World of Warcraft: Forever Beta Faces Early RMT Scandal Involving Popular Streamers

Key points

• RMT is occurring in the WoW: Forever beta, with players buying gold with real money despite character wipes at launch.
• Blizzard has taken action against RMT, including suspending streamer Payo and punishing Ziqoftw by wiping gold from his character.
• Streamers like Ziqoftw and Payo have been involved in RMT, with Ziqoftw receiving around 520 gold from viewers and Payo allegedly telling his chat to buy gold for him.
• The community is calling for harsher punishment for streamers and players involved in RMT, and Blizzard has promised to address RMT in the full game.
• The WoW: Forever beta launched on September 17, 2026, with the full game launching on November 4, 2026.

Background

World of Warcraft: Forever is a new game mode announced at BlizzCon 2026, launching on November 4, 2026. It is a permanent Classic+ home that sits between Forsaken Kingdom and Molten Core, adding new zones, quests, dungeons, and raids. The game is part of Blizzard's three-pillar strategy, alongside Retail and Classic, and aims to blend Classic's grounded design with modern accessibility. The beta launched on September 17, 2026, with character wipes at launch.

How outlets are covering it

Kotaku emphasizes the baffling nature of RMT in the beta, given that characters will be wiped at launch, and highlights the involvement of popular streamers like Ziqoftw and Payo. GamesRadar+ focuses on Blizzard's actions against RMT, including the suspension of Payo and the punishment of Ziqoftw, and the community's call for stricter enforcement. Both outlets agree that RMT is a significant issue in the beta and that Blizzard is taking action, but Kotaku places more emphasis on the streamers' involvement and the community's reaction, while GamesRadar+ focuses more on Blizzard's actions and the community's call for stricter enforcement.

Why it matters

The RMT scandal in the WoW: Forever beta highlights the challenges of maintaining a fair and balanced game economy, especially in a beta where characters will be wiped at launch. The involvement of popular streamers and the community's call for stricter enforcement suggest that RMT could be a significant issue in the full game, and Blizzard's actions and promises will be closely watched by the community. The scandal also raises questions about the role of streamers in promoting or discouraging RMT, and the need for clear and consistent enforcement of RMT rules.

What to watch

Blizzard is expected to take further action against RMT in the full game, and the community will be watching closely to see if Blizzard follows through on its promises. The full game launches on November 4, 2026, and the RMT scandal could have implications for the game's economy and community. Blizzard may also face pressure to take action against other streamers and players involved in RMT, and the community may continue to call for stricter enforcement.