Blizzard Entertainment, a well-known video game developer, announced World of Warcraft Forever during BlizzCon 2026, which took place in Anaheim on September 12 and 13. The new version of the popular online role-playing game, World of Warcraft, is set to launch on November 4, 2026, with a midnight release in Paris. This version aims to bring back the game as it was in 2004, the year it originally launched, while adding new content. However, it will not go beyond the original level 60 cap, which was the maximum character level in the early days of the game. This version is different from the current World of Warcraft (often called "Retail") and from World of Warcraft Classic, a version that closely replicates the original game. The announcement has sparked discussion among fans, especially about who the target audience for World of Warcraft Forever might be. Matthew Armstrong, a developer working on the project, shared on his X account (formerly known as Twitter) that he is creating the game for Classic players and those who previously played World of Warcraft but left due to changes in the Retail version. These changes include shifts in the game’s visual style, storytelling, social features, design, and even the abilities of favorite character classes. Armstrong emphasized that the goal is to deliver the most authentic "Vanilla" experience possible—Vanilla refers to the original version of the game from 2004. He explained that his team is making decisions that are very different from those in the Retail version. Armstrong highlighted the importance of keeping challenges and limitations in the game, as well as the social elements, which he views as essential to the game’s identity. He noted that over time, changes in the game have allowed players to complete tasks alone, which has reduced the need for group play and affected the social aspect of the game. Armstrong acknowledged that he isn’t trying to please everyone, citing a guiding principle: "If you make a game for everyone, you make it for no one." He hopes that World of Warcraft Forever will attract players by reminding them of what made the game special in its early days. His focus is on preserving the authenticity of the original experience, even if it means not satisfying all players.