WoW Targets FFXIV with Housing Announcement

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 emphasizes accessibility and avoids some of the common pitfalls associated with in-game housing.

The core principle, as stated in a recent developer blog, is "A Home for Everyone." Blizzard aims to make housing readily available to all players, eliminating high purchase costs, lotteries, and demanding upkeep. Crucially, players won't lose their homes if their subscription lapses.

Unlike Final Fantasy XIV, where player creativity has led to impressive in-game creations (theaters, nightclubs, etc.), but also notorious housing shortages and demanding maintenance, WoW intends to offer a more relaxed experience. The system will counter some of FFXIV's issues by:

• Warband Sharing: Housing is shared among the Warband, allowing all characters within that group to access and utilize the home, regardless of faction. This means a Human character can use a house purchased by a Troll character in their Warband, even if the Human couldn't buy it themselves.

• Instanced Neighborhoods: While limited to two housing zones, each zone features instanced "Neighborhoods" with approximately 50 plots. These neighborhoods offer both public and private options, with public areas dynamically generated by the servers as needed, removing a fixed limit on housing availability.

Blizzard's vision extends beyond the initial launch. The team describes housing as a "long-lasting journey," promising ongoing updates and additions in future patches and expansions. This commitment, while subtly contrasting with the challenges faced by FFXIV's housing system, suggests an awareness of potential issues and a proactive approach to avoiding them.

Further details are expected during the summer unveiling of World of Warcraft: Midnight.