FF14's Housing Updates: A Solution to Limited Space
FF14's Housing updates receive as much excitement as the game's new Expansion reveal at Fan Fest 2023, with the current system's limitations frustrating players and forcing some compromises in design or vision.
The MMORPG's director, Naoki Yoshida, jokes about the demand for more furnishing options and promises a solution in the future, to a crowd that erupts in cheers at the announcement of a "Furnishing Limit Increase."
"This is the Fan Fest announcement we've all been waiting for," Yoshida says, "when can we finally increase the furnishing limit?" The crowd erupts in cheers, despite the lack of any specific date.
FF14's housing system is often described as a mess, and players have been waiting for years for more space to decorate. The ability to enhance home decor is a significant feature for players who enjoy the crafty side of the game, and it's often the social hub of many communities and friendships.
I'm personally a huge fan of housing, and I've spent years decorating and redesigning my house (with various iterations and restarts along the way). Decorating homes in FF14 is often humorously referred to as "Housing Savage" due to the difficulty of working within limited spaces. Players come in three sizes, each with a limited number of furnishing slots. Some players opt for simple designs, while others get creative and use glitches to create elaborate furnishings.
The current limits often lead to compromises in design and vision (or a lot of furniture deletions, which is also a hassle). I personally have a strong vision for my home, and I love the process of working through limitations to get there. But I'm at the point now where I simply want more space to make it more lived-in and personal, rather than having to make compromises.
The announcement is met with enthusiasm from players who use their homes for various purposes, from roleplaying and socializing to organizing community events. Some players, particularly those with a creative streak and a love for the game's crafting side, enjoy expressing themselves through design.
While some players may create elaborate designs, many are simply looking to enhance their existing homes. The importance of housing updates is also evident in the cheers and excitement from the crowd at Fan Fest, and it's clear that the anticipation is high, despite the lack of a specific timeline.
Check out the full FF14 Fan Fest 2023 livestream here for more details on the upcoming updates.
