Blizzard's reveal of World of Warcraft: Forever at BlizzCon 2026 — presented as the studio’s nearest official move toward a Classic+ experience — also appears to have effectively ruled out a full-fledged sequel to the long-running MMO. In an interview with IGN (https://www.ign.com/articles/world-of-warcraft-forever-wow-2-unlikely), lead designer Chris Zirhut said the developer sees little incentive to abandon the systems and history it has spent decades building.
"I think one of the things that makes WoW truly unique is that we have a game, a world, and design that have continuously evolved over the last 25 years," Zirhut said, noting that changes over time have touched more than just visuals.
He pointed to improvements in graphics, rendering, lighting and numerous other areas that have also reshaped the game's underlying technology. "We have also made the engine render objects more efficiently. How the server works, how it processes players and moves them, and everything responsible for spells and combat – all of this has been made more efficient and better over the years. We have an incredible engine and server infrastructure that power the game and are unmatched," Zirhut added, using the technical foundation as a central reason not to start anew.
Beyond technology, Zirhut highlighted the value of the franchise's long-established lore. "You can't say there's anything wrong with the story. We love that story. So going back to the very beginning in World of Warcraft: Forever gives us a chance to explore this narrative in new and different ways," he said, framing Forever as a way to revisit and reinterpret the existing narrative rather than discard it.
According to Zirhut, World of Warcraft: Forever accomplishes the goals often associated with a potential "WoW 2" — bringing in new players and reengaging veterans — while preserving the accumulated work. "It is very difficult to answer the question: 'What would WoW 2 give you that World of Warcraft: Forever doesn't already?'" he asked.
Blizzard's World of Warcraft: Forever is scheduled for release in November. The company has also stated that the new version will not include options to buy game time with gold or offer level boosters, emphasizing that "the journey is very important."