World of Warcraft: Forever details new regions, dungeons, and the Skyborne race

A New Beginning for Original Azeroth

Blizzard's What's Next panel at BlizzCon 2026 covered World of Warcraft: Forever, a new way to explore original Azeroth built on lessons from WoW Classic and Season of Discovery. Rather than looking beyond Azeroth, the team is looking deeper into it, opening the Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor regions that have lingered at the edge of the map for years.

The first adventure begins in original Azeroth with fresh regions to explore, mysteries to uncover, and new ways to experience the world.

Guided by Classic Principles

Four core pillars guide the experience: approachable and familiar, the world as the main character, the journey before the destination, and protecting social experiences. Every addition is measured against the spirit of the original game. Leveling matters as much as endgame, effort continues to matter, and rewards come from playing the game.

The philosophy shapes the world itself: no flying mounts, no level scaling, and a continued focus on challenge, preparation, communication and cooperation. Blizzard says it is being thoughtful about convenience, since quality-of-life choices can change how players meet and gather.

New Places to Explore

The adventure begins across the Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor with new and reimagined regions, unfinished corners of the original world, and more than a thousand new quests woven through the level 1-60 journey. Players restore Hyjal, uncover history in Shen'dralas, build a future on the Riverglades frontier and explore Zephras Isle.

Mount Hyjal explores the aftermath of Archimonde's defeat through Darkwhisper Gorge. Shen'dralas sits between Mulgore and Desolace and ties into the Shen'dralar, Eldre'Thalas, Dire Maul and the region's centaur tribes. The Riverglades frontier of rivers, grasslands and trade routes offers more than 150 new quests across the mid-30s to mid-40s levels. Zephras Isle hosts an elemental starting experience from levels 1 through 12, blending Classic aesthetics with architecture inspired by Skywall.

• Zephras Isle is home to the Skyborne, a new playable race
• Horde-aligned Skyborne follow elemental traditions and gain the Shaman class
• Alliance-aligned Skyborne pursue an arcane legacy and gain the Mage class
• Both factions can play Warriors, Hunters, Rogues and Druids, with new druid forms, racials, customizations, voices and dances

Dungeons, Raids, and Battlegrounds

Nine new dungeons bring long-discussed places to life, with stories ranging from the Forsaken reclaiming the Ruins of Lordaeron to magical trouble in Dalaran, titan mysteries in Un'Goro, naga and pirates around the Drowned City, and corruption in Blackmaw Hold.

• Hall of Thanes, beneath Ironforge
• Ruins of Lordaeron
• An excavation site above Whelgar's Excavation
• City of Dalaran
• Blackmaw Hold
• The Drowned City
• Krol'dok Stronghold
• Alcaz Prison
• The Shaper's Terrace

Raids and PvP

Hyjal Summit and the Barrow Deeps host raid encounters, new tier sets and a legendary reward Blizzard plans to reveal in full. The Barrow Deeps is planned as a maximum-level 10-player challenge, while Hyjal Summit brings 20-player encounters to one of Warcraft's most important locations.

For PvP, the Darkspear Islands off Kalimdor's coast introduce a 15 vs 15 battleground combining strategic control points with Arathi Basin-style flag captures and defense. PvP updates, dungeon quests and new rewards will continue after launch.

Classes, Systems, and Player Choice

Class identity remains central, with new abilities, new race and class combinations, and updates that preserve the feel of the original game. The goal is to fill gaps without erasing what makes each class unique, focusing on talents and abilities players notice, meaningful trade-offs, and reasons to value each class.

New systems support the level 1-60 journey. Legacy progression serves players who love leveling and alts, and Camping lets players craft campfires outdoors where other adventurers can contribute through professions and share campsite buffs.

Player choice extends to opt-in Transmog, modern and Classic visual presets, High-Definition and Standard-Definition character-model options, restored Classic animations for HD models, and official gamepad support. Rendering updates add environmental touches such as flowing rivers in Elwynn Forest, mist over Darkshore and moonlight in Ashenvale while preserving the original art style.

A Roadmap for the Journey Ahead

World of Warcraft: Forever launches globally on November 4, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. PST, with beta beginning September 17. New raids unlock on December 9, followed by more raids, dungeons, PvP updates, world content, additional quests, Hardcore, a revamped iconic raid and other major updates.

Blizzard describes Forever as not a mode, season or new version of Classic, but a promise to keep building the world with the community. A Deep Dive panel on September 13 at 10:00 a.m. PDT will cover systems, rewards and adventures still to come.