WoW Forever Beta: Dates and Access

What access do you need?

Base game at launch. A WoW subscription or game time includes Forever. Base access begins at launch. Optional upgrade benefits are separate. [source]

Skyborne. Skyborne and its starting experience require Heroic Pack or higher. The official edition terms separate this unlock from base access. [source] [source]

The official game page offers beta opt-in for a chance to be selected. Epic Pack and Warcraft Forever Collection include beta access; opt-in alone does not guarantee an invitation. Official upgrade terms · Beta opt-in

For a launch-only player, the useful question is whether an optional benefit is worth the extra cost. A subscription and an optional race unlock are separate entitlements. Before choosing a pack, check the confirmed race and class additions.

Early name reservation

October 27 through November 3, 2026, with an upgrade. Eligible owners may create and customize up to three characters. [source]

The limit is up to three characters, first come, first served. This is an early reservation benefit for eligible upgrades, not a promise that a particular name will be available. Reservation terms

Invite-a-Friend and the Collection window

Eligible Invite-A-Friend recipients can access Forever from November 4 through November 11, 2026, without a subscription or game time. This limited launch-week access requires a qualifying code. Gift purchases are excluded and other restrictions apply. [source]

Gift purchases are excluded and other restrictions apply. Check Blizzard’s live terms before relying on a code; individual account and regional exceptions have not been tested here.

Warcraft Forever Collection is advertised as available through January 11, 2027. This is the bundle’s sale window, not the duration of access to purchased content. [source]

That is the advertised sales deadline for the Collection, not an expiry date for Forever itself.

Date details still to resolve

The written upgrade article gives October 21 as the beta end date. A roadmap graphic in the official panel recap says October 22. We retain the written window above and flag the conflict until Blizzard reconciles it. Upgrade article · Panel recap

The upgrades article specifies November 4 at 3 p.m. PST for launch; another announcement mixes PST and PDT. An exact beta opening hour is not established in the reviewed sources. Regional realm availability, transfer eligibility and individual beta entitlement also remain unverified.