WoW: ForeverCGN planner & guide

Hardware

Will my PC run Forever?

Two checks matter: the general system requirements, and a hard floor on graphics card age. Some cards that look newer than others (a GTX 780, for example) will not run the game at all.

Blizzard Confirmed CGN checked October 9, 2026

System requirements

These are the figures in the System Requirements section of Blizzard's Battle.net Shop page for Forever, read on October 7, 2026.

Windows system requirements
Windows minimumWindows recommended
Operating systemWindows 10 64-bit (May 2019 Update or newer)Windows 11
Processor4 cores, 3.0 GHz. Intel Core (Haswell) or AMD Ryzen (Zen)8 performance cores, 5.2 GHz boost. Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) or AMD Ryzen Zen 5
GraphicsDirectX 12 capable, 4 GB. NVIDIA GeForce GTX 10 series, AMD RDNA 1 or Intel Iris Xe2 (Lunar Lake)DirectX 12 capable, 8 GB. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 series, AMD RDNA 3 or Intel Arc B-Series
Memory8 GB RAM16 GB RAM
Storage128 GB available, solid-state drive128 GB available, solid-state drive
Display and input1280 x 720 minimum. Keyboard and mouse required1280 x 720 minimum. Multi-button mouse with scroll wheel
InternetBroadbandBroadband
Mac system requirements
Mac minimumMac recommended
Operating systemmacOS 12macOS 15
ProcessorApple M2, or a 9th generation Intel Core (Coffee Lake)Apple M4
GraphicsMetal capable, 4 GB (Apple M2, 8 GB)Apple M4, 16 GB
Memory8 GB RAM16 GB RAM
Storage128 GB available, SSD128 GB available, SSD

A subscription or game time is required, and so are a Battle.net account and the Battle.net desktop app.

Blizzard Confirmed Blizzard ↗ · Blizzard ↗

The graphics card floor

Separately from the table above, Forever needs a graphics card built on one of these architectures or newer:

  • AMD: Graphics Core Next 1 (2012)
  • NVIDIA: Maxwell (2014)
  • Intel: Skylake (2015)

Blizzard stresses that these are still well below the minimum requirements, so meeting the floor does not mean the game will run well.

Compatible and unsupported graphics cards, from Blizzard
Works (architecture-wise)Does not work
AMDRadeon HD 7850 (2012)Radeon HD 6950 (2010)
NVIDIAGeForce GTX 9xx and GTX 750 / 750 Ti (2014)GeForce GTX 760 / 770 / 780 and GTX 8xxM (2014)
IntelHD Graphics 530 (2015)HD Graphics 6000 (2015)

Why: Forever's new visual look relies on a GPU feature introduced around 2012, RGBA16F UAV support in compute shaders. Older architectures do not have it.

A newer model number does not mean a newer architecture. The GTX 760, 770 and 780 are higher numbers than a GTX 750 but are on the older design, so they are on Blizzard's unsupported list. If a card is not listed, look up its architecture, not its model number.

Blizzard Confirmed Blizzard ↗

How to check your card

  • Settings route: Settings, System, Display, Advanced display shows your GPU's make and model.
  • Device Manager route: open Device Manager and expand Display adapters.
  • Then compare the model with the table above. Blizzard says the vast majority of WoW players already have compatible hardware.

Blizzard Confirmed Blizzard ↗

Beta quirks that are not requirements

These are beta known issues and build notes. They are not launch requirements and may be fixed.

  • Install size: Blizzard's October 1 known issues say the total install is larger than intended and that it is working to reduce it in a future beta update.
  • Ray-traced shadows: the October 1 build removed the Ray Traced Shadows option. Blizzard says it will return in a future update after the functionality is fixed.
  • Memory: the September 24 build fixed a memory leak that caused gradual slowdown for some players.
  • Mac: the same build fixed a water display issue and other artifacts on Mac.

Beta Build Blizzard, Oct 8, 2026 ↗ · Blizzard, Oct 1, 2026 ↗ · Blizzard, Sep 24, 2026 ↗

Display, controller and interface options

  • Visual presets: a modern look and a Classic look. You pick when you first launch.
  • Character models: High-Definition and Standard-Definition models, with Classic animations restored for the HD models.
  • Opt-in transmog: you can switch it off entirely. Choosing Classic Mode at first launch turns it off for you.
  • Controller support: official gamepad support. Class flyouts exist for Druid forms, Hunter and Warlock pets, Paladin auras and Warrior stances, and the beta has options for a compact action bar, fixed party targeting and swapped target sides.
  • Cooldown Manager: an optional feature that pulls buffs and cooldowns into a spot you choose. It is off by default (Options, Gameplay Enhancement). Beta testing covers Druid, Mage, Priest, Warrior, Warlock and Rogue; it does not track spell ranks yet.
  • Barbershops: available in the cities, including new ones in Darnassus and Thunder Bluff since October 1.
  • Nameplates and names: you can hide your secondary name. See names.

Blizzard Confirmed Blizzard, Sep 12, 2026 ↗ · Blizzard, Sep 13, 2026 ↗

Beta Build Blizzard, Sep 24, 2026 ↗ · Blizzard, Oct 1, 2026 ↗

What we don't know yet

  • Whether the requirements change between the beta and launch.
  • When ray-traced shadows return, and the final install size.
  • Any addon or API restrictions. Blizzard has not announced them for Forever.

Sources on this page

Labels: Blizzard Confirmed Beta Build Beta Data Developer Interview Press Report Community Observation Survey / Concept Only Not Yet Known