Blizzard EntertainmentcelebratedWarcraft’s 30th anniversarywith a digital event where they revealed that the next expansion for their MMO,World of Warcraft: Midnight, will be unveiled in late summer or early fall. At the same time, they announced a long-requested feature, especially since it has been available in their main competitor,Final Fantasy XIV:the housing system.
World of Warcraft Housing System
This feature, which is expected to launch alongside Midnight (though no official date has been given), is built on three core pillars:“boundless expressiveness”(players will have extensive customization options for their homes),“a deeply social environment”(housing customization can be collaborative, encouraging interaction with the community through neighborhoods), and"a lasting adventure"(the system will receive continuous updates with its own roadmap).
There will be two different zones for housing—one for the Alliance and one for the Horde. The Alliance’s area is inspired by Elwynn Forest, bordering Westfall and Duskwood, while the Horde’s is based on Durotar’s coasts and Azshara. Blizzard has intentionally limited the number of zones to ensure housing remains a social feature rather than spreading players too thin. They acknowledge that “creating new zones is a significant workload […] We prefer to do a great job on a few areas rather than produce something mediocre across many zones.”
In these designated areas, houses will be arranged in instanced (but persistent)neighborhoodsof around 50 plots. Players can collaborate and share rewards with their neighbors. There will be two types of neighborhoods:
Even though there are separate Horde and Alliance zones, this won’t entirely prevent cross-faction visits. “While a human character can’t buy a house in the Horde area,” Blizzard explains, “a troll from the same warband could do so, allowing the human to use it as if it were their own.” They clarify that “you’ll be able to live in or visit the homes of your friends and guildmates, as well as those of their neighbors, with minimal faction restrictions.”
“We Won’t Evict You”
Blizzard also emphasized that this system is being developed"with players' interests prioritized over monetization.“While there will be microtransactions for cosmetics, similar to transmogs and pets, the game will feature “hundreds of decorations and customization options available through in-game rewards.”
In Final Fantasy XIV, players must win a lottery to purchase land for their house. Once acquired, they must visit it at least once every 45 days to avoid losing it—essentially requiring an active MMO subscription. Blizzard’s response?“If you want a house, you’ll have one. There won’t be exorbitant requirements, high purchase costs, or lottery-based assignments. And there’s no rent to pay.“In a clear reference to Final Fantasy XIV, they added:“And don’t worry—if your subscription lapses, we won’t take your house away!”
Be sure to check out other newsEmpyreal Demo Arrives at Steam Next Festand alsoBandai Namco Details Its Vision for the Future
