FirstLight launches on 11 September with level caps rising from 20 to 60

FirstLight opens on 11 September 2026. It is a new progression realm on the 3.3.5a client that starts in the Classic world: everyone begins at level 1, and the level cap rises in phases instead of the whole game being open from day one.

"Start everyone at Level 1, slow down progression, and make the journey to 60 actually matter," its developer wrote the evening before launch.

The phases

• Phase 1: level 20
• Phase 2: level 30
• Phase 3: level 40
• Phase 4: level 50
• Phase 5: level 59
• Phase 6: level 60 and the raids

The caps were picked around class progression, so each bracket brings new spells and talents. Raids will unlock in stages with set resets, flying is planned for after the level 60 progression, and the long-term plan is to move from Vanilla to The Burning Crusade and then Wrath of the Lich King. The first players to reach levels 20, 30, 40 and 50 earn a realm-wide World First. Level 59 is a phase but not a World First milestone.

Live at launch

• Every race and class combination
• Class trainers in the starting areas
• Ground mounts at level 20 with Riding 75, and mounts that can be traded or sold on the Auction House
• Tougher creatures: 1.5x health, mana and armour, and 1.25x damage and healing
• Dynamic respawns for quest mobs, objects and escorts, so there is less waiting, and quest items that are easier to share in a group
• Cross-faction groups, guilds, chat, Auction House, battlegrounds and arena teams
• A seven-day launch event with an event companion that auto-loots. The launch reward needs a level 10 character

FirstLight does not have a website. Game downloads, patch files and launch instructions are posted on its Discord.

Source: FirstLight's posts on r/WoWPrivateServers (5 to 10 September 2026).