FFXIV Halts Automatic Demolition

Final Fantasy XIV Temporarily Suspends Housing Demolitions Due to LA Wildfires

Square Enix has announced a temporary halt to automatic housing demolition timers in Final Fantasy XIV on North American servers. This affects players on the Aether, Primal, Crystal, and Dynamis data centers. The suspension, implemented on January 9th, 2025, is a direct response to the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles.

The company utilizes a 45-day auto-demolition system to manage housing plot availability. This system is typically paused during significant real-world events to prevent players from losing their homes due to circumstances beyond their control. This latest pause follows a previous moratorium related to Hurricane Helene's aftermath.

While the company had recently resumed auto-demolitions, the severity of the LA wildfires necessitated this immediate action. Square Enix has not yet provided a timeline for resuming the timers but assures players they will provide an update as the situation evolves. Homeowners can still reset their timers to the full 45 days by logging into their estates.

This suspension highlights the impact of real-world events on virtual worlds. The wildfires have also affected other events, including a postponement of the Critical Role Campaign 3 finale and the relocation of an NFL playoff game. The ongoing situation adds another layer of complexity to the already eventful start of 2025 for Final Fantasy XIV players, who also recently benefited from a free login campaign.

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The impact of the wildfires extends beyond the game, affecting various real-world events. Square Enix expressed sympathy for those affected by the disaster. The duration of the housing demolition pause remains uncertain.