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

World of Warcraft's upcoming housing system: A contrast to Final Fantasy XIV

Blizzard has offered a sneak peek at the player housing feature coming to World of Warcraft (WoW) with the World of Warcraft: Midnight expansion, subtly contrasting its approach with Final Fantasy XIV's system. A key objective, as stated in a recent developer blog, is to make housing accessible to all players.

The WoW team emphasizes inclusivity, stating that obtaining a house will be straightforward, without exorbitant costs, lotteries, or demanding upkeep. Unlike Final Fantasy XIV, subscription lapses won't result in repossession.

Player housing in WoW, as envisioned, provides personalized homes that other players can visit. While Final Fantasy XIV's housing has fostered impressive player creativity, resulting in player-built theaters, nightclubs, and museums, it's also notorious for its limited plots, high Gil costs, lottery system, and the risk of demolition due to inactivity.

WoW aims to address these concerns. Housing is shared within a player's Warband, allowing multiple characters, regardless of faction, to access the same property. While a Human character can't purchase a house in Horde territory, a Warband member's Troll character could, and the Human character would still have access.

Although WoW's housing will initially be limited to two zones with "Neighborhoods" containing approximately 50 plots each, these are instanced and offer both public and private options. Public areas are dynamically generated by the servers as needed, suggesting a potentially scalable system without a fixed plot limit.

Blizzard's commitment to WoW housing extends beyond the initial launch. The team highlights "boundless self-expression," "deeply social interaction," and a "long-lasting journey" as core principles, implying ongoing development and updates across future patches and expansions. This suggests a proactive approach, learning from the challenges faced by other MMOs with similar features.

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