Is WoW Forever free?
Short answer: ❌ No. You need an active World of Warcraft subscription or Game Time.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Free to play? | ❌ No |
| Separate box purchase? | ❌ No, it's included with the sub |
| Already subbed for Retail or Classic? | ✅ Covered |
| Free trial? | ⏳ [Unconfirmed] None announced |
| Skyborne race? | 💳 Needs a paid edition |
Prices and editions: WoW Forever price.
Ways to play without a separate purchase
- Already subscribed? Your Retail or Classic subscription or Game Time covers Forever. Nothing else to buy.
- Invite-A-Friend launch code: each edition comes with codes (1 with Heroic, 3 with Epic and Collection). Blizzard says a friend who redeems one can play 4–11 Nov (PST) without a subscription or Game Time. Gift purchases are excluded. Edition details
- Epic Pack: includes 30 days of Game Time from 4 Nov.
- Retail free trial: Blizzard's trial covers modern WoW to level 20. ⏳ [Unconfirmed] We've seen nothing saying it includes Forever.
What you pay for, and what you don't
| Item | Needed to play? |
|---|---|
| Subscription or Game Time | ✅ Yes |
| Skyborne Heroic Pack | Only for the Skyborne race |
| Epic Pack / Forever Collection | No, optional extras |
| Riding skill for the edition mount | Bought in game with gold |
Getting started
- Make a Battle.net account and add a subscription or Game Time. Step-by-step
- Install from the Battle.net app. Install guide
- Check your PC or Mac can run it. System requirements
FAQ
Is it free to play? No.
Free trial? None announced.
Separate purchase? No, only the optional editions.
FAQ
Is WoW Forever free to play?
No. Blizzard says WoW Forever is included with a World of Warcraft subscription or Game Time, so you need an active subscription to play.
Is there a free trial for WoW Forever?
We couldn't find a Blizzard announcement of a Forever trial or a no-subscription starter mode. Treat it as subscription-only unless Blizzard says otherwise.
Do I need to buy an expansion?
No box purchase is needed for the base game. The Skyborne editions are optional and only needed for the Skyborne race.
Can I use an Invite-A-Friend code to play without paying?
A friend who owns an edition can send you a launch code. Blizzard says it lets you play 4–11 Nov (PST) without a subscription or Game Time.
Does the Retail free trial cover Forever?
Blizzard's free trial is for modern WoW up to level 20. We found no Blizzard statement that it includes Forever.
Sources
- Blizzard: Carve a New Path with WoW Forever
- Blizzard: New Player's Starter Guide for WoW Forever