything?
You can sign up through the Beta Opt-In button on the official Forever page, but that doesn't guarantee a spot. Guaranteed access comes with the Epic Pack, the Warcraft Forever Collection or the physical Collector's Edition.

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