Quick answer: World of Warcraft: Forever needs a GPU built on AMD Graphics Core Next 1, NVIDIA Maxwell, Intel Skylake, or newer. It runs on Windows and natively on both Apple silicon and Intel Macs.
Whether World of Warcraft: Forever can launch depends on your graphics card. Its updated visuals require RGBA16F UAV support in compute shaders, a GPU capability introduced around 2012. Older GPU architectures lack this feature, so replacing the card is the sole workaround. Most players already use compatible hardware.
WoW Forever GPU cutoff by architecture
Each GPU maker has its own cutoff point. Your card has to use the architecture listed below or a newer one.
| Minimum architecture | Example compatible cards | Example unsupported cards |
|---|---|---|
| AMD Graphics Core Next 1 (2012) | AMD Radeon HD 7850 (2012) | AMD Radeon HD 6950 (2010) |
| NVIDIA Maxwell (2014) | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 9xx, plus GTX 750/750 Ti (2014) | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760/770/780 and GTX 8xxM (2014) |
| Intel Skylake (2015) | Intel HD Graphics 530 (2015) | Intel HD Graphics 6000 (2015) |
The year a card came out doesn’t settle the question. The GTX 760 and the GTX 750 Ti both date from 2014, but only the 750 Ti uses Maxwell. Intel shows the same split in 2015, where HD Graphics 530 is supported and HD Graphics 6000 is not. Look at the architecture, not the release date.
The cards shown in the table meet only the architecture cutoff; they fall far short of the game’s minimum requirements. Find the complete requirements on the Battle.net Shop listing for World of Warcraft: Forever.
How to check your GPU on Windows
Windows can show your graphics card’s make and model in a few clicks.
You can also open Device Manager and expand Display adapters, which lists the same card.
WoW Forever on Mac: Apple silicon and Intel
On macOS, World of Warcraft: Forever is offered as a universal app. It runs directly on both Intel Macs and Apple silicon Macs with M-series chips, without a translation layer. Install it using the Battle.net app for Mac, as you would other World of Warcraft versions; the game is placed in Applications’ World of Warcraft folder.
How to install WoW Forever on PC or Mac
The process is identical on Windows and macOS. Plan for a download of about 51 GB.
WoW Forever system requirements FAQ
Will a GTX 760 run WoW Forever?
No. The GTX 760, 770, and 780 are all unsupported. Maxwell is the oldest NVIDIA architecture that works, which covers the GTX 750, GTX 750 Ti, and the GTX 9xx series.
Does WoW Forever run on Apple silicon Macs?
Yes. It runs natively on M-series Macs, and the same universal app also runs on Intel Macs.
Where are the full minimum and recommended specs?
The Battle.net Shop listing for World of Warcraft: Forever has the full requirements. Meeting the GPU architecture cutoff by itself does not mean your PC satisfies those requirements.
Does WoW Forever run on Linux?
Linux is not a supported platform. Blizzard Customer Support won’t troubleshoot problems on it, so on Linux you’re on your own.
