Final Fantasy XIV Suspends Housing Demolitions Due to California Wildfires

Square Enix has temporarily halted automatic housing demolitions in Final Fantasy XIV on North American servers due to the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles. This affects players on the Aether, Primal, Crystal, and Dynamis data centers. The company will announce a resumption date once the situation is assessed.

The decision comes just one day after the automatic demolition timers were reactivated following a previous suspension. In Final Fantasy XIV, housing plots are subject to a 45-day demolition timer if left unoccupied by players or Free Companies. This timer resets when the owner logs in, incentivizing continued subscription. However, Square Enix regularly pauses these timers in response to real-world events that might prevent players from accessing the game.

This latest pause, effective January 9th, 11:20 PM Eastern, follows a previous three-month moratorium ending January 8th, attributed to the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. While the company previously indicated a restart of demolitions, the Los Angeles wildfires necessitated this immediate action. No timeline has been provided for the resumption of the timers. Homeowners can still reset their individual timers to the full 45 days by logging in during the suspension.

Final Fantasy XIV Halts Automatic Housing Demolitions Again

• Automatic housing demolitions are paused on Aether, Primal, Crystal, and Dynamis data centers in Final Fantasy XIV.
• The Los Angeles wildfires prompted Square Enix to take this action.
• This pause follows a previous moratorium, ending just a day prior.
• Square Enix will provide updates regarding the resumption of demolition timers.

Square Enix expressed its concern for those affected by the wildfires, highlighting the broader impact of the disaster. Beyond Final Fantasy XIV, the wildfires also led to the postponement of the Critical Role Campaign 3 finale and the relocation of an NFL playoff game.

The start of 2025 has been eventful for Final Fantasy XIV players, with this housing demolition pause coinciding with the return of a free login campaign. The duration of the current suspension remains to be seen.