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The only concrete requirement Blizzard has published is the graphics card: from launch, WoW Forever requires a GPU based on AMD Graphics Core Next 1 (2012), NVIDIA Maxwell (2014) or Intel Skylake (2015), or a newer architecture. Note that Blizzard warns the oldest cards that meet this are still well below the game's minimum requirements. The full spec sheet (processor, memory, disk, operating system) is not in its announcements: Blizzard points to the Battle.net Shop, so we do not give figures it has not published.
Graphics card: supported architectures
With the launch, Forever stops supporting GPUs based on older graphics architectures that fall well below the minimum requirements. Your card has to be based on one of these microarchitectures or a newer one:
| Vendor | Minimum microarchitecture | Year |
|---|---|---|
| AMD | Graphics Core Next 1 | 2012 |
| NVIDIA | Maxwell | 2014 |
| Intel | Skylake | 2015 |
In general, your graphics card needs to be from a newer generation; if it is older, you will need to upgrade before playing. According to Blizzard, the vast majority of WoW players already use compatible hardware.
Models that work and models that do not
The examples Blizzard itself gives, as a general reference:
Compatible
- AMD Radeon HD 7850 (2012)
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 9xx and GTX 750 / 750 Ti (2014)
- Intel HD Graphics 530 (2015)
Not supported
- AMD Radeon HD 6950 (2010)
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760 / 770 / 780 and GTX 8xxM (2014)
- Intel HD Graphics 6000 (2015)
Compatible does not mean enough. Blizzard warns that these compatible cards are still well below the game's minimum requirements: they only mark the line below which Forever no longer supports the card.
How to check which card you have
On Windows you can check it in two ways (the steps Blizzard gives):
- Open Settings, go to System > Display and choose Advanced display: your GPU's make and model are shown there.
- Or open Device Manager and expand Display adapters.
Once you have the model, compare it with the examples above; if it is not listed, the manufacturer's site will tell you which architecture it is based on. Blizzard only explains how to check on Windows.
Why it needs a newer card
Forever brings a new visual look, with touches like rivers flowing through Elwynn Forest, mist over the waters of Darkshore or moonlight breaking through the trees in Ashenvale. To support it, Blizzard relies on a feature GPUs gained around 2012 (RGBA16F UAV support in compute shaders), which is why older cards are left out.
Full requirements: what is missing
The full minimum spec sheet (processor, memory, disk space, operating system, Mac requirements) is not in the official announcements we track. Blizzard says it can be found on the Battle.net Shop. We will not give figures Blizzard has not published: when they appear in an official announcement, we will add them here.
Blizzard's official GPU article · Our summary of the GPU article
When a player reported an install error saying their operating system did not meet the minimum specs, a Blizzard community manager replied on the official forums pointing to this same GPU article, in case that was the cause.
PC, Mac, gamepad and visual options
Forever is out on PC and Mac, with official gamepad support. You can also choose between Classic and modern visual presets, and between high-definition (HD) and standard-definition (SD) character models. Blizzard has not said how much each option affects performance.
Official sources
The official Blizzard announcements this page is based on:
- World of Warcraft: Forever What’s Next Panel Recap · September 12, 2026 · Blizzard’s original: World of Warcraft: Forever What’s Next Panel Recap
- World of Warcraft: Forever GPU Requirements · September 17, 2026 · Blizzard’s original: World of Warcraft: Forever GPU Requirements
- Blizzard reply to an install error report · Blizzard forums · September 18, 2026
Frequently asked questions
What are the minimum requirements for WoW Forever?
In its announcements, Blizzard has only detailed the graphics card: it must be based on AMD Graphics Core Next 1, NVIDIA Maxwell or Intel Skylake, or a newer architecture. For everything else it points to the Battle.net Shop.
Will a GTX 750 Ti or a Radeon HD 7850 work?
They are compatible according to Blizzard, but Blizzard itself warns that they are well below the game's minimum requirements.
Does it work with a GTX 760, 770 or 780?
No. Blizzard lists them as examples of unsupported cards, along with the GTX 8xxM, the Radeon HD 6950 and the Intel HD Graphics 6000.
Is there a Mac version?
Yes, Forever is out on PC and Mac. The specific Mac requirements are not in the announcements we have.
How much disk space does it need?
Blizzard has not said in its announcements, so we do not give a figure.
Can I play with a gamepad?
Yes: Forever has official gamepad support.
See also
WoW Forever: everything we knowRelease date and time, beta, editions and prices, rulesets, Skyborne, zones, dungeons, raids and roadmap.
Price and editionsWhat the subscription includes, what each pack costs, which one gives beta access and what the invite codes are for.LaunchDates, editions and day-one content
BuildsBuild history and known issuesA The Forever Era guide. Anything specific to Forever comes from Blizzard's official announcements or the beta client; general Classic knowledge is marked as such. We never invent numbers or rankings, and the guide is reviewed with every build.
