[Updated 10/22] Choose Your Ruleset in World of Warcraft: Forever

Every journey through Azeroth begins with a choice about the kind of world you want to step into. In World of Warcraft: Forever , we’re changing how that journey begins by moving away from the traditional realm-selection screen and introducing rulesets instead.

Players will be able to select from several rulesets that reflect familiar ways to play World of Warcraft :

• Normal: This ruleset allows you to focus on adventuring and fighting monsters while allowing you to fight other players at your own discretion.
• PvP: This ruleset allows you to focus on player versus player combat; you are almost always at risk of being attacked by opposing players.
• Roleplay: This ruleset has strict naming conventions and behavior rules for players interested in immersing themselves as a character in a fantasy-based world.
• Roleplay PvP: This ruleset has strict naming conventions and behavior rules for players interested in immersing themselves as a character in a fantasy-based world focused on player versus player combat; you are almost always at risk of being attacked by opposing characters.
• Hardcore: For players seeking the ultimate challenge, where every decision matters and death carries lasting consequences. ( Hardcore will be available sometime after launch.)

While World of Warcraft: Forever is designed to make it easier to connect with friends, each ruleset remains its own distinct space. Players can group, run dungeons, and raid with others who have chosen the same ruleset. Cross-ruleset grouping is not supported, so characters in different spaces will not be able to group together for those activities. Battlegrounds may include players from other rulesets, with the exception of Hardcore, which remains separate.

Each ruleset is built to support a distinct community and playstyle, so movement between them is intentionally limited. Players cannot freely hop between rulesets; to play under a different one, they’ll need to create a new character in that ruleset. When Hardcore becomes available, Hardcore characters will remain in a fully enclosed ecosystem, but if one dies, that character can transfer to another ruleset—including PvP.

The realmless structure is meant to reduce the pressure of choosing the right launch realm without turning Azeroth into a place that feels anonymous. As players level, quest, gather, and explore within their chosen ruleset, the world around them should still feel active and lived in—filled with organic encounters, unexpected rivalries, moments of cooperation, and the kind of shared experiences that make each journey feel rooted in Azeroth.