WoW Housing Plan Mocks FFXIV

Player housing is coming to World of Warcraft, and Blizzard has offered a first glimpse into its implementation. A recent preview detailed early plans, even playfully contrasting their approach with Final Fantasy XIV's housing system.

World of Warcraft: Midnight will introduce this highly anticipated feature. A key goal, as stated in a recent developer blog, is to make housing accessible to everyone.

Blizzard emphasizes inclusivity: "If you want a house, you can have a house," they declared. "No exorbitant costs, lotteries, or burdensome upkeep. Even if your subscription lapses, your home remains safe."

Player housing, as the name suggests, provides players with personalized homes within the MMO world. These homes offer ample space for customization and decoration, and are open for visits by other players. This is a popular feature in Final Fantasy XIV, where player creativity has resulted in impressive creations like theaters, nightclubs, cafes, and museums.

However, Final Fantasy XIV's housing system also has its drawbacks. Limited plots per server, high Gil costs, lottery systems, and the risk of demolition due to inactivity are well-known issues.

World of Warcraft aims to address these concerns. Housing is shared amongst the Warband, allowing characters to access and share rewards regardless of faction. While a Human character can't buy a house in Horde territory, a Troll Warband member can, granting access to the Human character.

While World of Warcraft will initially feature two housing zones with "Neighborhoods" of approximately 50 plots each, these are instanced and offer both public and private options. Public areas are server-maintained and created dynamically, meaning the number of Neighborhoods isn't currently limited.

Blizzard envisions player housing as a long-term feature. Their stated goals include "boundless self-expression," "deeply social experiences," and a "long-lasting journey" with ongoing updates and additions across future patches and expansions. This commitment, while acknowledging FFXIV's challenges, suggests Blizzard is learning from past experiences.

Further details are expected before the anticipated summer reveal of World of Warcraft: Midnight.