World of Warcraft's upcoming housing system: A different approach to player homes.
Blizzard has offered a first glimpse into the player housing feature coming to World of Warcraft in the World of Warcraft: Midnight expansion, subtly contrasting its approach with that of Final Fantasy XIV. A key design goal, as stated in a recent developer blog, is accessibility: "A Home for Everyone."
Blizzard emphasizes that acquiring and maintaining a home in WoW will be straightforward, devoid of exorbitant costs, lotteries, or harsh penalties for lapsed subscriptions. The aim is to make homeownership attainable for all players. This directly addresses some of the frustrations experienced by players in Final Fantasy XIV's housing system, which is notorious for its limited plots, high Gil costs, lotteries, and the risk of demolition for inactive properties.
WoW's housing system will allow for extensive personalization and decoration, mirroring the creative freedom enjoyed by Final Fantasy XIV players, who have famously transformed their virtual homes into theaters, nightclubs, and museums. However, WoW intends to mitigate the scarcity issues.
While WoW will initially feature only two housing zones, each divided into "Neighborhoods" of approximately 50 plots, these neighborhoods are instanced. This, combined with both public and privately-owned options (with public instances generated dynamically as needed), suggests a more scalable and less restrictive system than Final Fantasy XIV's.
The housing system will also be shared within the player's Warband, enabling all characters in the group to access and utilize the same home, regardless of faction. This means a Human player can access a house purchased by a Troll Warband member, even if located in a Horde zone.
Blizzard's commitment to player housing extends beyond the initial launch. The developers envision housing as an ongoing feature, with continued updates and expansions planned for future patches and expansions. This long-term vision, coupled with their acknowledgement of the challenges faced by other MMOs with similar systems, suggests a thoughtful and potentially more sustainable approach.
Further details are expected closer to the summer reveal of World of Warcraft: Midnight.
