Update 4.1 “The Legend Returns” should bring new housing spots for Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood. However, these were completely snatched up within minutes and many players are still homeless and understandably angry!
In Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood, the Update 4.1 was expected to bring not only massive new content like the Alliance Raid or a continuation of the story. A small highlight was also supposed to be the new housing areas in the city of Shirogane. There were 720 new plots created per server.
But those who were looking forward to the new homes are now disappointed. At least, that’s how it is for many players.
Players are snatching up houses while others are still queuing
Houses in Final Fantasy XIV are not available to everyone. There are not unlimited numbers of them. Instead, the number is strictly limited. There were previously 2,160 housing plots per server. With Update 4.1, this increased to 2,880.
The new properties were quickly taken, as speedy players with fast connections rushed to Shirogane right after the release of the update and secured the housing.
Those who still needed to patch or had a slow connection entered the game later or had to wait in a queue. By the time they finally got into the game, the new homes were long gone. Within minutes after the release, the new housing market was exhausted and many players went empty-handed.
Tight housing market makes players angry! Threatening boycott
The disastrous housing market in Final Fantasy XIV is of course nothing new. Many players have long been frustrated that housing in the game is such an expensive and, above all, scarce luxury item. Especially when – like in real life – super-rich players are snatching up 28 or more properties while others are left completely empty.
The discussion about the limited housing has recently flared up again. Players are tired of having only a few dozen new homes available, which would never have been enough to provide every player with a house. Instead, they are calling for a concrete solution, such as instanced housing like in WildStar. Then every player would have as much housing space as they want and everyone would be happy.
Until that is sorted out, some players want to boycott the game and cancel their subscriptions – even though they actually love FF14! Others, in turn, are starting petitions to Square Enix in the forum. Meanwhile, the hunt for housing is taking on more bizarre forms. For example, a case from Japan is known on Reddit, where a player is offering a small plot for the equivalent of 600 dollars in real money (which, by the way, is prohibited according to the terms of service).
Let’s hope Square Enix has a change of heart soon and improves the situation.
Besides housing, Final Fantasy XIV offers a lot more. Read our extensive review of Stormblood and find out what all is in the game and the new expansion.
