WoW Forever launch checklist: what to do before November 4
Subscription or game time versus the three upgrade packs, the October 27 to November 3 name reservation, invite codes, launch time and addon prep for WoW Forever.
The quick answer
Launch access comes with an active WoW subscription or game time. The Skyborne Heroic Pack is the cheapest way to get the Skyborne race and early name reservation (October 27 to November 3); the Epic Pack and Collection add guaranteed beta access and 30 days of game time. Launch is November 4 at 3:00 p.m. PST.
Guide details and editorial record
- For
- Players deciding what to buy and what to do before WoW Forever launches
- Prerequisites
- A Battle.net account · The Battle.net desktop app · An active WoW subscription or game time
- Game version
- World of Warcraft: Forever; Blizzard official game page and What's Next recap, checked October 19, 2026.
Responsible editor: Max · Editorial record: low risk · desk review · AI assistance: draft
World of Warcraft: Forever launches on November 4, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. PST, which is 23:00 UTC. The steps below put Blizzard’s dated entitlements in the order you will meet them. The price and region table is in the release date and price guide; the start page has the launch-time table and the first-hour plan.
What each purchase gives you
Blizzard’s Forever page is headed “Included with an active WoW subscription”, and its fine print says World of Warcraft, including Forever, requires a subscription or game time. The three upgrade packs sit on top of that.
| Purchase | What it adds, per Blizzard’s page |
|---|---|
| Active subscription or game time | Access to Forever at launch |
| Skyborne Heroic Pack | Skyborne race and  Zephras Isle start, early name reservation, one Invite-a-Friend Launch Code, plus a ground mount, a transmog set, a back transmog, a toy and housing decor |
| Skyborne Epic Pack | Everything in Heroic, plus beta access, a second ground mount, a second transmog set, four pets, two tabards, 30 days of game time and three launch codes |
| Warcraft Forever Collection | Everything in Epic, plus Warcraft III: Reforged, Warcraft III Reforged: Forsaken Kingdom and figurine decor |
The Collection is listed through January 11, 2027. The 30 days of game time in the Epic Pack and Collection are added to your WoW account with the launch of Forever; playing beyond that period needs a subscription or more game time.
Some details change what a pack is worth to you:
- Access to the Skyborne race or the Zephras Isle starting questline requires the Heroic Pack or a higher edition.
- The ground mounts, transmog sets, back transmog and toy work in both Modern WoW and Forever. The pets and tabards work only in Forever. None of the included items work in WoW Classic.
- The housing decor works only in Modern WoW housing, which requires World of Warcraft: Midnight.
- The early name reservation benefit applies only to the specific WoW account the pack was bought for.
The page read for this guide shows no prices. The release guide records the EU store prices from September 12; check the Battle.net store for your region before buying.
Dates in the order they arrive
| Date | What happens | Source detail |
|---|---|---|
| September 17 to October 21 | Forever beta | Blizzard’s page lists the window; Epic Pack and Collection include beta access, and the opt-in button gives a chance of an invitation |
| October 20 | Invite-a-Friend Launch Codes start arriving by email | Qualifying purchases only; gift purchases are excluded and other restrictions apply |
| October 27 to November 3 | Early Name Reservation | Eligible upgrade purchases; first come, first served |
| November 4, 3:00 p.m. PST | Launch | Global launch time from Blizzard’s What’s Next recap |
| November 4 to 11 | Invite-a-Friend Launch Codes can be used | Grants an eligible invitee access to Forever in this window |
| December 9 | New raids unlock | From the same recap |
The start page notes that the roadmap slide shows October 22 for the end of the beta. The official page quoted above gives October 21, which is the date used here.
Reserve a name
The name reservation guide covers eligibility, two-part names and the details Blizzard has not published.
A character in Forever has two names, and the full combination must be unique within your region. Blizzard says reservation runs October 27 through November 3 for eligible upgrade purchases and that desired names cannot be guaranteed. Blizzard’s naming policy covers the general WoW name rules, and the name generator can produce candidates.
Be ready on the day
Blizzard’s page states that an internet connection, a Battle.net account and the Battle.net desktop app are required to play. It does not describe a Forever install or preload step in the text read here, and Blizzard publishes no Forever-specific hardware list; its support site lists the current WoW requirements.
For WoW Forever launch times by region, use the release guide. Check the system requirements guide before planning an install, and the leveling class comparison before choosing a character.
Players choose a ruleset (Normal, PvP or Roleplaying; Hardcore comes after launch) instead of a realm, and grouping across rulesets is not supported, so settle that with friends before launch day. The rulesets article has the details.
For addons, the leveling addon comparison lists which tools state Forever support, and the addon restrictions report covers the in-combat limits Blizzard has described. When the client is open, the first-hour page is the next stop.
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