WoW Forever Beta End Date and Launch Countdown
World of Warcraft: Forever beta runs through Wednesday, October 21, 2026 (PST). Blizzard calls it "the last full day of testing." The full game launches worldwide on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. PST.
Key dates (Blizzard)
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Beta opens | September 17, 2026 (PST) |
| Last full day of beta | October 21, 2026 (PST) |
| Early Name Reservation | October 27 – November 3, 2026 (PST) |
| Global launch | November 4, 2026, 3:00 p.m. PST |
Global launch — November 4, 2026, 3:00 p.m. PST
Beta last day: October 21, 2026 (PST).
WoW Forever Stress Test: Start Times, Duration, and How Players Joined
The stress test window is closed. Blizzard moved the test from October 19 to October 21 on October 16. It was held on October 21 for North America and Europe and on October 22 for Korea and Taiwan. Anyone could take part. No subscription, Game Time, invitation or beta access was required. Published start times are from Blizzard's announcement, Join the World of Warcraft: Forever Stress Test.
Published start times by region
| Region | Start time |
|---|---|
| North America | October 21, 2:00 p.m. PDT |
| Europe | October 21, 19:00 CEST |
| Korea | October 22, 06:00 KST |
| Taiwan | October 22, 05:00 CST |
Duration
Blizzard gave no end time. The test ran for a limited time and could end earlier or run later as needed.
Blizzard said the beta would be taken offline shortly before the Stress Test and was expected to return shortly after.
How players joined
The window is closed. At the time, players joined like this:
- They updated their graphics drivers.
- They opened the Battle.net desktop app and let it update.
- They selected World of Warcraft.
- In the Game Version menu above the Play button, they selected World of Warcraft: Forever Stress Test under In Development, then selected Install.
- When the Stress Test began, they selected Play and chose an available test realm.
- They created a new test character and joined the test.
Characters, names and guilds
Blizzard's announcement said characters, names and guilds would be wiped from the Stress Test servers in preparation for Name Reservation on October 27. Kaivax posted that the stress test ran on regional/production hardware for the live game, and that after shutdown all characters were deleted (a complete wipe; names and everything) and the beta re-opened.
Who can play the beta
Beta access comes with the Skyborne Epic Pack and the Warcraft Forever Collection. Players who opted in on Blizzard's site can also be selected, and invitations go out during the test. To play, pick "World of Warcraft: Forever Beta" under In Development in the Battle.net app.
What happens after October 21
Blizzard is moving into final preparations for launch. Owners of any upgrade edition can create and customize up to three characters during Early Name Reservation, October 27 to November 3. Names are first come, first served.
Do I need to buy WoW Forever?
No separate purchase is needed. At launch, access is included with a World of Warcraft Subscription or Game Time. Upgrade editions are optional.
Plan your build before launch
Our talent calculator uses the latest beta build data, so you can plan every class now.
Open the calculator → · Warrior talents → · Druid talents → · All classes → · What changed in the data →
Launch day guide: times, content & day-one builds → · Leveling builds for all 9 classes →
Sources
FAQ
When does the WoW Forever beta end?
October 21, 2026 (PST) is the last full day of testing, per Blizzard.
When does WoW Forever launch?
November 4, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. PST, worldwide.
How do I get beta access?
Buy the Skyborne Epic Pack or the Warcraft Forever Collection, or opt in on Blizzard's site and wait for an invitation.
When is name reservation?
October 27 to November 3, 2026 (PST), up to three characters, for any upgrade purchase.
Is WoW Forever free with a subscription?
Yes. Access is included with a WoW Subscription or Game Time.
How long was the WoW Forever stress test?
Blizzard gave no end time. The test ran for a limited time and could end earlier or run later as needed. The window is closed.
Was the WoW Forever stress test free?
Yes. Anyone could take part. No subscription, Game Time, invitation or beta access was required.
How did players join the WoW Forever stress test?
The window is closed. Players opened the Battle.net app, selected World of Warcraft, then in the Game Version menu chose World of Warcraft: Forever Stress Test under In Development, selected Install, and selected Play when the test began.