Blizzard details new "Classic+" World of Warcraft: Forever ahead of November launch

At BlizzCon 2026 Blizzard announced World of Warcraft: Forever, a new version of the franchise that blends the classic era with added quests, races, dungeons and raids. The game will launch on November 4 for Windows PC and will remain capped at level 60, focusing on horizontal progression rather than continual level increases.

Lead game designer Tim Jones and lead software engineer Nora Valleta said the title is intended for players who prefer a social, immersive world where travel and exploration are required, contrasting it with the retail version’s streamlined leveling and frequent fast-travel options. "Classic and Retail serve different types of audience at this point," Valleta explained, noting that classic players value in-world storytelling and group interaction.

The developers highlighted a new "Legacy" system that awards points for completing milestones, unlocking perks in a small talent tree that can enhance professions and provide cosmetic rewards. They said the system is designed to encourage players to create alternate characters and experience content across all levels, not just end-game challenges.

Regarding class balance, Jones said every talent tree will be viable for all content, though each will retain distinct strengths and weaknesses. The team also emphasized that raids will be challenging but not intended to require the extreme number of attempts seen in some retail mythic content. "We’ll consistently deliver new 10- and 20-player content each patch, and Onyxia will be our 40-man raid," Jones added.

The new title will introduce a playable Skyborne elf race and a new zone called River Glades, filling gaps from the original classic maps. Both Jones and Valleta described the project as a "new continuity" that expands existing lore without drastically altering major story events.