Beta Testing
Ongoing coverage on Beta Testing.
Latest coverage
WoW Forever Beta Extended to Friday, Name Reservations Go Live Tuesday
The beta for World of Warcraft Forever has been extended by a couple of days due to its popularity. Name reservations for the game are scheduled to go live on Tuesday.
World of Warcraft: Forever's beta has been extended, as community members mourn the loss of their hunter pets
The beta for World of Warcraft: Forever has been extended until this Friday, allowing players more time to experience the MMO's level 1-30 journey. Associate production director Clayton Stone announced the extension on X, with a server stress test also scheduled. Players are sharing emotional farewell posts for their hunter pets as the beta concludes, highlighting the community's attachment to the game.
Betawatch: Enshrouded launches as Guild Wars 3 starts sharing social hubs
Enshrouded has officially launched into version 1.0, exiting early access. Meanwhile, Guild Wars 3 has previewed its first social hub, and World of Warcraft Forever is preparing for a server slam stress test. The article also lists numerous other games in various stages of beta and early access testing.
You Can Play WoW: Forever For Free Next Week (But There’s A Catch)
Blizzard Entertainment is offering a free, limited-time stress test for World of Warcraft: Forever starting October 19th, allowing players to test servers without needing a subscription or beta access. While the stress test is free, it will only last a few hours and characters will be deleted. The beta itself runs until October 21st, with the full game launching on November 4th. Despite high anticipation and record-breaking popularity, the beta has faced controversies regarding gold buying and streamer influence.
You've got one chance to try World of Warcraft Forever without a subscription before launch
Blizzard Entertainment is offering a free stress test for World of Warcraft Forever on October 19, allowing anyone to play without a subscription or beta access. This event aims to test the MMORPG's limits before its official launch on November 4. Character data will be wiped after the stress test, but players who purchased specific packs can reserve names starting October 27.
World of Warcraft Forever clocks over a million characters created in the beta so far
World of Warcraft Forever's beta has seen over a million characters created, with Hunters being the most popular class. Blizzard Entertainment is also implementing a new 'Temporary Economy Hold' system to combat real-money trading and gold farming.
World of Warcraft Forever schedules a ‘server slam’ stress test for next week
World of Warcraft Forever will host a free 'server slam' stress test next week, starting Monday, October 19th, before its official launch. This event will be available for several hours and precedes the beta's conclusion on October 22nd. Additionally, the game's official soundtrack has been released on streaming platforms.
ARC Raiders’ Experimental PvE Beta is Live
Embark Studios has launched a separate Player versus Environment (PvE) matchmaking option for ARC Raiders, available as a beta until October 20th. This mode pits players against AI enemies without the risk of PvP combat, though with reduced loot value and fewer available mission conditions. The studio is actively seeking player feedback to improve the experience.
World of Warcraft: Forever Beta Week 4 update brings new City of Dalaran dungeon
The beta for World of Warcraft: Forever has released its Week 4 update, introducing the new City of Dalaran dungeon. Players can also re-explore content from previous weeks up to level 30. The update includes fixes for Rage generation for Druids and Warriors, and a reversion of the mob farming experience system.
World of Warcraft Forever beta continues to adjust dungeon XP and bans over 4K accounts for RMT
The World of Warcraft beta is continuing its fourth week with an increased level cap and the opening of the City of Dalaran dungeon. Blizzard has banned over 4,000 accounts for real-money trading and is actively adjusting dungeon XP gains. Future updates may include revisiting racial abilities and adding more attunement quests.
EverQuest II kicks off its annual prelude event, EverQuest kicks off beta testing for Favors of Fortune
EverQuest II has launched its annual 'Path to Sedition' prelude event, which sets the stage for its upcoming expansion, Descent to Val’zyroth, featuring new quests and rewards. Meanwhile, the original EverQuest has begun beta testing for 'Favors of Fortune,' including the Dark Elf Bard race/class combo and new content accessible via pre-ordering the expansion.
World of Warcraft Forever’s beta adds more levels, zones, and a new dungeon this week
The beta for World of Warcraft Forever has entered a new phase, introducing a level cap of 30 with familiar zones like Hillsbrad Foothills and Stonetalon Mountains. Players can also access additional talent points, two familiar dungeons, a new battleground, and two new dungeons, Excavation Site: Wetlands and the City of Dalaran, though the latter is slightly delayed.
Blizzard warns WoW Forever players that its stance on real-money trading is "crystal clear" following beta ban spree: "We will continue to take action"
Blizzard Entertainment has issued a stern warning regarding real-money trading (RMT) in the World of Warcraft: Forever beta, confirming that accounts involved in buying, selling, or receiving illicit gold will face consequences ranging from gold removal to permanent bans. The company reiterated its clear stance against RMT, emphasizing the seriousness with which they are treating the in-game economy, especially in light of past issues with practices like GDKP.
World of Warcraft: Forever's devs are fighting to keep up with beta player volume
Developers for World of Warcraft: Forever are working to increase server population caps multiple times during the beta due to unprecedented player volume. Executive Producer Holly Longdale and developer Josh Greenfield expressed excitement over the high engagement, calling it the "craziest numbers" they've seen. The strong beta performance bodes well for the game's planned November 2026 launch.
WoW: Forever’s Beta Just Keeps Getting Bigger
The beta for World of Warcraft: Forever is experiencing unprecedented popularity, forcing Blizzard Entertainment to repeatedly increase the population cap. Despite a $60 entry fee for the Skyborne Epic Pack, developers like Holly Longdale and Josh Greenfield have expressed excitement over record-breaking numbers and the insights gained for the full launch.
WoW Forever Beta Player Dies to a Near Perfect Griefing Tactic That I'm Sure Blizzard Will Patch Out
A player in the World of Warcraft Forever beta has reportedly died due to a sophisticated griefing tactic. The article highlights this incident as an example of issues that may arise during beta testing and suggests Blizzard Entertainment will likely address the tactic.
Suffering from success, WoW Forever beta gets yet another population cap increase as Blizzard struggles to fit everyone…
The beta for World of Warcraft: Forever is experiencing unprecedented player numbers, forcing Blizzard Entertainment to repeatedly increase the population cap. Senior game designer Josh Greenfield described the numbers as the "craziest" he's seen in 17 years, while executive producer Holly Longdale confirmed another cap increase over the weekend. The game's strong performance suggests a positive future for the MMO.
As World of Warcraft: Forever's beta popularity grows, Blizzard has yet again had to increase the server cap
The beta for World of Warcraft: Forever is experiencing high demand, leading Blizzard to increase server capacity multiple times. Executive producer Holly Longdale announced the ongoing need to expand the cap, echoing sentiments from developer Josh Greenfield about unprecedented player numbers. The game requires a significant upfront purchase for beta access, with a monthly subscription planned for its full launch on November 4th.
World of Warcraft: Forever dev has 'no sympathy' for players kicked from the beta for offensive names: 'If you're genuinely confused, remember that it's our database, we can see every character you've created'
A developer for the World of Warcraft: Forever beta, Tom Ellis, expressed no sympathy for players banned for offensive character names, stating that such names would have been unacceptable in any version of World of Warcraft. The beta launched without a fully functional naming filter, leading to manual reviews and bans for inappropriate names, with Ellis emphasizing that the company can see all created characters and expects better behavior from players.
World of Warcraft Forever discusses beta player reactions, Skyborne, and planned future adjustments
Blizzard Entertainment is discussing player reactions from the World of Warcraft beta, including feedback on the campfires system and the Skyborne design. The developers also addressed concerns about Druid forms, layering bugs, leveling speed, and plans to adjust blue-letter gear rewards. Inappropriate character names are being removed from the beta, and players are encouraged to complete a survey.
