FF14 Waives Idle Penalties Due to Hurricane Helene
In the world of gaming, real-life events can sometimes impact our favorite virtual worlds. This is exactly what happened with the popular MMORPG, Final Fantasy 14, developed by Square Enix. Due to the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene in the United States, Square Enix has temporarily suspended a feature that automatically demolishes player homes after a period of inactivity. This decision ensures that players affected by the hurricane won't lose their digital homes while dealing with real-life challenges.
Impact of Hurricane Helene
Hurricane Helene, a category 4 storm, wreaked havoc across the southern United States. It caused significant flooding and damage, leading to over 160 confirmed deaths. Millions of people in states like Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia are still without power. In light of these circumstances, Square Enix's decision to pause home demolitions in Final Fantasy 14 is a thoughtful gesture.
Temporary Suspension of Home Demolitions
On October 2, Square Enix announced on the official Final Fantasy 14 website that it would temporarily halt the demolition of inactive player homes in North America. This decision was made to support players recovering from the hurricane's aftermath. Typically, after 45 days of inactivity, a player's in-game house would be demolished, freeing up the plot for others. However, this rule has been put on hold for now.
Servers Affected
- Aether
- Crystal
- Dynamis
- Primal
These are the North American servers impacted by the suspension. Square Enix has not specified when the demolitions will resume.
Square Enix's Compassionate Response
Square Enix expressed its heartfelt condolences to those affected by Hurricane Helene. The company hopes for a swift recovery and looks forward to welcoming players back to FFXIV. This isn't the first time Square Enix has paused home demolitions due to real-world disasters. Similar actions were taken after the Noto earthquake in Japan and the earthquake in Türkiye-Syria in 2023.
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