WoW Mocks FF14 Over Housing Plans

Blizzard has announced the introduction of player housing in the upcoming World of Warcraft expansion, World of Warcraft: Midnight. In a recent developer blog, the team provided an initial glimpse into how this much-anticipated feature will be implemented, even taking a playful swipe at Final Fantasy XIV's housing system along the way.

The core principle guiding Blizzard's approach to housing is encapsulated in their goal, "A Home for Everyone." They emphasized that housing will be accessible to all players, stating, "As a part of our focus on wide adoption, we wanted to ensure that Housing is available to everyone. If you want a house, you can have a house." This approach eliminates the need for high purchase costs, lotteries, and stringent upkeep requirements. Moreover, players won't risk losing their homes if their subscription lapses.

Player housing in MMOs allows players to purchase and personalize their own spaces, which can be visited by others. This feature has been a significant draw in Final Fantasy XIV, where it has spurred creativity, leading to player-run theaters, nightclubs, cafes, and museums. However, Final Fantasy XIV has faced criticism for its housing system, which includes limited plots, high costs, lotteries, and the risk of demolition if neglected.

In contrast, World of Warcraft aims to address these issues by ensuring housing is more inclusive and less stressful. Housing will be shared among the Warband, allowing characters to access homes across different factions. For instance, while a Human character cannot purchase a house in a Horde zone, a Troll character in the same Warband can, and the Human can then use it.

The housing system will be divided into two zones, with "Neighborhoods" consisting of approximately 50 plots each. These neighborhoods will be instanced, offering both Public and Private options. Public neighborhoods are managed by the game servers and can be created as needed, suggesting no hard cap on the number of neighborhoods.

Blizzard is committed to making housing a "long lasting journey" with ongoing updates and a dedicated roadmap extending into future patches and expansions. This commitment reflects their awareness of the challenges faced by other MMOs and their intent to create a more sustainable and engaging housing experience.

More details about World of Warcraft: Midnight and its housing feature are expected to be revealed this summer, as Blizzard continues to refine and expand upon this exciting new addition to the game.