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, contrasting its design with the popular, yet sometimes problematic, system in Final Fantasy XIV. The WoW team emphasizes accessibility as a core principle.
In a recent developer blog, Blizzard highlighted its goal of making housing available to all players. They explicitly stated that acquiring and maintaining a home will not involve exorbitant costs, lotteries, or harsh penalties for lapsed subscriptions. Unlike FFXIV, there's no risk of repossession.
The WoW housing system will allow for extensive personalization and decoration, mirroring the creative player-built spaces seen in Final Fantasy XIV (such as theaters, nightclubs, and museums). However, Blizzard aims to address some of the frustrations experienced by FFXIV players.
Unlike FFXIV's limited housing plots and competitive lotteries, World of Warcraft will initially feature two housing zones divided into "Neighborhoods" of approximately 50 plots each. Crucially, these neighborhoods are instanced, offering both public and private options. Public areas are dynamically generated as needed, suggesting a potentially scalable system without a fixed limit on available plots.
Another key difference is the shared nature of housing within a Warband. Characters within the same Warband can access and utilize a house regardless of faction or race. For example, a Human character can use a house purchased by a Troll Warband member, even if that house is located in a Horde zone.
Blizzard envisions player housing as an ongoing feature, promising a long-term development roadmap with updates planned for future patches and expansions. This commitment, while subtly contrasting with FFXIV's challenges, demonstrates Blizzard's awareness of potential pitfalls and a desire to create a more accessible and sustainable housing experience. Further details are expected in the summer reveal of World of Warcraft: Midnight.
