Blizzard Entertainment is intensifying its marketing blitz for the highly anticipated player housing system in World of Warcraft. During the recent “State of Azeroth” broadcast, Executive Producer Holly Longdale announced that the MMORPG will soon venture into the realm of competitive interior design with the Azeroth Interiors challenge— a global tournament tasking community creators to showcase their architectural vision and aesthetic flair.
This invitational event, running from February 17 to 24, will feature six international duos consisting of a “homeowner” and a “builder.” The competition follows a professional design workflow, beginning with a Pinterest-based “mood board” phase before transitioning to in-game construction. The event concludes with a live-streamed judging session and virtual walkthroughs. In a bizarrely brilliant marketing crossover, the winning residence will even receive a custom listing on the real-world real estate platform Zillow.
The developer is leaning so heavily into domestic life that the other features of the Midnight expansion—arriving March 2—have almost taken a backseat. To emphasize this shift, the stream debuted a high-fidelity cinematic from Blizzard’s renowned animation team. It follows a battle-hardened hero who, after claiming a spiked bracer from a fallen foe, returns to a bustling neighborhood to use the armor piece as a rustic stand for her morning coffee.
Continuing the philanthropic side of the housing theme, Longdale revealed a new charity initiative benefiting Habitat for Humanity. Players can contribute to the cause by adopting Roofus, an industrious canine pet sporting a hard hat and tool belt. The bundle also includes several exclusive décor items to help players furnish their own digital sanctuaries.
Furthermore, any active subscribers who log into the game between now and the Midnight launch will be gifted a commemorative Dark Portal furniture item. This miniature replica honors the monumental gateway that first appeared in Warcraft II and served as the iconic backdrop for the Burning Crusade and Warlords of Draenor expansions.
For those curious to explore these updates firsthand, Blizzard is hosting a “Welcome Back Weekend,” providing free access to the game for all players through Sunday, February 1.
Source: Polygon
