Good afternoon and thank you for posting on the Final Fantasy XIV Technical Support Forums.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it sounds like the main issue is that your controller is turning itself off, causing the game to no longer recognize it.

Does the controller or your PC have a setting that will prevent it from shutting off after a set time of inactivity? Can you plug it in using a USB cable so it will remain connected to the PC?

We hope we can be of assistance in helping you enjoy the exciting world of Final Fantasy XIV!