As World of Warcraft: Forever’s beta popularity grows, Blizzard has yet again had to increase the server cap
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Blizzard has again increased the server capacity for the World of Warcraft: Forever beta, as its popularity appears to be growing. Executive producer Holly Longdale announced the latest increase, adding to signs that the beta is drawing unusually high numbers of players.
Last week, developer Josh Greenfield said the beta had produced the “craziest numbers” he had seen in 17 years at Blizzard. No current player figures were provided; the beta requires the £51.99 Skyborne Epic pack, while the full game is due on 4 November with access through a monthly subscription. The article puts the interest in context with World of Warcraft’s roughly 12 million subscribers during the Wrath of the Lich King era and WoW Classic’s record subscriber growth in 2019.
- Blizzard has raised the beta server cap again.
- A developer says the beta has attracted exceptionally high numbers.
- The full game launches on 4 November with a monthly subscription.
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World of Warcraft is one of the world's longest-running massively multiplayer online games, having operated for over two decades. Blizzard, the company that makes it, is now developing a new version called World of Warcraft: Forever, which aims to preserve the game in a state that appeals to long-time fans. The beta version is currently being tested by players who purchase access through a special package costing £51.99.
The fact that Blizzard has had to increase server capacity multiple times indicates that the beta version is attracting far more players than typically seen in testing phases. This unusual level of interest matters because it signals strong demand among the gaming public for what World of Warcraft: Forever is offering.
World of Warcraft has experienced several periods of massive popularity over its two-decade history, most notably during the Wrath of the Lich King expansion when it reached approximately 12 million subscribers. When Blizzard released World of Warcraft Classic in 2019, a version designed to recreate the original game, it generated the largest subscriber surge the series had ever seen. This history suggests that players remain hungry for alternative versions of World of Warcraft, which may explain why the Forever beta is proving so popular.
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