Europe
CEST (UTC+2) · 21 October 2026, 17:00 UTC
Your timezone
UNTIL THE PLANNED START
—days
:—hours
:—minutes
The planned start time has passed. Check the official status.
Download historical start21–22 OCTOBER 2026 · ARCHIVE
WoW Forever
stress test
Beta is closed.
Prepare for launch.
Historical schedule: postponed from 19–20 to 21–22 October. The calendar downloads below preserve the announced start times.
The open stress test was scheduled for 21–22 October 2026. Its announced access required a WoW account, without a subscription, Game Time, invitation or Beta access. Blizzard has not published an end time for this separate event. Beta is now closed.
Prepare for name reservationIndependent guide · Checked 24 October Sources ↗
HISTORICAL SCHEDULE
Announced start times
Americas + Oceania
PDT (UTC−7) · 21 October 2026, 21:00 UTC
Your timezone
UNTIL THE PLANNED START
—days
:—hours
:—minutes
The planned start time has passed. Check the official status.
Download historical startTaiwan
CST (UTC+8) · 21 October 2026, 21:00 UTC
Your timezone
UNTIL THE PLANNED START
—days
:—hours
:—minutes
The planned start time has passed. Check the official status.
Download historical startKorea
KST (UTC+9) · 21 October 2026, 21:00 UTC
Your timezone
UNTIL THE PLANNED START
—days
:—hours
:—minutes
The planned start time has passed. Check the official status.
Download historical startThe test was expected to last a few hours. End time unannounced.
Times show the schedule, not live server status.
HISTORICAL INSTALLATION
Test-client setup reference
These were the installation steps for the separate stress-test client. They do not indicate that the test is currently available. For name reservation, install World of Warcraft: Forever.
- 01
Open Battle.net
Update your graphics drivers and the Battle.net desktop app. Select World of Warcraft from the game list.
- 02
Install the stress-test client
Above Play, open Game Version. Under In Development, choose World of Warcraft: Forever Stress Test, then Install.
- 03
Create a test character
Once the test has started and installation is complete, press Play, choose an available test realm, and create a new character.
Launcher illustrations are simplified guides, not client screenshots.
Blizzard confirmed Beta closure on 23 October 2026 after the scheduled 10:00 PDT (17:00 UTC) end. Celebration items and experiences may not be available at launch.
THE ROAD TO LAUNCH
Other announced dates
Beta is closed. Prepare for early name reservation, then launch. Regional reservation times are available on Updates.
- 23 OCT · 17:00 UTC
Blizzard confirmed Beta closure on 23 October 2026 after the scheduled 10:00 PDT (17:00 UTC) end. Celebration items and experiences may not be available at launch.
- 27 OCT – 03 NOV
27 October through 3 November 2026 is early name reservation for players who pre-purchase the Skyborne Heroic Pack, the Skyborne Epic Pack, or the Warcraft Forever Collection. Names are first come, first served, and a wanted name is not guaranteed.
- 04 NOV
4 November 2026 is the global launch.
WoW Forever stress test FAQ
Times, access, the wipe, and the dates that follow.
When does the WoW Forever stress test start?
Europe starts 21 October 2026 at 19:00 CEST, which is 17:00 UTC. The Americas and Oceania start the same day at 14:00 PDT, which is 21:00 UTC. Taiwan starts 22 October at 05:00 CST, and Korea starts 22 October at 06:00 KST. Those two local clocks are the same 21:00 UTC instant. Blizzard has not published an end time.
Who was eligible for the stress test?
The announced test allowed anyone with a WoW account, without a subscription, Game Time, invitation or Beta access. This is an archived eligibility record, not an invitation to join now.
How do I install the WoW Forever stress test?
In the Battle.net desktop app, select World of Warcraft. Above Play, open Game Version, choose World of Warcraft: Forever Stress Test under In Development, and install it. When the test starts, press Play, pick an available test realm, and create a new test character.
Will my stress-test character, name, or guild remain?
No. Blizzard wipes characters, names, and guilds created on the stress-test servers when the test ends. They do not carry onto Beta or the 4 November launch.
What level can I reach in the stress test?
The 15 October post does not list a level cap or a zone list for this test.
What happens after the stress test?
Blizzard confirmed Beta closure on 23 October 2026 after the scheduled 10:00 PDT (17:00 UTC) end. Celebration items and experiences may not be available at launch. Skyborne Heroic Pack, Skyborne Epic Pack and Warcraft Forever Collection include up to three early characters total across all rulesets, on the specific WoW account that bought the upgrade. Names are first come, first served. See Updates for regional reservation opening times. The exact closing hour is unpublished.
Plan points on the talent calculator, or see how launch rulesets group friends on WoW Forever servers.
NotesSources
Checked 24 October 2026. Historical stress-test schedules remain separate from Blizzard’s explicit Beta closure confirmation.
- Beta has ended — Blizzard confirmed Beta closure on 23 October 2026 after the scheduled 10:00 PDT (17:00 UTC) end. Celebration items and experiences may not be available at launch.
- US forum thread — Updated postponement notice and regional start times; checked 17 October.
- Join the World of Warcraft: Forever Stress Test — Original participation guide: install path, access, wipe and later dates. Use the updated forum notice above for start times.
- EU forum thread — Official regional stress-test announcement.