Service will be suspended for at least one week according to a message sent by Japan-based Square-Enix to American customers overnight. The message is also posted on the official PlayOnline site, the hub that serves both games. In addition to deactivating servers for the two MMOs, some services of the games’ PlayOnline site will be unavailable. A Kotaku reader also was sent this system message late last night.
Customers were informed that they “will not be billed for any PlayOnline service throughout the April billing cycle. The games’ official Web sites, Final Fantasy XIV Lodestone, the forums, and Square Enix’s support centre will remain online to help provide updates on the situation in Japan.
“We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause, and thank you for your understanding of this unusual situations,” the note said.
It included a note from the Tokyo Electric Power Company, Japan’s main provider of electric utilities. TEPCO said that because its facilities had been severely damaged by the March 11 Sendai earthquake, power shortages could occur. The company asked its customers to reduce usage and “avoid using unnecessary electrical equipment.”
“We are taking all measures to restore power, however, we expect extremely challenging situation in power supply for a while,” TEPCO said. “We kindly ask our customers to cooperate with us in reducing usage of power.”
(Read more of Kotaku’s coverage of the Japan earthquake and tsunami’s impact in the gaming world.)
Temporary Suspension of the Services due to Earthquake [PlayOnline]
peter
Monday, March 14, 2011 at 12:57 PMWhy not do everyone a favour and shut them down for good?
Toolboy
Monday, March 14, 2011 at 10:30 PMHa ha ha!
Gomen Ne
Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at 12:48 AM@previous posts. Not funny. Not cool. FFXI is a great game. I’m upset i can’t play it for the next week or so, but considering the circumstances, i’m more upset for folks and friends in Japan.
Daniel Minge
Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at 11:58 AMAll people will want is free time for the downtime.