WoW Mocks FF14's Housing in New Update

Blizzard has exciting news for World of Warcraft fans: player housing is on its way with the upcoming expansion, World of Warcraft: Midnight. In a recent preview, the WoW team not only detailed early features of this much-anticipated addition but also took a playful swipe at the housing system in Final Fantasy XIV.

The core principle guiding World of Warcraft's housing initiative is inclusivity, encapsulated in their goal, "A Home for Everyone." Blizzard is committed to making housing 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." They promise no steep entry barriers, no lotteries, and no high maintenance costs. Moreover, your home remains safe even if your subscription lapses.

Player housing in MMOs like World of Warcraft allows players to purchase and personalize their own spaces, fostering creativity and social interaction. In Final Fantasy XIV, this feature has led to impressive player-driven ventures such as theater productions, nightclubs, cafes, and museums. However, Final Fantasy XIV's housing system has faced criticism due to its limited availability, high costs, lottery system, and the risk of demolition if neglected.

World of Warcraft aims to address these issues head-on. Housing will be shared across the Warband, allowing different characters to use the same house, regardless of faction. For instance, if a Troll in your Warband buys a house in a Horde zone, your Human character can still use it.

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

Blizzard is dedicated to making housing a lasting and evolving feature of World of Warcraft. They envision it as a "long lasting journey" with continuous updates and expansions planned for the future. This commitment indicates a thoughtful approach to integrating housing into the game, acknowledging the challenges seen in other MMOs while striving to offer a more inclusive and engaging experience.

As we await more details leading up to the summer unveiling of World of Warcraft: Midnight, the promise of player housing adds another layer of excitement to this already eagerly anticipated expansion.