The housing system in Final Fantasy XIV is long overdue for reform.
While many players have asked for instanced housing and fair access, the combination of limited plot availability, toxic auto-demolition policies, and the dismissive claim that “apartments are enough” continues to hurt the community, especially the most vulnerable among us like myself.
Apartments Are NOT a Substitute for True Housing
While apartments are technically available to all players, they are not a feasible alternative to personal or Free Company housing. Here's why:
Claiming apartments are “good enough” is like saying a broom closet is a fine substitute for a home.
Auto-Demolition: A System That Punishes Vulnerability
The auto-demolition timer, which destroys a house if the owner doesn’t enter it within 45 days, is cruel and toxic:
This system punishes players for being human. It’s not just bad design, it’s emotionally damaging.
Gatekeeping: The Toxic Defense of a Broken System
Those who defend the current housing system often engage in gatekeeping, a behavior that excludes others from a community based on arbitrary standards. Here’s how it manifests in FFXIV:
This elitist mindset fosters exclusion, resentment, and emotional harm. It turns a community-driven game into a hostile environment.
What Square Enix Must Do
To align with the values of empathy, inclusivity, and creativity that FFXIV is known for, Square Enix should:
Implement instanced housing so every player and FC can own a home
Remove or extend auto-demolition timers, especially for medical or mental health reasons
Introduce better preservation options, like plot suspension or grace periods
Create a support system for players who need time away
Final Thought
FFXIV is a game built on storytelling, emotion, and connection. Its housing system should reflect those values, not punish players for being vulnerable, creative, or human.
If you’ve spent thousands of hours building a sanctuary, you deserve to keep it, even if life pulls you away.
Continue reading...
While many players have asked for instanced housing and fair access, the combination of limited plot availability, toxic auto-demolition policies, and the dismissive claim that “apartments are enough” continues to hurt the community, especially the most vulnerable among us like myself.
Apartments Are NOT a Substitute for True Housing
While apartments are technically available to all players, they are not a feasible alternative to personal or Free Company housing. Here's why:
- No Outdoor Space: Apartments lack yards, gardens, and exterior customization, stripping away a huge part of the housing experience.
- Limited Storage & Decor: Only 100 indoor furnishings can be placed, compared to 200–400 in houses. Outdoor furnishings? Not allowed. Different Interior Skin? Nope
- No Estate Sharing: You can’t share your apartment with friends or FC members. It’s isolating, not communal.
- No Prestige or Visibility: Apartments are tucked away in lobbies, invisible to the world. Houses are landmarks, apartments are footnotes.
- No Workshop or Gardening: FC workshops, crossbreeding gardens, and chocobo stables are exclusive to houses.
Claiming apartments are “good enough” is like saying a broom closet is a fine substitute for a home.
Auto-Demolition: A System That Punishes Vulnerability
The auto-demolition timer, which destroys a house if the owner doesn’t enter it within 45 days, is cruel and toxic:
- Mental Health Penalty: Players who need time away for burnout, depression, or hospitalization risk losing everything they’ve built.
- FoMo & Anxiety: The fear of losing a house forces players to log in compulsively, even when they’re not well.
- No Grace for Emergencies: There’s no way to pause or appeal the timer for medical or personal crises.
- Loss of Irreplaceable Items: Furnishings, trophies, and sentimental creations vanish, many of which are untradeable and irreplaceable.
This system punishes players for being human. It’s not just bad design, it’s emotionally damaging.
Gatekeeping: The Toxic Defense of a Broken System
Those who defend the current housing system often engage in gatekeeping, a behavior that excludes others from a community based on arbitrary standards. Here’s how it manifests in FFXIV:
- “You didn’t try hard enough”: Invalidating players who lost lotteries or couldn’t camp plots due to real-life obligations.
- “Just get an apartment”: Dismissing legitimate concerns with a subpar alternative.
- “I earned my house, so should you”: Ignoring systemic scarcity and luck-based acquisition.
- “If you can’t log in, you don’t deserve it”: Shaming players for prioritizing health or personal crises.
This elitist mindset fosters exclusion, resentment, and emotional harm. It turns a community-driven game into a hostile environment.
What Square Enix Must Do
To align with the values of empathy, inclusivity, and creativity that FFXIV is known for, Square Enix should:
Implement instanced housing so every player and FC can own a home
Remove or extend auto-demolition timers, especially for medical or mental health reasons
Introduce better preservation options, like plot suspension or grace periods
Create a support system for players who need time away
Final Thought
FFXIV is a game built on storytelling, emotion, and connection. Its housing system should reflect those values, not punish players for being vulnerable, creative, or human.
If you’ve spent thousands of hours building a sanctuary, you deserve to keep it, even if life pulls you away.
Continue reading...