FOREVERTALENT PLANNER
English
FOREVER BETA DATA

21–22 OCTOBER 2026 · PARTICIPATION GUIDE

WoW Forever
stress test

One test. A fresh character.
Help get Azeroth ready.

Postponed from 19–20 to 21–22 October. Already added the old date to your calendar? Update or replace that reminder with the new download.

Anyone with a WoW account can join.
No subscription, invitation, or Beta access needed.

Get ready to play

Independent guide · Checked 17 October Sources ↗

PLAN YOUR SESSION

When does it start?

Europe

CEST (UTC+2) · 21 October 2026, 17:00 UTC

The planned start time has passed. Check the official status.

＋ Add start to calendar

Americas + Oceania

PDT (UTC−7) · 21 October 2026, 21:00 UTC

The planned start time has passed. Check the official status.

＋ Add start to calendar

Taiwan

CST (UTC+8) · 21 October 2026, 21:00 UTC

The planned start time has passed. Check the official status.

＋ Add start to calendar

Korea

KST (UTC+9) · 21 October 2026, 21:00 UTC

The planned start time has passed. Check the official status.

＋ Add start to calendar

Expected to last a few hours. End time unannounced.
Times show the schedule, not live server status.

Check Blizzard’s announcement ↗

BEFORE YOU LOG IN

Ready in three steps

Install the client from the Battle.net desktop app. The stress test uses its own game version, separate from Forever Beta.

  1. 01

    Open Battle.net

    Update your graphics drivers and the Battle.net desktop app. Select World of Warcraft from the game list.

  2. 02

    Install the stress-test client

    Above Play, open Game Version. Under In Development, choose World of Warcraft: Forever Stress Test, then Install.

  3. 03

    Create a test character

    Once the test has started and installation is complete, press Play, choose an available test realm, and create a new character.

Launcher illustrations are simplified guides, not client screenshots.

Beta goes offline shortly before the stress test and is expected back shortly after the test ends. 21 October is still the last full Beta day.

THE ROAD TO LAUNCH

Other announced dates

These other dates were announced on 15 October. The postponement notice does not announce a new Beta closing date. Name-reservation hours are unpublished.

  1. 21 OCT

    21 October 2026 is the last full day of Beta testing.

  2. 27 OCT – 03 NOV

    27 October through 3 November 2026 is early name reservation for players who pre-purchase the Skyborne Heroic Pack, the Skyborne Epic Pack, or the Warcraft Forever Collection. Names are first come, first served, and a wanted name is not guaranteed.

  3. 04 NOV

    4 November 2026 is the global launch.

WoW Forever stress test FAQ

Times, access, the wipe, and the dates that follow.

When does the WoW Forever stress test start?

Europe starts 21 October 2026 at 19:00 CEST, which is 17:00 UTC. The Americas and Oceania start the same day at 14:00 PDT, which is 21:00 UTC. Taiwan starts 22 October at 05:00 CST, and Korea starts 22 October at 06:00 KST. Those two local clocks are the same 21:00 UTC instant. Blizzard has not published an end time.

Who can join the stress test?

Anyone with a WoW account can join. An active subscription, Game Time, an invitation, and Beta access are not required. Earlier notes called this window a Server Slam. The 15 October post dates it.

How do I install the WoW Forever stress test?

In the Battle.net desktop app, select World of Warcraft. Above Play, open Game Version, choose World of Warcraft: Forever Stress Test under In Development, and install it. When the test starts, press Play, pick an available test realm, and create a new test character.

Will my stress-test character, name, or guild remain?

No. Blizzard wipes characters, names, and guilds created on the stress-test servers when the test ends. They do not carry onto Beta or the 4 November launch.

What level can I reach in the stress test?

The 15 October post does not list a level cap or a zone list for this test.

What happens after the stress test?

21 October is the last full Beta day. Early name reservation runs 27 October through 3 November for pre-purchasers of the Skyborne Heroic Pack, the Skyborne Epic Pack, or the Warcraft Forever Collection. Hours for that window are unpublished. Global launch is 4 November 2026.

Plan points on the talent calculator, or see how launch rulesets group friends on WoW Forever servers.

Notes

Sources

Checked 17 October 2026. The updated US forum post postpones the test to 21–22 October; its embedded article preview still shows the old date.