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World of Warcraft: Forever beta access is available by opting in for a possible invitation or through the Skyborne Epic Pack and Warcraft Forever Collection. Blizzard has not said whether beta character progress will carry into launch. For the released game, access is included with a WoW subscription or game time; your character’s ruleset determines where you can play and group.
How do you get into the WoW: Forever beta?
Blizzard offers two routes: opt in and wait to be selected, or get beta access through an eligible digital edition. Opting in does not guarantee an invitation. Blizzard says invitations are sent regularly during the test, and selected Battle.net accounts are flagged for access. If you are unsure whether your account has access, check its game licenses rather than relying only on an invitation email.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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World of Warcraft - PC/Mac | $17.39 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Warcraft III Battle Chest - PC/Mac | $18.75 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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World Of Warcraft Battle Chest (PC/Mac) | $59.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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World of Warcraft Battle for Azeroth - PC Standard Edition | Buy on Amazon | |
| 5 |
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World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria - PC/Mac - (Obsolete) | $14.35 | Buy on Amazon |
- Opt-in: You may be selected for an invitation; no purchase is required for this route.
- Skyborne Epic Pack: Includes beta access.
- Warcraft Forever Collection: Includes the Epic Pack contents, including beta access.
- Skyborne Heroic Pack: Its listed contents do not include beta access.
To install the beta, open the Battle.net desktop app, choose World of Warcraft, and select World of Warcraft: Forever Beta from the Game Version menu under In Development. Install it, then create a new test character when available. Blizzard’s beta announcement has details at The World of Warcraft: Forever Beta Now Live.
Beta timing and level cap
Blizzard lists the beta as available through October 21, 2026, the last full day of testing. The initial level cap is 20 and is planned to rise to 30 later in the beta. Blizzard also says an open-access Server Slam is planned for later in the test, with details to follow. These dates and limits are Blizzard’s announced plans and may change.
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- Includes Expansion Packs: The Burnings Crusade, Wrath of the Lich King, Cataclysm, and Mists of Pandaria
- 30 days of free game time included
- Includes levels 1 through 90
- Subscription, Internet connection, and Battle.net registration required
Will beta characters carry over to launch?
Blizzard’s cited beta and launch announcements do not specify whether beta characters or their progress will transfer to the November launch. They do not confirm either a wipe or a carryover, so beta progress should be treated as test progress unless Blizzard announces a policy.
What are the Forever rulesets?
Forever replaces the traditional realm-selection step with rulesets: distinct player ecosystems that establish how characters play. Blizzard describes four, though Hardcore is planned for after launch.
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| Ruleset | What it means | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Normal | The baseline experience. | At launch, per Blizzard’s ruleset announcement. |
| PvP | Contested territory is more dangerous because of open-world player-versus-player play. | At launch, per Blizzard’s ruleset announcement. |
| Roleplaying | For players seeking a roleplay-oriented experience. | At launch, per Blizzard’s ruleset announcement. |
| Hardcore | Has a one-way progress boundary: progress earned there can flow outward, but progress from other rulesets does not flow into Hardcore. | Planned for after launch. |
Blizzard’s detailed guidance is in Choose Your Ruleset in World of Warcraft: Forever.
Can you change rulesets or play with friends on other ones?
You cannot freely move a character between rulesets. To play another ruleset, create a new character there. Collections and Legacy Points are account-wide across rulesets, subject to the Hardcore boundary: rewards and progress earned in Hardcore can become available elsewhere, but progress earned elsewhere does not flow back into Hardcore. Blizzard also says a Hardcore character that dies can be moved to another ruleset.
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How do you choose a ruleset?
- Choose Normal if you want the baseline rules.
- Choose PvP if you want contested territory to bring open-world player-versus-player risk.
- Choose Roleplaying if a roleplay-oriented community is your priority.
- Consider Hardcore later if you want its stricter risk and accept that progress does not flow into it from other rulesets.
- Coordinate first if you plan to play with friends: settle on a ruleset and faction before creating characters.
Blizzard does not identify one ruleset as best; the choice depends on the play style and group constraints you want.
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- Includes level 110 character Boost
Does launch access require buying an upgrade?
No. Blizzard says WoW: Forever access at launch is included with a World of Warcraft subscription or game time. The Skyborne Heroic Pack, Skyborne Epic Pack, and limited-time Warcraft Forever Collection are optional upgrades, not requirements to play the released game.
The Epic Pack includes the Heroic Pack contents, beta access, 30 days of game time beginning November 4, additional cosmetics, pets, tabards, and three total Invite-A-Friend launch codes. The Collection includes Epic Pack contents plus Warcraft III: Reforged, its Forsaken Kingdom campaign, and housing decor for modern WoW. Blizzard’s launch announcement schedules release for November 4, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. PST; see Carve a New Path with World of Warcraft: Forever.
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- Master the Path of the Monk - Learn the mystic powers of the Monk, World of Warcraft's newest playable class. Destroy foes with the Windwalker's devastating attacks, replenish allies with the Mistweaver's spiritual energies, and shrug off enormous damage with the Brewmaster's unyielding strength.
- Battle to level 90 - Ascend to new heights of power as you explore the verdant reaches of the Jade Forest, war with the terrible Yaungol on Kun-Lai Summit, and unlock the secrets of the Mogu'shan Vaults.
- Unleash the Mighty Pandaren - Set out as a member of the enigmatic Pandaren -- World of Warcraft's first neutral race -- and join the ranks of either the Horde or Alliance as you enter the conflict brewing on Pandaria's shores.
- Discover a Lost Continent - Explore the ancient kingdoms of Pandaria and mount your defense against a newly awakened evil stirring in the continent's dark corners.
Blizzard also confirms a physical World of Warcraft: Forever Collector’s Edition, available through the Blizzard Gear Store while supplies last. Its announcement does not establish availability through any other retailer.
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