Sep 17 to Oct 21, 2026
Beta Testing
Players who purchased the upgrade packs jump into the beta. Leveling progression is capped at level 30. Zephras Isle and the new dungeons are walkable.
Oct 27 to Nov 3, 2026
Name Reservation
Eligible players may reserve up to three character names, which now support both a first name and a surname.
Nov 4, 2026, 3 PM PST
Global Launch
The gates swing wide. Characters start fresh at level 1: 4 new zones (Zephras Isle, Riverglades and 2 more), 9 new dungeons, over 1,000 new quests, the Skyborne elven race, and new race/class combinations such as Forsaken Paladins and Dwarf Shamans. Raids are locked at launch.
Dec 9, 2026, First Raids
Raid Unlock
Three raids open simultaneously, catering to different group sizes: Barrow Deeps (10-player), Hyjal Summit (20-player) and Onyxia's Lair (40-player).
Winter 2026 window
Hardcore Ruleset
Instead of traditional split realms, players can opt into different rulesets on the fly. The dedicated hardcore mode joins the existing PvP, PvE and RP choices during the winter window.
Spring 2027
Major Content Update
The campaign continues with the first major content drop beyond the launch season.
Under the same road conditions... The phase-gated Classic roadmap, Molten Core's fire at Phase I, the Old God's autumn at Phase V and Naxxramas' final frost at Phase VI. live in the Dungeon Atlas, phase-labelled on every card.