After months of rumors, speculation, and leaks, Blizzard Entertainment officially confirmed the existence of what fans had been calling “WoW Classic Plus,” revealing that its true identity is World of Warcraft Forever. Announced during the opening ceremony of BlizzCon 2026, the title reimagines the enduring Warcraft MMO as a permanent, vanilla-era experience set within a “time bubble” spanning the first year of the original game’s history.
The studio made the reveal to answer a long-standing demand from a large segment of its community that has craved the simpler early days of the franchise. World of Warcraft Forever will maintain a level cap of 60 for the foreseeable future, anchoring players in an era before the expansions reshaped Azeroth while still offering fresh content built within those constraints.
A “friendly, familiar, and new” experience
Holly Longdale, executive producer and vice president for World of Warcraft, introduced the title as a version of the game that is “friendly, familiar, and new.” She described Forever as focusing on the world itself as the main character, calling it “a place dedicated to community and making sure it’s nurtured.”
“World of Warcraft Forever will be easy to get into and play, and deep enough to stay forever,” Longdale said. “There’s no rush here: It’s the journey that counts, not the destination.”
“World of Warcraft Forever will be easy to get into and play, and deep enough to stay forever. There’s no rush here: It’s the journey that counts, not the destination.”
Holly Longdale, Executive Producer and Vice President for World of Warcraft
The studio clarified that Forever is not a museum piece frozen in amber. Instead, it follows the core principles established by World of Warcraft Classic while remaining an active, evolving title. Blizzard plans to add new content that exists entirely within the rules of the time bubble and adheres to the design philosophy of this version of the game.
Fresh content built for a level-60 world
The slate of upcoming additions is substantial, with Blizzard detailing three new zones, multiple overhauled existing zones, and more than 1,000 new quests. Players can also expect a new PvP battleground called Darkspear Islands, nine new dungeons, new professions and reputations, and updated world visuals.
Raiding content will arrive at max level for groups of both 10 and 20 players, alongside Skyborne Elves, a brand-new race whose home resides in one of the title’s new zones. Blizzard emphasized that this content is not designed solely for level-60 characters but aims to deliver meaningful experiences throughout the entire level bracket.
A release timeline already underway
The game is already playable on the BlizzCon 2026 show floor, with a beta beginning next week on September 17. The full launch follows shortly after, with World of Warcraft Forever officially arriving on November 4.
The announcement arrives against a backdrop of deep franchise history. World of Warcraft launched in 2004 and has since grown through 11 expansions and numerous game-changing updates. The current expansion, Midnight, is receiving its own update titled Eclipse, which Blizzard detailed further at the convention. Meanwhile, Classic itself has moved forward over time, with versions dedicated to The Burning Crusade, Wrath of the Lich King, Cataclysm, and Mists of Pandaria.
Looking Ahead
For now, players can dive into the playable build on the show floor before beta access opens on September 17. Those who miss the beta window still have until November 4 to experience the full launch, at which point Azeroth’s earliest era will be available to enjoy permanently.
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