FFXIV Could Learn from World of Warcraft’s Housing System

After more than 20 years of being available and dominating the MMO space, World of Warcraft is finally getting true player housing. This is wonderful for WoW players, but it has me as a primary Final Fantasy XIV player in envy. After all, there is a lot that FFXIV housing could learn from how Blizzard is handling its World of Warcraft system. At least, from what we know so far.

Before we get into what I’d like to see Square Enix do, it is important to note how housing works for WoW. Forget Garrisons and other pseudo-attempts at housing, this appears to be a true property system coming to the game at an undetermined time. If all goes according to plan, players will be able to customize it to your liking, with zones available for both the Hordes and Alliances.

It appears that this new housing system is a direct answer to other MMORPGs like FFXIV itself. For one, every player that wants to have a house will be able to get one. You will be able to seemingly get a house without having to spend too much and it won’t be pay-to-win at all; only some items will be in the Cash Shop.

This is already a massive area of contention that Square Enix could use in FFXIV. Right now, if you want a house in this MMO, you can’t guarantee you’ll get one. There is a lottery system, which already throws some luck into it, and then there is the fact that there is such limited supply.

I honestly prefer the old way of handling things where you could buy directly from players. Having a mix of lottery and direct purchase would be preferable. That is, of course, if there is truly no way for every player to get a house in FFXIV. This is the odd part to me. I get the infrastructure is old and not able to withstand this. However, Blizzard is somehow making this work with a game that is almost a decade older.

But the impressive parts don’t stop there. Blizzard is ensuring that you will never lose your house, either. While you have to subscribe to play WoW, like like Final Fantasy XIV, if you lapse on your sub, your house won’t be demolished. And when you finally do pay again, you’ll find your house exactly where you left it. This adds true permanence to housing and prevents the frustration FFXIV has.

While I get the limited nature of housing in FFXIV, I cannot understand the subscription requirement. Players have all sorts of reasons for leaving the game temporarily. It could be financial, a lack of time, moving, or anything. Having to come back almost every other month is such a ridiculous requirement. It is taking the limitations of the overall game itself and punishing the players even further for it. This is another area Square could learn from what Blizzard is doing.

This is all before getting into the more optional areas. I adore the Neighborhoods system that Blizzard is hoping to implement. Basically, its equivalent of Wards will feature 50 plots of land together. There are both public and private versions of these. You will have permanent neighbors unless someone moves, but the best part is you can make a private district for your friends and Warbands.

How cool would it be to be able to populate a neighborhood somewhere like Ishgard with just your Free Company pals and friends? This would, of course, require limitless housing, but it just goes to show the careful considerations Blizzard has put into this system.

Considering the WoW housing system is for a much older title, there is no truly no excuses now for FFXIV. I have made myself abundantly clear in the past that there should’ve been a brand new Final Fantasy MMO. If we are going to keep ahead for another decade or more with FFXIV as the main Square Enix MMO, it is time for full overhaul of housing more in line with what World of Warcraft is doing.

Final Fantasy XIV is available right now for PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. World of Warcraft is available right now for PC. Housing will arrive in WoW at an unannounced later date.