From Variety · Jennifer Maas · · 1m 20s
Blizzard is rebuilding year one of World of Warcraft
Blizzard is going back to 2004 with a new game built around the first year of World of Warcraft, and it arrives in November.
In brief
Blizzard is going back to 2004 with a new game built around the first year of World of Warcraft, and it arrives in November. World of Warcraft Forever launches Nov. 4 and expands the original 2004 game's first year, the Classic+ fans have been asking for. Originally reported by Variety.
Blizzard goes back to 2004
Blizzard Entertainment is launching World of Warcraft Forever, a new game built around the original 2004 release rather than the modern one.
Set in year one
The game takes place during the first year of the original World of Warcraft, the window before any expansion reshaped Azeroth.
“a game set during the first year of the original 2004 "World of Warcraft"”
It lands November 4
Blizzard gave it a firm date: Nov. 4. That is weeks away, not a vague window somewhere in the next fiscal year.
Saved for the finale
The reveal closed out the opening ceremony of BlizzCon 2026 at the Anaheim Convention Center on Saturday, the slot Blizzard reserves for its biggest news.
“the final announcement during the opening ceremony of BlizzCon 2026”
Fans already called it
Players had been speculating about the title for weeks under a nickname of their own, treating it as the expanded Classic they kept asking Blizzard for.
“colloquially known as "World of Warcraft Classic+" among fans speculating online”
One of three big reveals
Forever shared the day with a Diablo 5 date of spring 2029 and StarCraft 3, an open-world shooter set for 2030.
The one thing
World of Warcraft Forever launches Nov. 4 and expands the original 2004 game's first year, the Classic+ fans have been asking for.
