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| Reddit user u/Fridge_nz has recreated SpongeBob SquarePants’ iconic pineapple house using World of Warcraft’s housing system. |
The long-awaited dream of homeownership in Azeroth finally became a reality for many on December 2nd. With the launch of the Midnight expansion’s Early Access housing—a feature included with the Collector’s Edition—players traded raid benches for porch benches, diving headfirst into WoW’s most creative new system in years.
Blizzard’s new WoW housing system, officially called Homesteads, promises an unprecedented level of freedom. It’s not just about placing a pre-set couch in a pre-set room; it’s a full-blown creative suite that lets players collect, craft, and customize their personal slice of the world. And if you need proof of just how wild that freedom can get, look no further than a legendary plot of land in the game’s new residential areas, where a iconic pineapple now sits proudly next to a rock.
From a Rock House to a Pineapple Under the Sea
The inspiration, as is often the case in MMOs, began with a bit of friendly guild rivalry. One player, showcasing the system’s versatility, constructed a sturdy, sensible rock house. In response, their guildmate—Reddit user u/Fridge_nz—saw an opportunity for iconic cartoon parody.
As shared in a now-viral Reddit thread titled “My guildy built a rock house, so I had to build him a neighbor,” the logical next step was clear. Who lives in a rock house in popular culture? Patrick Star. And what sits right next to Patrick’s rock? None other than SpongeBob SquarePants’s famed pineapple home.
The incredible creation, which you can see for yourself on Reddit here, is a masterpiece of improvisation and clever item use. The entire structure is swathed in orange carpets to mimic the fibrous texture of a pineapple. The leafy top is perfectly realized, a curved chimney adds character, and the signature porthole windows are ingeniously crafted from in-game wells. It’s a stunningly accurate tribute that proves the housing system’s potential is limited only by a player’s imagination.
A Community Welcomes the Creative Revolution
The reaction on Reddit and beyond has been a wave of pure, unadulterated joy. The post has garnered thousands of upvotes and comments like “You won housing. Period.” and “I was skeptical about housing, but this is awesome.” This single pineapple has become a symbol for what the community hoped the system would be: a true creative outlet in WoW, rather than a restrictive, menu-based decoration sim.
It addresses a long-standing player desire for more personalized, lasting content—a place to showcase achievements and express individuality outside of combat metrics. The ability to create something so recognizably from another world underscores the flexible toolkit Blizzard has provided.
Some users did express a minor wish for a video tour to see more angles of the build, but that’s a request born of excitement, not criticism. The overall sentiment is that Homesteads in WoW has not just met expectations, but blown them out of the water.
What This Means for the Future of Azeroth
The success of these early, viral builds is a clear signal to Blizzard. Players are embracing the depth of the system, using furniture, textiles, and architectural items in ways that were likely never explicitly intended, but are wholeheartedly celebrated. It sets a high bar for what’s possible and ignites the community’s collective imagination.
The Early Access period, which includes a significant head start on collecting housing items and securing prime plots, is already populating the game’s neighborhoods with everything from cozy cabins to, now, cartoon landmarks. If this is what players are building in the first week, the future neighborhoods of Azeroth are going to be unimaginably diverse and spectacular.
One thing is certain: the WoW housing launch is a resounding success. It’s adding a rich, new layer of gameplay centered on collection, creativity, and community. And as players continue to experiment, we can’t wait to see what other iconic homes, breathtaking original designs, and friendly neighborly rivalries spring up across the realm. Who’s building the Squidward house next?