World of Warcraft's upcoming housing system: A different approach to player homes.
Blizzard has unveiled its vision for player housing in the upcoming World of Warcraft expansion, World of Warcraft: Midnight, offering a stark contrast to systems seen in other MMOs, notably Final Fantasy XIV. The developers highlighted a key objective: "A Home for Everyone." This commitment aims to make housing accessible to all players, regardless of in-game achievements or wealth. Unlike some MMOs, WoW's housing will avoid exorbitant costs, lotteries, and the threat of repossession due to lapsed subscriptions.
The core functionality remains consistent with the genre: players purchase and personalize homes, inviting others to visit. However, Blizzard directly addresses some of the criticisms leveled at Final Fantasy XIV's housing system, which includes limited plots, high Gil costs, lotteries, and the risk of demolition for inactivity.
WoW's system will counter these issues in several ways:
- Accessibility: The goal is to ensure every player who wants a home can obtain one.
- Shared Housing: Housing is shared among the player's Warband, allowing all characters within the Warband access, regardless of faction or race. A Human character, for instance, can access a house purchased by a Troll Warband member in a Horde zone.
- Instanced Zones: While limited to two housing zones, each zone will contain numerous instanced "Neighborhoods" with approximately 50 plots each. Public plots are server-maintained and dynamically generated "as needed," potentially eliminating a hard cap on available homes.
- Long-Term Commitment: Blizzard plans to support the housing system with ongoing updates and additions across future patches and expansions, suggesting a long-term commitment to its evolution.
While the full details await the summer unveiling of World of Warcraft: Midnight, Blizzard's approach to player housing suggests a conscious effort to learn from the successes and challenges of other MMOs, prioritizing accessibility and long-term player engagement.
