Blizzard is preparing to launch player housing in World of Warcraft: Midnight on March 2, marking a significant expansion to the game. This feature is being developed with a long-term vision, drawing from two decades of content to ensure its relevance for years to come. The early access period, which began on December 2, has already generated considerable excitement and feedback from the community, demonstrating the feature's immediate appeal.
Currently, players with early access to Midnight can establish homes in both Horde and Alliance territories, choosing between public or guild neighborhoods, or collaborating with up to nine friends to create a custom neighborhood. Each player can select a plot, construct a house, and adorn it with over 1,200 unique decorative items. These items can be customized in terms of size, orientation, and color, allowing for a high degree of personalization. A budget system for decorations limits the total number of items, which can be expanded by increasing housing experience and advancing through a renown track. While neighborhood quests are not yet available, a reporting system is in place to address any inappropriate neighborhood content. Upcoming additions include neighborhood-wide quest endeavors with the 12.0 prepatch on January 20, which will also introduce more housing experience and decor items. Future updates will also bring guild halls, co-decoration options, and shared property ownership, enhancing community interaction and creative possibilities within the housing system.
Looking ahead, Blizzard is exploring even more ambitious enhancements for player housing. Future updates may include the ability to import and export room designs or even entire house layouts, allowing players to share their creations with others. Technical limitations currently prevent the introduction of basement levels, but communal spaces and event support, such as lap tracks, player-controlled stages, and interactive narrative houses, are being considered. The development team is also contemplating expanding existing neighborhoods or introducing new ones beyond the current focus on areas around Orgrimmar and Stormwind. A key area of ongoing focus is the cost and structure of housing decorations, with developers actively adjusting item budgets and exploring bundles for more affordable options. The development team emphasizes that player feedback is a crucial driver for these ongoing and future developments, ensuring that the housing system evolves in ways that genuinely resonate with the community's desires.
This commitment to player-driven development ensures that the housing system in World of Warcraft: Midnight will not only be a robust and engaging feature at launch but will also continue to grow and adapt, fostering creativity and community spirit within the game for years to come.
