Updated September 2026 following BlizzCon
For years, World of Warcraft players have asked Blizzard for Classic Plus — usually written Classic+: a version of Vanilla WoW that moves in a new direction instead of simply progressing through the game’s existing expansions.
At BlizzCon 2026, Blizzard finally revealed its answer.
World of Warcraft: Forever is a new permanent version of WoW set in original Azeroth, featuring new zones, more than 1,000 new quests, new dungeons, raids, classes and systems while retaining a level cap of 60.
Blizzard isn’t officially calling it Classic Plus. In fact, the developers describe Forever as a separate third World of Warcraft experience alongside Modern WoW and Classic.
But if you’ve spent years wondering what a Blizzard-made “Classic+” might actually look like, WoW Forever is finally giving us the answer.
And for OnlyFangs fans, the announcement came with another huge development: OnlyFangs 3 is happening in WoW Forever Hardcore.
What Is World of Warcraft: Forever?
World of Warcraft: Forever is a new permanent World of Warcraft experience built around an expanded version of original Azeroth.
Rather than progressing from Vanilla into The Burning Crusade and the expansions that followed, Forever remains focused on the original level 1–60 world and builds new content around it.
Blizzard describes four principles behind Forever: keeping the game approachable and familiar, making the world itself the main character, prioritising the journey rather than simply the destination, and protecting WoW’s social experience.
That means some fundamental Classic principles remain intact.
- Level cap remains 60
- No flying mounts
- No level scaling
- Levelling remains an important part of the game
- Original Azeroth remains the foundation
- New content will continue being added over time
Blizzard says Forever isn’t a temporary season. It’s intended to be an evergreen version of Azeroth that continues growing over time.
Is WoW Forever Classic Plus?
Not officially.
Classic Plus has always been a community term rather than the name of a Blizzard product.
Players generally used “Classic+” to describe an alternative version of Vanilla WoW where Blizzard continued developing original Azeroth with new quests, zones, dungeons, raids and systems instead of moving directly into The Burning Crusade.
World of Warcraft: Forever follows many of those ideas.
However, Blizzard is deliberately positioning Forever as something separate from WoW Classic. The company describes it as a third World of Warcraft experience alongside Modern and Classic.
So while players will inevitably continue describing Forever as “Classic Plus”, World of Warcraft: Forever is the official name and Blizzard considers it its own version of WoW.
WoW Forever Release Date
World of Warcraft: Forever launches worldwide on November 4, 2026.
The WoW Forever beta begins on September 17, 2026.
Access to WoW Forever at launch will be included with an active World of Warcraft subscription or game time.
What’s New in WoW Forever?
This isn’t simply another fresh Vanilla server.
Blizzard is expanding original Azeroth with a substantial amount of completely new content.
At launch, that includes more than 1,000 new quests, new and reimagined regions, nine new dungeons, two new raids, a new playable race and significant updates to classes and progression.
New Zones and Quests
Forever expands the Eastern Kingdoms and Kalimdor with new and reimagined areas, including locations and unfinished corners of Azeroth that players have wondered about since the original game.
More than 1,000 new quests will be integrated throughout the level 1–60 experience rather than simply being concentrated at max level.
Nine New Dungeons
WoW Forever launches with nine new dungeons, including:
- Hall of Thanes
- Ruins of Lordaeron
- Whelgar’s Excavation
- City of Dalaran
- Blackmaw Hold
- The Drowned City
- Krol’dok Stronghold
- Alcaz Prison
- Shaper’s Terrace
New Raids
Two major new raid experiences are also planned: Hyjal Summit and Barrow Deeps.
Barrow Deeps is planned as a maximum-level 10-player challenge, while Hyjal Summit will feature 20-player raid encounters.
The Skyborne
Forever also introduces the Skyborne, a new playable race that can join either the Horde or Alliance.
Horde Skyborne can access Shaman, while Alliance Skyborne can become Mages. Both factions can also choose from Warriors, Hunters, Rogues and Druids.
WoW Forever Roadmap
Blizzard has already outlined how WoW Forever will continue expanding after launch.
World of Warcraft Forever roadmap showing upcoming raids, Hardcore and post-launch contentThe game launches on November 4, with new raids beginning to unlock on December 9.
Beyond that, Blizzard’s roadmap includes additional raids and dungeons, PvP updates, more world content, new quests throughout the level 1–60 journey, Hardcore, a revamped iconic raid and further major updates.
That’s important because Forever isn’t designed around reaching one final patch. Blizzard intends to keep expanding this version of Azeroth over time.
Is Hardcore Coming to WoW Forever?
Yes. Blizzard has confirmed Hardcore is coming to World of Warcraft: Forever.
Hardcore isn’t scheduled for the initial November 4 launch, but it appears on Blizzard’s roadmap as part of Forever’s post-launch content.
Blizzard has not yet announced an exact WoW Forever Hardcore release date.
For most WoW players, that’s another interesting addition to the roadmap.
For OnlyFangs, it’s considerably more important.
OnlyFangs 3 Is Coming to WoW Forever Hardcore
Before BlizzCon, we wondered whether a new Classic-style version of Azeroth could finally provide the right setting for OnlyFangs 3.
We now have the answer.
Sodapoppin has confirmed that OnlyFangs 3 is happening.
Discussing WoW Forever and Blizzard’s plans for Hardcore after BlizzCon, Sodapoppin confirmed:
“We are going to do OnlyFangs 3. Absolutely.”
Sodapoppin, September 2026
The announcement gives OnlyFangs exactly the kind of environment that previously seemed ideal for another season: the familiar foundations of level-60 Azeroth combined with content that even experienced WoW players haven’t spent decades solving.
The exact OnlyFangs 3 start date hasn’t been announced, because Blizzard has not yet dated WoW Forever Hardcore.
But unlike the situation before BlizzCon, the return of OnlyFangs itself is no longer speculation.
Why WoW Forever Could Work So Well for OnlyFangs
OnlyFangs works particularly well in the original World of Warcraft because levelling matters almost as much as endgame.
The guild combines experienced WoW players with variety streamers and creators who may barely know what they’re doing. Add permanent death and even an ordinary quest or dungeon can become an event.
Forever adds another ingredient: unknown content.
New quests, unfamiliar dungeons, new encounters and future raids mean experienced players won’t always be able to rely on years of accumulated Vanilla knowledge.
That unpredictability could make WoW Forever particularly well suited to OnlyFangs Hardcore.
WoW Forever vs Classic WoW
The biggest difference is that Classic recreates versions of World of Warcraft that already existed, while Forever is intended to keep developing original Azeroth in new directions.
Forever starts with familiar Vanilla principles — level 60, original Azeroth, no flying and a strong focus on levelling and social gameplay — but Blizzard can continue adding new places, quests, dungeons, raids, systems and stories.
That’s the fundamental idea players spent years describing as Classic+.
What’s Next for WoW Forever?
The first major date is September 17, when the WoW Forever beta begins.
The full game then launches on November 4, 2026, followed by the first new raids on December 9 and Blizzard’s wider post-launch roadmap.
For OnlyFangs fans, the date to watch after that is the arrival of WoW Forever Hardcore.
We don’t have that date yet.
But we finally know what Classic+ became, we know Hardcore is coming, and we know OnlyFangs 3 is coming with it.