WoW Jabs at FF14 with Housing Enhancements

World of Warcraft's upcoming housing system: A different approach to player homes.

Blizzard has offered a sneak peek at the player housing feature coming to World of Warcraft: Midnight, highlighting a design philosophy that contrasts sharply with other MMOs, particularly Final Fantasy XIV. The WoW team emphasized accessibility and ease of use in their recent developer blog.

The core concept remains the same: players can purchase and personalize homes within the game world, allowing for visits from other players. However, Blizzard explicitly stated their intention to avoid the pitfalls of other systems. They aim for "A Home for Everyone," promising no exorbitant costs, lotteries, or harsh penalties for lapsed subscriptions. Your house won't be repossessed if your subscription lapses.

This directly addresses common criticisms of Final Fantasy XIV's housing system, which is known for its limited plots, high Gil costs, lottery system, and the risk of demolition for inactive properties. The WoW system, in contrast, will be more inclusive.

World of Warcraft's housing will be shared amongst a player's Warband, allowing all characters within that group to access and utilize the home, regardless of faction. While character restrictions based on faction will still exist (a Human cannot buy a house in a Horde zone), a Warband member of a different faction can purchase and share the property.

While the number of housing zones will be limited (two, with "Neighborhoods" containing roughly 50 plots each), these zones will be instanced, offering both public and private options. Public areas will be dynamically generated as needed, eliminating a fixed plot limit.

Blizzard's commitment to player housing extends beyond the initial launch. They've outlined a long-term vision, promising ongoing updates and additions in future patches and expansions. This suggests a dedication to evolving and improving the housing system over time.

Further details are expected this summer with the full reveal of World of Warcraft: Midnight.