Blizzard Embraces WoW’s Floating House Exploit as a Feature
▼ Summary
– World of Warcraft players waited 21 years for new in-game housing, which launched in early access last week.
– Players quickly discovered an exploit using a UI glitch to make their houses float high above the ground.
– Blizzard has decided to officially integrate the floating house feature due to the overwhelmingly positive player response.
– A principal designer stated they were going to fix the glitch but made it a base UI feature after seeing the creative results.
– The lead producer confirmed the team changed plans after seeing impressive player creations, deciding the feature was too cool to remove.
The recent launch of World of Warcraft’s long-awaited housing system brought a surprise twist, as a player-discovered glitch has been officially adopted by the developers. Players quickly found an unintended method to suspend their homes high in the air, a trick that relied on a hidden user interface bug. Rather than treating this as a problem to be solved, Blizzard Entertainment has decided to fully embrace the creative potential of these aerial abodes.
The development team initially planned a technical fix to ground all the floating structures. However, the sheer volume of impressive and imaginative player creations changed their minds. Principal designer Jesse Kurlancheek stated the team’s new direction, noting that the community’s inventive use of the glitch was simply too compelling to remove. The decision was made to integrate the functionality directly into the standard user interface, transforming an exploit into a supported feature.
This pivot highlights a responsive approach to game design, where player ingenuity can directly shape the tools available to everyone. Lead producer Kyle Hartline shared an anecdote from internal discussions, revealing that the team was actively planning the rollout of a fix. That plan was scrapped when developers saw the exceptional houses players were building mid-air. The consensus was immediate: the results were far too impressive to alter.
The move effectively sanctions a new form of architectural expression within the game’s world. Players now have official support to construct homes that defy gravity, opening up fresh avenues for customization and landscape alteration. This incident demonstrates how emergent gameplay, where players use mechanics in unexpected ways, can lead to positive, officially recognized additions to a live service title. It reinforces a collaborative dynamic between the creators and the community, where feedback and creativity are powerful forces for evolution.
(Source: Ars Technica)
