The beta version of World of Warcraft Forever, the latest installment in the popular World of Warcraft franchise by Blizzard Entertainment, was officially announced during the opening ceremony of BlizzCon 2026, which took place on Thursday, September 17. The beta will become available after a live question and answer session about the game, set for 7:30 p.m. Paris time. Once this session ends—expected to last about 30 minutes, similar to a previous Q&A session—the beta is anticipated to launch shortly after, likely around 8:00 p.m. However, Blizzard has not specified the exact time. This information was confirmed by Blizzard representatives in a discussion on Reddit. Players interested in the beta have two ways to gain access: by purchasing an "epic" or "collector's pack," which includes a beta code, or by being randomly selected. As of just before 5:00 p.m., the "Install" button for World of Warcraft Forever on the Battle.net launcher was inactive, with a message stating, "This game cannot yet be installed," even though beta access codes were already available. Once the "Install" button becomes active, players must ensure their Battle.net launcher is updated and have at least 128 GB of storage space, as the game is expected to be a large download. If the preloading is not available before 8:00 p.m., players may face delays in starting the game once the servers open, even with fast internet. Additionally, server congestion is a concern, as the beta has generated significant interest, potentially causing delays in both downloading and playing. The beta will be available from September 17 until October 21, 2026. During this time, players will be able to explore the game up to level 20, and later to level 30. However, all progress made during the beta will be erased before the game's official release on November 4. This means that the beta is primarily for testing and feedback, rather than for long-term character development. Blizzard typically uses betas to refine game mechanics and address potential issues before the full release.