Closed WoW Private Servers
Private servers close for many reasons: legal pressure from Blizzard, running costs or a team that moves on. Every closed server in our catalogue is listed below, with when and why it shut down (where we know) and the servers its players can move to.
A closed server's page stays up with its reviews and news for reference. If you know when or why one of these servers closed, or that one is back online, tell us on Discord or by e-mail and we will update it.
17 closed servers · 5 closed in 2026 · 89 servers in the catalogue
Quick answer
The latest closures are Ascension (4 September 2026), Project Alterac (September 2026) and Project Epoch (September 2026). Each server below links to its page, with its history and any news about what happened.
Closed in 2026
Ascension
Closed 4 September 2026Vanilla · online from May 2016
The team closed its WoW realms under an agreement with Blizzard, which had sent a cease-and-desist and sued in June 2026. Ascension is becoming an original MMO, and accounts and the launcher carry over to it.
Similar servers that are online: Everlook, Ashen WoW and Waloria.
Project Alterac
Closed September 2026Wrath of the Lich King+ · online from July 2026
Its owner closed it two months after launch, citing hosting costs, recurring technical problems and less free time.
Similar servers that are online: Project Ebonhold, Nozdor and Project Astral.
Project Epoch
Closed September 2026Vanilla+ · online from July 2025
After a cease-and-desist from Blizzard in September 2025 it ran on Ascension's launcher, until Ascension closed its WoW realms.
Continued as Project Epoch Reborn, launching 23 October 2026.
Turtle WoW
Closed 15 May 2026Vanilla+ · online from July 2020
It shut down to comply with its settlement with Blizzard and a permanent injunction against the project. The former team now builds an original MMO as Moonwhisper Games. Community spin-offs such as OctoWoW, which continues the Mysteries of Azeroth storyline, drew thousands of its former players.
Similar servers that are online: Waloria, RavenCraft and Sandworlds.
Netherwing
Closed 14 May 2026The Burning Crusade · online from February 2025
It closed with the rest of the Stormforge network after a cease-and-desist from Blizzard.
Similar servers that are online: Rising Gods - Back2Basics, GeekServers - TheGeekCrusade and Moonwell.
Other closed servers
Smaller servers often go offline without an announcement, so for some of them we don't know the exact date.
| Server | Expansion | Online from | Closed | Where to play now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classic Plus - Ashbringer | Vanilla+ | April 2024 | Date unknown | Waloria and Project Legacy |
| Dalaran-WoW | WotLK | 2013 | Date unknown | ChromieCraft and Rising Gods |
| Feenix | Vanilla | 26 March 2025 | Date unknown | Everlook and Ashen WoW |
| Firemaw - Vanilla | Vanilla | May 2025 | Date unknown | WOW Hardcore - Permadeath and GeekServers - NostalGeek |
| Galaxyofdrone WoW | WotLK+ | March 2025 | Date unknown | Sirus WoW and Synastria |
| GryffinWow | Vanilla | 7 April 2025 | Date unknown | Everlook and Ashen WoW |
| The Best WoW Private Server | WotLK+ | April 2025 | Date unknown | Whitemane - Frostmourne and Sirus WoW |
| The Forgotten Land | WotLK+ | August 2023 | Date unknown | Synastria and Titans League - Return to Glory |
| True Azeroth | Vanilla | July 2025 | Date unknown | Everlook and WOW Hardcore - Permadeath |
| Valanior | Vanilla | January 2025 | Date unknown | Everlook and Ashen WoW |
| Warborn WoW | TBC | 2025 | Date unknown | Rising Gods - Back2Basics and Moonwell |
| WotLKPlus | WotLK | 11 April 2025 | Date unknown | Rising Gods and Adventure WoW |
Why private servers close
Most closures come down to three things. Blizzard sends cease-and-desist letters and takes the biggest projects to court. Hosting and development cost money every month, and donations don't always cover it. And when a small team runs out of time or interest, the server stops with it.
Before you start somewhere new
Characters usually disappear with the server. Keep your own copy of the game client. Before you invest months in a new server, check how long its team has been around, read recent reviews and look at the shop.
Best WoW private servers that are onlineFrequently asked questions
Which WoW private servers closed in 2026?
In our catalogue: Ascension (4 September 2026), Project Alterac (September 2026), Project Epoch (September 2026), Turtle WoW (15 May 2026) and Netherwing (14 May 2026). Each one is listed above with what happened and where its players can go now.
Why do WoW private servers shut down?
Mostly because of legal pressure, running costs or a team that runs out of time. In 2026 cease-and-desist letters and lawsuits from Blizzard closed several of the biggest projects. Smaller servers usually close when donations no longer cover hosting or the developers move on.
What happens to my characters when a server closes?
They usually go with it. Some teams move accounts to a successor or a new game and announce it on their Discord, so check there first. Each closed server's page here links its successor or similar servers that are still online.
How many servers are online, how many players they have and when they opened: WoW private servers in numbers.