Pick a ruleset
Normal, PvP, Roleplaying and RP-PvP are available at launch on 4 November. Hardcore arrives later.
WoW Forever servers
Normal, PvP, Roleplaying and RP-PvP are launch rulesets. Group for quests, dungeons and raids with the same faction and ruleset. Cross-ruleset grouping is not supported. Hardcore arrives later. Beta has closed.
Can we play together?
A WoW Forever server only groups friends on the same faction and ruleset. Cross-ruleset grouping is not supported, including dungeons and raids. Factions remain separate. Battlegrounds may include players from other rulesets, except Hardcore; this does not allow premade groups across rulesets. Forever is realmless, not regionless.
Ruleset grouping and battleground exceptions are in Blizzard’s 22 October ruleset article. Oceania is also discussed in the 17 September Q&A liveblog, checked 18 September 2026. That write-up is not an official transcript.
- Agree Horde or Alliance, then one launch ruleset, before anyone hits create.
- Prepare alternative names and choose the correct WoW account before reserving.
| If you are | Together? | Do this |
|---|---|---|
| Same faction, same ruleset — quests, dungeons, raids | Yes | Create on the agreed faction and ruleset, then invite. |
| Same faction, different rulesets — quests, dungeons, raids | No | Pick one launch ruleset for the whole group. |
| Same faction, different rulesets — battleground queue | May share a pool | Battlegrounds may include players from other rulesets, except Hardcore. That does not let you form a dungeon or raid group across rulesets. |
| Different factions | No | Pick Horde or Alliance together. There is no cross-faction grouping. |
| Hardcore + any other ruleset | No | Hardcore is after launch and enclosed. Level together on Normal, PvP or Roleplaying / RP-PvP. |
| Oceania + US friends | Possible | Oceania characters are hosted on Oceania data servers and share the US-wide auction house. Playing overseas can raise latency because the game picks a datacenter for the group. |
| Other region combinations | Unknown | The Q&A said realmless, not regionless. It did not publish a general EU–US grouping rule. |
| Beta, different test realms | Match if you can | Beta is now closed. Previously, pick the same available test realm so you can find each other. The now-live note only says to select any available realm; it does not prove every Beta cross-realm group is blocked. The pick does not carry to launch. Characters made in the 21 October stress test are wiped. |
To play another ruleset, create a new character there. Blizzard describes a transfer out only after a Hardcore character dies, including to PvP; Hardcore launches later.
See the regional opening times and account eligibility in Name reservation below. The three-character limit applies across all rulesets.
Beta history and launch preparation
Beta is closed. Test-realm choices and stress-test characters do not reserve launch names.
Beta has ended
Blizzard confirmed Beta closure on 23 October 2026 after the scheduled 10:00 PDT (17:00 UTC) end. Next: early name reservation, then launch. Celebration items and experiences may not be available at launch.
Launch preparation, names & friend codes
Regional opening times are listed below. Reservation ends on 3 November; Blizzard has not published the exact closing hour.
Forever launches worldwide on 4 November 2026 at 15:00 PST (23:00 UTC). That is 5 November at 00:00 CET, 07:00 in Taiwan and Beijing, 08:00 KST and 10:00 AEDT.
Official launch timePrepare to log in
In Battle.net, select WoW: Forever, choose World of Warcraft: Forever under Game Version, check the active WoW account if you have several, then Install. Agree on the same faction and ruleset with friends; a Beta character does not reserve a launch name.
On first login, choose Classic or Enhanced before your ruleset. Classic starts with simpler visuals and fewer interface aids; Enhanced enables more visual and interface features. You can adjust individual settings later in Options.
Official setup guideReserve up to three characters
Skyborne Heroic Pack, Skyborne Epic Pack and Warcraft Forever Collection include up to three early characters total across all rulesets, on the specific WoW account that bought the upgrade. Names are first come, first served.
Name rejected as restricted?
Blizzard acknowledged overly restrictive name checks on 28 October, including names containing “con”. The announced fix follows each region’s realm restart; try again afterward if your name should be allowed. This notice does not confirm completion in every region.
Official name-filter noticeName reservation opens by region
- Europe: · 2026-10-27 17:00 UTC
- North America: · 2026-10-27 20:00 UTC
- Korea: · 2026-10-27 22:00 UTC
- Taiwan: · 2026-10-27 23:00 UTC
Invite friends for launch week
Email delivery starts:
Skyborne Heroic Pack includes one code; Skyborne Epic Pack and Warcraft Forever Collection include three each. Delivery to every buyer on the first day is not guaranteed.
Open the purchase email, share a code privately with your friend, and have them redeem it through Battle.net.
Eligible recipients can play during the window shown without a subscription or game time. Codes do not include beta access. Gift purchases are excluded; check Blizzard support for other restrictions.
What each ruleset is
“PvE” means Normal. RP and RP-PvP are separate choices. Blizzard plans RP-PvP for early name reservation; its detailed restrictions remain unconfirmed.
| Ruleset | Pick it if | You accept |
|---|---|---|
| Normal | You want the default cooperative game. | Outdoor PvP only when both sides agree. |
| PvP | You want contested outdoor world PvP. | Hostile players can interrupt quests and travel in those zones. You can create characters for only one faction on this ruleset. |
| Roleplaying | You want the roleplay community. | Roleplay in the dedicated RP community; RP-PvP is a separate choice. |
| RP-PvP | Roleplay with outdoor PvP. | Launch confirmed for 4 November; early reservation is planned for 27 October. Faction restrictions have not been separately confirmed. |
| Hardcore (after launch) | You want an enclosed mode where death has lasting consequences. | Do not mix this with a Normal, PvP or Roleplaying / RP-PvP leveling plan. |
WoW Forever server FAQ
Switching a WoW Forever server, Oceania, names and Legacy progress.
How do I set my preferred online language?
Esc → Options → System → Languages and Social → Preferred Online Language. This account-wide preference applies to all characters and has a 24-hour cooldown between changes. It does not guarantee language-only groups.
Can I change rulesets after I create a character?
To play another ruleset, create a new character there. Blizzard allows a Hardcore character to transfer out after death, including to PvP, once Hardcore is available.
How do Oceania players play with overseas friends?
The Q&A said Forever is realmless, not regionless. Oceania players are hosted on Oceania data servers and share the US-wide auction house. Playing overseas with friends can raise latency because the game picks a datacenter for the group. That is not a published EU–US interop rule.
Are character names unique across rulesets?
Yes, per the Q&A: names are unique in a region, and the same full two-part name cannot be reused across rulesets. You have to fill the second name field.
Do Collections and Legacy Points carry between rulesets?
Yes across Normal, PvP and Roleplaying, account-wide. Hardcore is one-way: progress earned there can move out; nothing flows back in.
Once the group shares a faction and a ruleset, plan talents on the calculator. Beta access and dates: Updates. Paladin talent notes: Class changes · Abilities
Snapshot limits: Data & sources.
NotesSources
Checked 24 October 2026. Blizzard’s 22 October ruleset article covers creating a new character to switch, the Hardcore death-transfer exception, battlegrounds and PvP faction choice. The Deep Dive covers grouping; the 17 September Q&A liveblog discusses names and Oceania. General EU–US play remains unpublished.
- Beta has ended — Blizzard confirmed Beta closure on 23 October 2026 after the scheduled 10:00 PDT (17:00 UTC) end. Next: early name reservation, then launch. Celebration items and experiences may not be available at launch.
- Choose Your Ruleset (official, 22 October) — New character for another ruleset, Hardcore death-transfer exception, battlegrounds and PvP faction choice.
- Deep Dive (official) — Realmless rulesets, grouping, Hardcore, two-part names.
- 17 September Q&A (official) — Official watch page for the stream.
- Q&A liveblog (Wowhead) — Media notes used for names and Oceania. Not a transcript.
- Forever Beta (official) — Launcher path and “select any available test realm.”
- Carve a New Path (official) — 4 November launch and subscription access.
- What’s Next (official) — Hardcore on the later roadmap, not in this Beta window.