Players who pre-order the upcoming World of Warcraft “Midnight” expansion will gain the opportunity to begin decorating their in-game homes ahead of schedule. However, the complete and highly anticipated housing system for the MMORPG will only become fully available with “Midnight”`s official launch next year.
In an interview conducted before the full reveal of “Midnight” at Gamescom Opening Night Live, Ion Hazzikostas, the Senior Game Director for WoW, shared more details regarding the timeline for player housing, the nature of its early access period, and how the feature will function for those who opt not to pre-order.
A prior leak had already indicated that pre-ordering any version of “Midnight” would grant early access to housing. As for the exact timing, a significant portion of the player housing system is set to arrive with Patch 11.2.7 for “The War Within”—this being the final update before “Midnight”`s pre-patch. While Hazzikostas did not provide a precise release date, he mentioned the patch is expected towards the end of the current year, with “Midnight” slated for an early 2026 release.
It`s important to note that the version of housing introduced with Patch 11.2.7 will not be the complete implementation of the feature. Players will be able to acquire their homes, collect decorative items, and start the customization process, which already promises extensive possibilities. However, the comprehensive neighborhood system, including community-wide challenges and events, will only be integrated when “Midnight” officially launches.
“This is, in a sense, a preview of housing,” Hazzikostas clarified. “The full-fledged neighborhood functionality and all associated content will arrive with `Midnight` itself.”
Hazzikostas explained that Blizzard has several reasons for introducing parts of the housing system early. Firstly, the development team is aware of the community`s strong excitement for this feature and aims to make it accessible to players as soon as possible. Secondly, the conclusion of the current expansion seemed like an ideal period for players to focus on gathering decor for their homes.
“We believe that the end of `The War Within` is a great time for players to get a head start on collecting decor by revisiting old Legion order campaigns and engaging with a wide variety of content,” Hazzikostas stated. “This is perhaps not what players would prioritize in the first week of a new expansion launch, when there`s an entirely new storyline and content to delve into.”
For players who choose not to pre-order, Hazzikostas confirmed that they will still be able to begin collecting housing decor items with the 11.2.7 update, which they can then utilize once they eventually unlock their own home.
Player housing is not the sole new addition accompanying “Midnight.” Blizzard has also discussed other planned features, including the revamp of Quel`thalas with new assets, the introduction of a new playable Allied Race and Demon Hunter specialization, and significant improvements to WoW`s transmog system designed for greater convenience and affordability.