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) in the World of Warcraft: Midnight expansion, subtly contrasting its approach with that of Final Fantasy XIV. The WoW team emphasizes accessibility as a core principle.

The developer explicitly stated its goal of making housing available to all players, irrespective of in-game achievements or wealth. Unlike Final Fantasy XIV's lottery system and high Gil costs, WoW aims for a more inclusive system with no exorbitant purchase prices, lotteries, or demanding upkeep. Furthermore, players won't lose their homes if their subscription lapses.

WoW's player housing will function as expected: players can purchase and personalize homes, which can then be visited by other players. This mirrors the popular feature in Final Fantasy XIV, known for fostering player creativity through in-game constructions like theaters, nightclubs, and museums.

However, Final Fantasy XIV's housing system also has its drawbacks, including limited plots per server, high Gil costs, lotteries, and the risk of demolition for neglected properties. WoW's design appears to directly address these concerns.

WoW's housing will be shared amongst a player's Warband, allowing characters to access and utilize the same home regardless of faction or character race. While a Human character couldn't own a home in a Horde zone, a Troll character within their Warband could, granting access to the Human character.

While only two housing zones are planned, each containing "Neighborhoods" of approximately 50 plots, these are instanced and offer both public and private options. Public areas are dynamically generated as needed, suggesting a potentially scalable system without a fixed plot limit.

Blizzard's commitment to WoW's housing system extends beyond the initial launch. The development team plans for it to be a long-term feature, with ongoing updates and additions across future patches and expansions. This long-term vision, while acknowledging the shortcomings of other systems like Final Fantasy XIV's, suggests a considered approach to avoid similar pitfalls.

Further details are expected in the summer unveiling of World of Warcraft: Midnight.