World of Warcraft`s forthcoming player housing system will incorporate a progression element, allowing players to enhance their residences by engaging in neighborhood-spanning events known as Endeavors. These activities are designed to visually transform neighborhoods and provide access to distinctive, temporary decoration options.
Blizzard recently disclosed these new details regarding the highly anticipated housing feature through a blog post. Although the developer had previously announced that players would acquire homes within either public or private neighborhoods, the recent update provides further specifics on the system`s mechanics.
A significant aspect of WoW`s neighborhoods will be the Endeavors. These community-wide events take place approximately once per month and visually adapt the neighborhood to reflect various cultures or factions present in Azeroth. Each Endeavor introduces a set of tasks that residents can collectively complete, such as undertaking quests, crafting particular items, or finishing dungeons. When a sufficient number of tasks are accomplished by the neighborhood`s inhabitants, the entire community receives rewards.
Completing tasks during an Endeavor yields two primary types of rewards: a special currency designated for purchasing themed decorations from visiting non-player characters associated with the Endeavor, and “Neighborhood Favor.” This Favor appears to function as a form of experience points specifically for housing, potentially resembling the game`s existing Renown track system. Advancing to a new housing level unlocks additional decorative items and may sometimes increase the limits on how many decorations a player can place in their home.
Blizzard stated that the objectives behind Endeavors are to provide neighborhoods with shared goals, offer choices in how a neighborhood appears, and create visual diversity between different areas, as not all neighborhoods will be participating in the same Endeavor at the same time. While participants in public neighborhoods will have their Endeavor assignments predetermined, those in private neighborhoods will have the ability to select from a range of available Endeavors. This design encourages players to visit various neighborhoods to acquire unique decoration rewards that might not be accessible in their own area.
In addition to announcing the Endeavors system, Blizzard addressed some common inquiries from players, including how to change homes if a player is dissatisfied with their location or neighbors, and the degree of control players will have over who can visit their home.
If a player wishes to relocate, they can simply move their house. Blizzard has designed the process of changing home locations to be “frictionless and straightforward.” When a player vacates a home, its current state is saved, allowing them to “unpack” it in a new location without needing to redecorate or reconstruct the interior. Considering that homes in WoW are essentially described as magical spaces that can be as large or small as desired, preserving previous customization efforts is a practical and player-friendly decision.
Blizzard highlighted that neighborhoods are designed to be quite expansive, featuring 50 housing plots distributed across different biomes within the zone. Some homes will be situated in more isolated spots for players preferring privacy without nearby neighbors, while others will be part of smaller or larger cul-de-sacs intended to facilitate more social interaction.
Regarding visitor permissions, Blizzard is giving players comprehensive control over who is allowed to visit their home. Options will be available to permit or deny access to friends, guildmates, neighbors, or the general public. There will also be a specific option to allow individuals to visit the outdoor plot area of a home while restricting entry into the house itself.
These details concerning Endeavors and neighborhoods are the latest information Blizzard has shared about player housing. The developer had previously provided insights into how WoW`s houses will be accessible to all interested players, how the housing system will acknowledge past in-game achievements, and the extensive customization possibilities available through decoration options.
Early hands-on previews of the housing decoration tools conducted in May indicated impressive potential, even in an unfinished development state.
Originally, WoW`s housing system was slated to be released as part of the MMO`s next expansion, Midnight. However, it is now expected to arrive sooner, potentially included with the expansion`s pre-patch update. Blizzard plans to share further information about Midnight, and likely player housing, during Gamescom.