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 (WoW) with the World of Warcraft: Midnight expansion, subtly contrasting its approach with that of Final Fantasy XIV. The WoW team emphasizes accessibility, stating a goal of "A Home for Everyone."
Unlike some other MMOs, WoW's housing will avoid exorbitant costs, lotteries, and harsh penalties for lapsed subscriptions. Players who want a house will be able to acquire one without significant hurdles. This directly addresses common criticisms leveled at Final Fantasy XIV's housing system, which is known for its limited plots, high Gil costs, lotteries, and the risk of demolition due to inactivity.
WoW's housing will allow for extensive personalization and decoration, a feature popular in games like Final Fantasy XIV where player creativity has led to impressive in-game creations like theaters, nightclubs, and museums. However, WoW aims to improve upon the potential downsides.
The system will feature shared housing amongst a player's Warband, allowing characters of different factions and races to access the same home. While a Human character might not be able to buy a house in a Horde zone, a Troll character within their Warband could, granting access to the Human character.
While the number of housing zones will be limited (two, with "Neighborhoods" of approximately 50 plots each), these zones will be instanced, offering both public and private options. Public areas will be dynamically generated as needed, mitigating concerns about plot scarcity.
Blizzard envisions player housing as an ongoing feature, promising a "long-lasting journey" with continued updates and additions in future patches and expansions. This long-term commitment demonstrates an awareness of the challenges and potential pitfalls associated with implementing player housing in an MMO.
Further details are expected closer to the summer reveal of World of Warcraft: Midnight.
