WoW Forever isn't free, but you don't buy it either: it's included in the World of Warcraft subscription or with game time. It's the same subscription that gives you access to current WoW and Classic, so if you already pay for WoW, you already have Forever. The only things sold separately are three optional editions, and you only need them if you want to play the new Skyborne race or get into the beta.
In short
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is it free? | No. You need a subscription or game time |
| Is it a one-time purchase? | No. It's a subscription, like the rest of WoW |
| Do I have to buy an edition? | No. With the subscription you can play the whole game |
| What are the editions for? | The Skyborne race, name reservation, the beta and cosmetics |
| Can I try it for free? | Only launch week, with a Recruit-A-Friend code |
| When does it come out? | November 4, 2026 in the Americas; 00:00 on the 5th in Spain (all the times) |
Subscription or game time
Blizzard says it on the pre-purchase page: Forever is included with an active subscription or game time. Ion Hazzikostas repeated it at the BlizzCon roundtable that Warcraft Tavern covered: a single subscription covers all versions of WoW.
Two details worth knowing:
- There's no box to buy. Nobody pays for the base game; you pay for months of access.
- There's no WoW Token inside Forever (the item you buy with gold to pay for game time), and no paid level boosts. The team told Wowhead as much. The subscription is paid in the Battle.net shop as always.
The three editions
| Skyborne Heroic Pack | Skyborne Epic Pack | Warcraft Forever Collection | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skyborne race | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Name reservation (Oct 27 - Nov 3) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mount and cosmetics | Mount, outfit, backpack, toy and trinkets | The above plus tabards, pets and more cosmetics | Everything in the Epic plus home figurines |
| Beta access | No | Yes | Yes |
| Game time | No | 30 days (from November 5) | 30 days |
| Recruit-A-Friend codes | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Warcraft III: Reforged and the Forsaken Kingdom campaign | No | No | Yes |
| Published price | 29.99 (Wowhead) | $59.99 (Blizzard Watch) | $79.99 (Blizzard Watch) |
About the prices: the official pre-purchase page doesn't put them in the text; the ones in the table are those published by Wowhead and Blizzard Watch. The price in your currency is whatever the Battle.net shop shows you at checkout. The Collection is only on sale until January 11, 2027.
Is it worth buying an edition?
It depends on three things, not on "needing it to play":
- Do you want to play Skyborne? It's the only new race and it's only unlocked with a pack. If any of the ten classic races works for you, you don't need one. To decide, which race to pick.
- Do you care about your name? The reservation from October 27 to November 3 is only for people who own a pack. Names are first come, first served and unique per region. For ideas, try the name generator.
- Do you want the beta? Only the Epic and the Collection guarantee access. The beta runs until October 21 and already reaches level 30 (how to get in).
Note that the Epic comes with 30 days of game time: if you were going to pay for the first month anyway, part of the price is already covered.
Playing free launch week
Each pack comes with Recruit-A-Friend codes. Whoever receives one can play Forever from November 5 to 12 without a subscription (Spain time; November 4-11 US time). Blizzard starts emailing the codes on October 20. It's the only official way to try it without paying.
What isn't known
- Whether there will be more paid content like the Skyborne race. Blizzard hasn't said.
- The euro price of each edition from an official text source: you'll see it at checkout.
Frequently asked questions
Is WoW Forever free?
No. It's included in the World of Warcraft subscription or with game time, the same one that gives access to current WoW and Classic. You can only play for free launch week with a Recruit-A-Friend code.
Do I have to buy WoW Forever or is it a subscription?
It's a subscription. You don't have to buy the game: you pay for game time, as in the rest of WoW. The editions are optional.
If I already pay for WoW, do I have WoW Forever?
Yes. The World of Warcraft subscription covers all of its versions, Forever included.
Which WoW Forever edition should I buy?
None is mandatory. The Skyborne Heroic Pack if you want the Skyborne race and to reserve a name; the Epic if you also want the beta and 30 days of game time; the Collection if you also want Warcraft III: Reforged.
Is there a WoW Token in WoW Forever?
No. The team told Wowhead that Forever won't have a WoW Token or paid level boosts.
