World of Warcraft's upcoming housing system: A contrast to Final Fantasy XIV
Blizzard has unveiled its vision for player housing in World of Warcraft: Midnight, directly addressing some of the criticisms leveled at Final Fantasy XIV's implementation. The development team emphasized accessibility as a core principle, stating their goal is to provide "A Home for Everyone." This contrasts sharply with FFXIV's notoriously competitive housing market, characterized by limited plots, high Gil costs, lotteries, and the risk of demolition for inactivity.
WoW's housing system aims for inclusivity. Players will be able to acquire homes without exorbitant costs or complex requirements. Furthermore, there's no lottery system, and lapsed subscriptions won't result in repossession. The system also promotes shared access within a player's Warband, allowing characters of different factions to utilize the same home. While a Human character can't purchase a house in Horde territory, a Warband member's Troll character can, granting access to the Human character.
While WoW's housing will be limited to two zones, each comprising "Neighborhoods" of approximately 50 plots, these are instanced, offering both public and private options. Public areas are dynamically generated by the servers, suggesting a potentially scalable system without a fixed limit on available plots.
Blizzard’s commitment extends beyond the initial launch. The team envisions housing as an ongoing feature, with a dedicated roadmap for future updates and expansions. This long-term vision, coupled with their acknowledgement of FFXIV's challenges, suggests a thoughtful approach to implementing player housing in WoW. Further details are expected this summer with the full unveiling of World of Warcraft: Midnight.
