Final Fantasy 14 is set to receive significant updates to its player housing system, addressing long-standing player requests for improvements. Director and producer Naoki Yoshida confirmed that two major overhauls are in the planning stages, with one aiming to enhance accessibility and the other promising a more impactful, though currently undisclosed, change. Yoshida also directly referenced World of Warcraft's recently implemented housing system as a point of research and inspiration.
During a media Q&A at the Final Fantasy 14 Fan Festival in Berlin, Yoshida acknowledged player desire for a more robust housing experience. He specifically mentioned World of Warcraft's new housing system, which allows for more freedom in object placement and scaling. "We have immense respect for the World of Warcraft team," Yoshida stated, noting that Blizzard had looked to Final Fantasy 14 for their own system's development. He described his hands-on experience with WoW's housing as "amazing" housing as a "good source of research" for the upcoming Final Fantasy 14 updates.
The first overhaul will focus on the housing user interface, which Yoshida admitted is "quite technical and not very accessible." The goal is to make the UI "more accessible for casual players, so that they can easily create elaborate housing." While the specifics of this UI update remain unclear, it is intended to simplify the process of decorating player homes.
Details regarding the second overhaul are being kept under wraps, but Yoshida suggested it would be a welcome announcement. "I think you will be much happier to hear what it is compared to the UI update," he commented. He indicated that this second update is also in the planning phase and has a chance of being released sooner than the UI improvements. Yoshida concluded by stating that this undisclosed change is "probably the number one thing on the list a lot of people are requesting," though whether this refers to housing in general or a specific feature remains to be clarified.
These planned changes come as players have expressed frustration with the current housing system's limitations, particularly regarding the scarcity of available plots and the restrictive decoration options. The updates are slated to arrive during the upcoming expansion, "Evercold."