What is confirmed about duration
The official forum says Forever will be available on production realms for a few hours. The installation announcement also allows the window to end earlier or run longer as needed. This is a stress test rather than a guaranteed-length play session.
The known schedule provides regional opening times, not an exact shared shutdown instant. We cannot responsibly turn “a few hours” into a fixed two-, three- or four-hour countdown.
Plan your session around the opening
Install ahead of time, check the game version and use the regional time tool to save a start reminder. Queueing, patching and interruptions can reduce the time you actually spend in-game.
If you have only a short window, prioritize the activities Blizzard requests: create a character, quest, trade, chat and group. You do not need to reach an invented level target or finish a reward checklist to make useful test contributions.
Beta and test availability are different
Blizzard says the beta goes offline for the stress test and is planned to reopen after it closes. That sequence is not an exact beta maintenance timetable. Keep an eye on official messages in the client and forum for operational changes.
After the announced start has passed, our timer says that the scheduled time has arrived. It does not say the test is still open. See the server-status guide for the official places to check.
Progress is temporary
Stress-test characters, their names and guilds are wiped after testing. Do not plan the session as permanent launch progression or a way to reserve a launch name.
There is no verified precise ending hour or test-specific participation reward in our current evidence. If either is published, those facts need their own source update.
Official sources
Sources checked: UTC. Page updated: .