Blizzard Entertainment has confirmed World of Warcraft Forever, the project long described by fans as “Classic Plus”. The announcement was made during the opening ceremony of BlizzCon 2026, with the game set to arrive later this year.
Holly Longdale, executive producer and vice president for World of Warcraft, described the new version as “friendly, familiar, and new”. Its design puts Azeroth and its player community at the centre, with an emphasis on exploration, shared experiences and a slower journey through the game.
Blizzard says the experience should be straightforward to begin but deep enough to support long-term play. The central idea is that players should not feel pressured to race towards an end point.
What is World of Warcraft Forever?
World of Warcraft Forever will preserve the core principles of the original World of Warcraft Classic, but it is not simply the 2004 game frozen unchanged. Instead, it will take place inside a “time bubble” based on the first year of the original MMO.
The level cap will remain at 60 for the foreseeable future. Blizzard also plans to add new material, provided it follows the rules and design approach of that time period. The planned content includes:
- Three new zones
- Several substantially reworked existing zones
- More than 1,000 new quests
- A new player-versus-player battleground called Darkspear Islands
- Nine new dungeons
- New professions and reputation systems
- Updated visuals across the world
- Two max-level raids, designed for groups of 10 and 20 players
- Skyborne Elves, a new playable race from one of the new zones
The additions are not intended only for characters who have reached level 60. Blizzard says players will encounter new experiences across the full levelling range.
World of Warcraft Forever release details
World of Warcraft Forever was playable on the BlizzCon 2026 show floor. Its beta begins on 17 September, while the full release is scheduled for 4 November.
The announcement follows a long evolution for Blizzard’s MMO. World of Warcraft launched in 2004 and has since received 11 expansions alongside major updates that changed its systems and world. The current expansion, Midnight, is also receiving an update called Eclipse.
For players seeking an earlier style of play, Blizzard launched World of Warcraft Classic in 2019. That version later moved through classic editions based on The Burning Crusade, Wrath of the Lich King, Cataclysm and Mists of Pandaria.
World of Warcraft Forever is therefore aimed at players who want the structure and atmosphere of early Azeroth without seeing the experience move through later expansion eras. For more gaming and hardware coverage, explore RETROCADE’s arcade blog, browse the latest arcade machines, or compare options in the arcade machine buying guide.
Leave a Reply