Key facts at a glance
- New date: the World of Warcraft: Forever stress test runs on October 21, 2026, not October 19 as first announced.
- Start: 2:00 p.m. PDT / 19:00 CEST.
- Open to everyone: no subscription, Game Time, invitation or beta access needed.
- Full wipe: test characters, names and guilds are deleted afterwards.
- Name reservations: October 27 to November 3 for owners of certain pre-purchase packs. Launch is November 4.
Date and start times
On October 16, Blizzard moved the World of Warcraft: Forever server stress test back by two days. It now takes place for a limited time on October 21, 2026, at these local start times:
- North America: October 21, 2:00 p.m. PDT
- Europe: October 21, 19:00 CEST
- Korea: October 22, 06:00 KST
- Taiwan: October 22, 05:00 CST
The current beta goes offline shortly before the test and is expected back shortly after. The window may end early or run long as needed. The goal is to load the servers as heavily as possible, and Blizzard is explicitly asking players to bring friends and rally their guilds.
How to join
- Update your graphics drivers.
- Open the Battle.net desktop app and let it update if needed.
- Select World of Warcraft from the list of games.
- In the Game Version menu above the Play button, choose "World of Warcraft: Forever Stress Test" under In Development and install it.
- Once the test begins, click Play, pick a test realm and create a new character.
Not sure what to play? See Classes & Races, and for what changes compared to Classic, New in Forever.
Afterwards: wipe and name reservations
All characters, names and guilds created during the stress test are wiped once it ends, ahead of name reservations opening on October 27. Early name reservation from October 27 through November 3 is limited to players who pre-purchased one of these:
- Skyborne Heroic Pack
- Skyborne Epic Pack
- the limited-time Warcraft Forever Collection
Names are first come, first served, and Blizzard can't guarantee your desired name. World of Warcraft: Forever launches on November 4, 2026. Everything else about the game is on the WoW: Forever overview.
FAQ
When is the WoW: Forever stress test?
On October 21, 2026, starting at 2:00 p.m. PDT (19:00 CEST), for a limited time. It was originally planned for October 19.
Do I need a subscription or beta access?
No. Anyone can join without a subscription, Game Time, invitation or beta access. You only need the Battle.net app.
Do stress test characters carry over?
No. Characters, names and guilds are wiped after the test.
When can I reserve names for WoW: Forever?
Name reservations open on October 27. Owners of the Skyborne Heroic Pack, Skyborne Epic Pack or Warcraft Forever Collection get early reservation from October 27 to November 3.
When does World of Warcraft: Forever launch?
On November 4, 2026.
Sources: Blizzard, "Join the World of Warcraft: Forever Stress Test" (October 15, 2026, updated October 16, 2026). As of October 17, 2026.
Source: Blizzard Entertainment (offizielle WoW-News)
