WoW Forever was the largest beta in franchise history, Microsoft CEO says

Q: What does the Skyborne Epic Pack include beyond beta access and subscription time?

The story mentions the Skyborne race as an extra you would miss by skipping the paid packs, but it does not explicitly say whether it is included in the Skyborne Epic Pack. It lists no other contents beyond beta access and one month of subscription time.

Q: What extras does the Skyborne Heroic Pack add to World of Warcraft Forever?

The Skyborne Heroic Pack adds the Skyborne race. No other extras in that pack are specified.

Blizzard's latest World of Warcraft Forever beta was a huge hit as the most popular test in franchise history, showing Forever's impact potential.

VIEW GALLERY - 3

A World of Warcraft corridor sets the scene for the franchise's Forever beta, which Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella called its largest yet.

Derek Strickland

Senior Gaming Editor

Published Oct 29, 2026 4:34 PM CDT

1 minute & 30 seconds read time

What you need to know

World of Warcraft Forever set a franchise record for beta participation, with an estimated 1 million characters created. Blizzard expects a major November 4 launch; the game requires a $14.99 monthly subscription, while beta access was also available through a $60 Skyborne Epic Pack.

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. TweakTown may also earn commissions from other affiliate partners at no extra cost to you.

Voice: DefaultSpeed

0:00 / 2:07

The World of Warcraft Forever beta was a huge hit for Blizzard, amassing more players than any other test for the series.

A rider on a large bird flies over a snowy forest and a round stone building in World of Warcraft gameplay. — A flying mount crosses a snowy World of Warcraft landscape; Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said the Forever beta drew more players than any previous test in the franchise.

VIEW GALLERY - 3 IMAGES

WoW Forever has gone down in history as the largest-ever beta for the Warcraft franchise. That's according to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, who noted Forever's success in the latest Q1'27 earnings call.

Official player numbers weren't revealed, but an estimated 1 million characters were created during the WoW Forever beta.

The info was a quick management sound bite, but the milestone underlines a new trend brewing within gaming--one that brings new content to old games in an effort to revive and reinvigorate brands. Blizzard has had success with this in the past with WoW Classic, and more recently, the Diablo 2 Reign of the Warlock expansion. Forever will be the next step in this plan, and it looks to be a big one, as Blizzard is anticipating a major launch for the game on November 4.

The Forever beta wasn't just a test; it was also an opportunity to make money. While Blizzard did hand out beta codes on a promotional level, one guaranteed way to get access to the WoW Forever beta was to buy into it. Getting at least the $60 Skyborne Epic Pack got you entry, and that's how I personally did it. This version also includes 1 month of subscription game time.

Forever won't technically cost money for the actual game product when it launches on November 4. You'll have to pay the $14.99/month subscription fee in order to play, but it's possible to just avoid the extras, including the Skyborne Heroic Pack. Sure, you won't have the Skyborne race, but you can still play the game for $15 versus $60.

Story Q&A

From TweakTown's coverage of this story.

What new content will World of Warcraft Forever include at launch?

WoW Forever is set to launch on November 4, but its new content lineup is not detailed. The story identifies the Skyborne race as an extra associated with the Skyborne Heroic Pack. The separate story "WoW Forever player housing teased by Blizzard, studio discusses 'beer and pretzels' design philosophy" reports that Blizzard teased player housing, but does not confirm it will be available at launch.

What does the Skyborne Epic Pack include beyond beta access and subscription time?

What extras does the Skyborne Heroic Pack add to World of Warcraft Forever?

Does an existing World of Warcraft subscription include access to World of Warcraft Forever?

World of Warcraft Forever will not require a separate purchase of the base game at launch, but playing it will require a $14.99 monthly subscription. The story does not specify whether an existing World of Warcraft subscription includes access.

Got another question? Ask TweakBot.

With those kinds of dynamics and economics, Forever is shaping up to be a big breadwinner for Blizzard, and could soak up a sizable portion of PC gaming playtime through the holiday season.