World of Warcraft players who pre-order the upcoming Midnight expansion will gain early access to the housing system, but the full version of this highly anticipated MMORPG feature will only become available with Midnight`s official launch next year.
In an interview given before Midnight`s full announcement at Gamescom Opening Night Live, WoW Senior Game Director Ion Hazzikostas revealed details regarding the timeline for player housing implementation, the specifics of the early access period, and the conditions for those who do not pre-order.
Early Access Details and Patch 11.2.7
Thanks to a leak, early access to housing for anyone pre-ordering any version of Midnight was already known. As for the timing, a significant portion of the player housing system will be available in Patch 11.2.7 for The War Within – this being the final update before the Midnight pre-patch. Hazzikostas did not provide an exact release date for the patch but noted it is expected towards the end of the current year, with Midnight`s launch scheduled for early 2026.
However, the housing version introduced in Patch 11.2.7 will not be complete. Players will be able to acquire their homes, collect decorative items, and begin customization (which, based on our preliminary review, offers endless possibilities), but the full neighborhood system, including region-wide challenges and events, will only arrive with Midnight.
“This is a kind of preview of the housing system,” Hazzikostas explained. “The full neighborhood functionality and all related content will be available with Midnight itself.”
Why Early Launch?
According to Hazzikostas, Blizzard has several reasons for launching a part of the housing system early. Firstly, the developers are aware of the community`s great interest and want to provide players access as soon as possible. Secondly, the end of The War Within expansion seemed like a suitable time to give players an opportunity to gather decorations for their homes.
“We believe the end of The War Within is an excellent time for players to get a head start on revisiting old Legion order campaigns and other content types to obtain decorations,” Hazzikostas said. “Perhaps they wouldn`t want to engage in this during the first week of a new expansion launch, when there`s a lot of new storyline and content.”
Those who choose not to pre-order will still be able to start collecting home decor items with the release of the 11.2.7 update, to use when they eventually unlock their housing.
Beyond Housing: Other Midnight Features
The housing system is not the only new feature coming with Midnight. Blizzard also shared details about the upcoming revamp of Quel`Thalas with new assets, the introduction of a new Allied Race, and a Demon Hunter specialization. Furthermore, significant changes are expected in WoW`s transmogrification system, making it more convenient and affordable.