Image: WowheadIn an interview with IGN, Kris Zierhut confirms that the Retail WoW team has been discussing many of the lightning and water improvements from WoW: Forever.
IGN WoW: Forever Interview.
WoW: Forever was announced at BlizzCon 2026 with many graphical improvements to shadows, lighting, and water. As WoW: Forever is based on the same client as modern WoW, it should be possible to get these same graphical improvements, which has led to many players wondering if it's a Forever only feature as nothing has been mentioned on the Retail front.
IGN asked Kris Zierhut why the graphical changes were made in WoW: Forever and not in Retail, with him responding, "I think they were made here first." He continues explaining how it's not a Forever-only feature and that better lightning and water effects are coming to Retail, with him knowing the Retail team is talking about doing it, but not when.
Kris ZierhutI think they were made here first, is a better clarification. I think they're planning on eventually doing some of these same things in the Retail game as well. So it's not like it's a Forever-only feature, like better water, better lighting, those things are coming for retail as well. I don't know when, but I know they're talking about doing it.
It would be amazing to see these lighting improvements for The Last Titan and the conclusion of The Worldsoul Saga, but for the majority of players, it's probably nice to know they are talking about these graphic improvements for the modern version of WoW as well.
Source: Wowhead ↗