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 including a playful comparison to 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 all players. Blizzard emphasized this point: "A Home for Everyone. If you want a house, you can have a house. No exorbitant requirements or high purchase costs, no lotteries, and no onerous upkeep (and if your subscription lapses, don’t worry, your house doesn’t get repossessed!)."
Player housing, as the name suggests, provides players with personalized homes within the MMO world, offering ample opportunities for decoration and customization. Other players can visit these homes. This is a popular feature in Final Fantasy XIV, where player creativity has led to impressive creations like theater productions, nightclubs, cafes, and museums.
However, Final Fantasy XIV's housing system also has its drawbacks. Server plot limitations, high Gil costs, lotteries, and the risk of demolition for neglected properties are well-known issues.
World of Warcraft aims to address these concerns. Housing is shared within a Warband, allowing characters to access and share rewards regardless of faction. While a Human character can't buy a house in a Horde zone, a Troll Warband member can, and the Human character will still have access.
Although World of Warcraft housing will initially consist of two 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, so the number of Neighborhoods isn't currently capped.
Blizzard's commitment to World of Warcraft housing is evident. Alongside "boundless self-expression" and "deeply social" experiences, the team envisions housing as a "long-lasting journey," with ongoing updates planned for future patches and expansions. This commitment, while acknowledging FFXIV's pitfalls, suggests Blizzard is aware of potential challenges.
Further details are expected before the summer reveal of World of Warcraft: Midnight.
