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

World of Warcraft's upcoming housing system: A fresh take on player homes.

Blizzard has offered a sneak peek at the player housing feature coming to World of Warcraft (WoW) in the World of Warcraft: Midnight expansion, subtly contrasting its approach with Final Fantasy XIV's system. The WoW team emphasizes accessibility, stating a core goal is "A Home for Everyone." This means no exorbitant costs, lotteries, or demanding upkeep. Even if your subscription lapses, your house remains safe.

Player housing in WoW will function as expected: players can purchase and personalize homes, inviting others to visit. This contrasts with Final Fantasy XIV, where player creativity has led to impressive in-game creations like theaters and nightclubs, but also notorious housing scarcity, high Gil costs, lotteries, and the risk of demolition due to inactivity.

WoW aims to address these concerns. Housing is shared within a Warband, allowing all characters within that group access, regardless of faction. While a Human character can't purchase a home in a Horde zone, a Troll Warband member can, providing shared access.

While limited to two housing zones with "Neighborhoods" of around 50 plots each, these zones are instanced, offering both public and private options. Public areas are server-managed and dynamically created, suggesting scalability and avoiding fixed plot limitations.

Blizzard's commitment to WoW's housing system extends beyond the initial launch. Their stated goals include "boundless self-expression," "deeply social interaction," and a "long-lasting journey" with ongoing updates and expansion in future patches. This demonstrates awareness of potential pitfalls observed in other MMOs' housing implementations.

Further details are expected closer to the summer reveal of World of Warcraft: Midnight.