Responding to player feedback, Final Fantasy XIV Patch 7.16 will introduce a Clouddark Demimateria exchange system. This update, launching January 21st, 2025, addresses concerns regarding the acquisition of high-demand items from the Cloud of Darkness (Chaotic) Alliance Raid.
The exchange will allow players to convert excess Clouddark Demimateria 1 into Clouddark Demimateria 2, facilitating purchases of sought-after rewards like the "A Half Times Two" hairstyle and the "Dais of Darkness" mount. While the precise exchange rate remains undisclosed, the change aims to improve accessibility to these items, which currently require significant quantities of Demimateria 2. Both the mount and hairstyle are also available on the Market Board, potentially impacting their market values following the patch.
This adjustment follows the December 24th introduction of the Cloud of Darkness (Chaotic) Alliance Raid, a challenging encounter rewarding players with both Demimateria 1 and 2. The current reward structure, based on first-time clear bonuses, led to an uneven distribution of Demimateria 2, prompting the developer, Square Enix, to implement this exchange.
Square Enix has indicated that further adjustments to the Demimateria system and raid rewards are possible based on ongoing player feedback. While Patch 7.16 will primarily focus on the exchange and the conclusion of the Dawntrail Role Quest series, significant job balance updates are expected in a later patch (7.2). The impact of player feedback on future raid content in 2025 remains to be seen.