Blizzard Expands Server Capacity for World of Warcraft: Forever Beta
- Blizzard has increased server capacity for the World of Warcraft: Forever beta due to rising popularity.
- Executive producer Holly Longdale confirmed the growth on her personal X account.
- The beta requires a purchase for the Skyborne Epic pack, with a monthly subscription planned upon full launch on November 4.
World of Warcraft: Forever’s beta is gaining traction, prompting Blizzard to increase its server capacity over the weekend. Holly Longdale, the executive producer of World of Warcraft, shared this update on her personal X account, stating, “So… we had to increase the WoW: Forever Beta population cap again. The wild ride continues.”
Even prior to Longdale’s announcement, the beta was showing significant interest. Josh Greenfield, a veteran within the Classic developer team at Blizzard, noted last week that the beta generated “the craziest numbers I’ve seen in 17 years working at Blizzard and almost 8 years on classic.”
Historically, World of Warcraft reached a peak subscriber count of 12 million paying subscribers during the Wrath of the Lich King expansion, around a year after its release in 2004. This period, roughly 16-18 years ago, is commonly considered the game’s height of popularity.
The World of Warcraft: Forever beta is priced at £51.99 / $59.99 / €59.99 for the Skyborne Epic pack. Upon its full launch on November 4, players will be required to pay a monthly subscription fee instead of a one-time payment. As a result, participation in the game is anticipated to rise significantly.
The phenomenon surrounding World of Warcraft: Classic’s launch in 2019 serves as a benchmark, as it saw the largest jump in subscriber numbers in the series’ history. This trend signals a strong passion for the game, particularly as the original MMO experience is continuously refined and developed by Blizzard.
News Courtesy of Eurogamer
