FFXIV Director Yoshi-P Cautions Against Stalker-Encouraging Mod, Hints at Possible Legal Steps

Just a little while ago, a mod surfaced for Final Fantasy XIV, stirring up concern by enabling stalking behaviors within the game. With the community on edge, FFXIV’s director, Yoshi-P, has stepped forward with a response that implies Square Enix might consider legal measures. Despite the tension, there’s an alarming silence regarding the vulnerability that makes this mod possible in the first place.

A few weeks after this disturbing mod came to light, stirring unease among many in the FFXIV community, Square Enix has finally responded. The company’s stance was clearly outlined in a post by Naoki Yoshida, affectionately known as “Yoshi-P” amongst fans, on the game’s official forums. Here, Yoshida confirmed the studio’s awareness of the mod’s existence and shared that they are deliberating on whether to demand its removal or to go further with legal action. Importantly, he assured players that the mod doesn’t access personal data and reiterated the studio’s strict policy against third-party tool use.

Yoshida’s statement read, “We have confirmed that there exist third-party tools being used to inspect FFXIV character information that isn’t visible during normal gameplay. Our Development and Operations teams are fully aware of these concerns raised by our community. The usage of third-party tools is expressly prohibited by the FINAL FANTASY XIV User Agreement and poses a potential threat to player safety. We remain resolute in opposing their use.”

The issue lies in how this mod exploits your internal account ID, extracting it directly from the FFXIV client. It then uploads this data to a database, linking it to any characters associated with the same ID. This tactic effectively undermines the creation of alternate characters—a common strategy employed by players to evade in-game stalkers.

It’s significant to mention that this mod’s ability to function hinges on a vulnerability that cropped up with last summer’s Dawntrail expansion. During this update, Square Enix intended to enhance FFXIV’s much-criticized blacklisting system to block individuals across all their characters. Ironically, this change, which drew on account ID data, left the system vulnerable to exploitation by determined stalkers using mods.

Frustratingly, Yoshi-P’s statement does little to suggest that Square Enix is working to plug this glaring loophole. As it stands, even if the current mod’s creator were to voluntarily remove it, or if legal pressure succeeded in doing so, the door remains open for a similar plugin to be crafted—potentially more covertly distributed in the future. Echoing this sentiment, a well-supported comment on a subreddit discussion stated, “Fixing the game to break the mod isn’t on the list of options they’re considering, I see.”

There’s an argument to be made for implementing some form of anti-cheat measure. Nonetheless, doing so risks alienating large groups of players who rely on benign mods for extras like damage tracking, aesthetic enhancements, or housing decorations. Square Enix has traditionally turned a blind eye to the use of such plugins, a tacit acknowledgment so long as it stays under the radar. A hardline stance might drive many away from Eorzea altogether.

An all-out prohibition seems overly draconian to me. What Square Enix ought to focus on is refining the updated blacklist feature itself, eliminating the exposure of account ID information. This would not only neutralize the current threat but also deter future mod development without resorting to the courts or other removal tactics.

Final Fantasy XIV stands tall as one of the most engaging MMOs available, blessed with a captivating narrative, a vivid world, and dynamic communities. Having embarked on this adventure in 2023, it’s swiftly become a favorite of mine, especially now with its presence on Microsoft consoles, making it an ideal choice for MMO lovers on Xbox. The generous free trial lets newcomers enjoy the base game and its first two expansions at no cost, though key features like trading and joining Free Companies are locked away.