World of Warcraft Takes a Jab at Final Fantasy 14 With Its Housing Plans

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 key differences from other MMOs, particularly Final Fantasy XIV. The development team emphasized accessibility as a core design principle.

The WoW team stated their goal is "A Home for Everyone," ensuring housing is obtainable by all players without exorbitant costs, lotteries, or demanding upkeep. Unlike some systems, players won't lose their homes if their subscription lapses.

Player housing in WoW will function as personalized, visitable homes, offering ample opportunities for customization and decoration. While acknowledging the popularity of housing in games like Final Fantasy XIV, where player creativity has led to impressive in-game creations such as theaters and nightclubs, Blizzard aims to avoid some of the negative aspects.

In contrast to Final Fantasy XIV's limited plots, high Gil costs, lotteries, and potential for demolition, WoW's housing system will offer a more accessible and less stressful experience. 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 remain (a Human cannot buy a house in a Horde zone), Warband members can circumvent this limitation.

The housing zones will be instanced, divided into "Neighborhoods" of approximately 50 plots each, with both public and private options. Public areas will be dynamically generated as needed, implying a potentially scalable system without a fixed limit on available plots.

Blizzard envisions player housing as a long-term feature, promising ongoing development and updates across future patches and expansions. This commitment, coupled with a subtle dig at Final Fantasy XIV's housing challenges, suggests Blizzard is aware of potential pitfalls and is working to create a more positive and sustainable experience for its players. Further details are expected during the summer reveal of World of Warcraft: Midnight.