World of Warcraft: Forever to Launch in November as Expanded Classic
Blizzard announced World of Warcraft: Forever, an expanded iteration of the original 2004 game, arriving in November 2026. It will run alongside modern WoW and Classic WoW as a permanent, separate offering.
The announcement capped BlizzCon 2026's opening ceremony, though fan speculation had already identified the project under the nickname "Classic+" for weeks. Blizzard positions the title as a permanent, separate offering that will coexist alongside both the modern version of the game and the existing Classic WoW servers, rather than replacing either.
Set during the first year of the original 2004 release, the game arrives Nov. 4. The expanded iteration represents a distinct approach from prior re-releases, suggesting Blizzard intends to maintain three concurrent versions of the franchise moving forward.
This launch could reshape how long-running live-service games approach nostalgia, potentially normalizing the idea of maintaining multiple permanent versions of a single title. Existing players may find their communities split across three iterations, while lapsed players could be drawn back by a version that preserves the original experience. The move may also influence competitor strategies for legacy content, though its long-term effect on subscription patterns remains uncertain.