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WoW Forever stress test moved to October 21: start times, who can join, and the wipe
The WoW Forever stress test runs October 21: 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. PDT, 19:00 to 03:00 CEST. Any WoW account can join, no subscription needed. Then every character is deleted, and the beta closes for good on October 23.
Oct 17, 2026Updated Oct 21, 2026Checked against build 1.60.1.704502 min read
The WoW Forever stress test runs on October 21, from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. PDT (19:00 to 03:00 CEST). Blizzard took the beta offline that morning and opens WoW Forever on the servers it will use when it goes live on November 4. Anyone with a World of Warcraft account can log in. The test was first announced for October 19 and moved on October 16.
WoW Forever stress test times by region
Blizzard’s times from its October 20 heads-up, start to end:
| Time zone | Starts | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| CEST (Central Europe) | October 21, 19:00 | 03:00 |
| BST / IST (UK and Ireland) | October 21, 18:00 | 02:00 |
| EDT (US East) | October 21, 5:00 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. |
| CDT (US Central) | October 21, 4:00 p.m. | 8:00 p.m. |
| PDT (US West) | October 21, 2:00 p.m. | 6:00 p.m. |
| NZDT (New Zealand) | October 22, 10:00 a.m. | 2:00 p.m. |
| AEDT (Australia East) | October 22, 8:00 a.m. | noon |
| Taipei | October 22, 5:00 a.m. | 9:00 a.m. |
| Seoul | October 22, 6:00 a.m. | 10:00 a.m. |
How to join the stress test
- Open the Battle.net app and let it update.
- Pick World of Warcraft, then in the Game Version menu above the Play button choose World of Warcraft: Forever Stress Test under In Development, and install it.
- Once the test starts, press Play, pick a test realm and make a new character.
Who can join the stress test
Any player with a World of Warcraft account can join. No active subscription is needed, so this is the first chance for players without beta access to make a WoW Forever character. Blizzard asks testers to make a character, do some quests, trade items, chat and group up, so the servers see launch-day traffic.
Everything is wiped, and the beta closes October 23
When the stress test ends, all characters are deleted, names included. Nothing you make in the test carries over to launch, so don’t spend your favourite name on it; names are reserved from October 27 (name reservation start times).
Then Blizzard reopens the beta for its last two days: it closes for good on Friday, October 23, at 10:00 a.m. PDT.
What to do with a few hours
A stress test is a good look at a starting zone before launch day. Our leveling guide covers every start, and the what’s new page has every date between now and launch. Invite-A-Friend codes have been arriving by email since October 20.
If you play with addons, the BoF WoW Forever in-game leveling guide is free from level 1 to 30. We haven’t seen yet which game folder the stress test uses, so check that your addons load once you’re in. The steps are in how to install addons in WoW Forever.
Questions
When is the WoW Forever stress test?
On October 21, 2026. Blizzard moved it from October 19 on October 16. It starts at 2:00 p.m. PDT in the Americas and Oceania, at 19:00 CEST in Europe, and on October 22 at 5:00 a.m. in Taiwan and 6:00 a.m. in Korea.
Was the WoW Forever stress test moved?
Yes. Blizzard first announced it for October 19, then said on October 16 that it runs on October 21 instead, at the same local start times.
Who can join the WoW Forever stress test?
Any player with a World of Warcraft account. Blizzard says no active subscription is needed.
Do characters from the WoW Forever stress test carry over to launch?
No. When the stress test ends, every character is deleted, names included. WoW Forever launches on November 4, 2026.
Is the WoW Forever beta down during the stress test?
Yes. Blizzard took the beta offline on the morning of October 21 to run the stress test on the servers WoW Forever will use at launch. The beta reopens after the test.
When does the WoW Forever beta end?
On Friday, October 23, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. PDT, Blizzard said on October 20. It reopens after the October 21 stress test until then.
How do I join the WoW Forever stress test?
Open the Battle.net app, pick World of Warcraft, and in the Game Version menu above the Play button choose World of Warcraft: Forever Stress Test under In Development. Install it, then press Play once the test starts and pick a test realm.