WoW Mocks FFXIV Housing Lottery

Player housing is coming to World of Warcraft, and Blizzard has offered a first look at its implementation. A recent preview detailed early plans, even including a subtle comparison to Final Fantasy XIV's housing system.

World of Warcraft: Midnight will introduce this highly anticipated feature. Blizzard's development blog highlights "A Home for Everyone" as a key goal. They emphasize accessibility: "If you want a house, you can have a house," stating there will be no exorbitant costs, lotteries, or demanding upkeep. Even if your subscription lapses, your house remains safe.

Player housing, as the name suggests, provides players with customizable homes within the MMO world, open for visits from other players. This is a popular feature in Final Fantasy XIV, where player creativity has led to incredible in-game creations like theaters, nightclubs, cafes, and museums.

However, Final Fantasy XIV's housing system also has its drawbacks: limited plots, high Gil costs, lotteries, and the risk of demolition for inactivity.

World of Warcraft aims to address these concerns. Housing is shared within the Warband, allowing all characters within the group to access and share rewards, regardless of faction. While a Human character can't buy a house in Horde territory, a Troll Warband member can, granting access to the Human character.

While World of Warcraft will initially feature two housing zones with "Neighborhoods" of around 50 plots each, these are instanced and offer both public and private options. Public areas are server-maintained and dynamically created, meaning there's no fixed limit on the number of Neighborhoods.

Blizzard intends for World of Warcraft housing to be a long-term feature, emphasizing "boundless self-expression," "deeply social" interaction, and a "long-lasting journey" with ongoing updates and expansions. This commitment, while subtly contrasting with Final Fantasy XIV's system, shows Blizzard's awareness of potential pitfalls.

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