In recent times, a controversial mod allowing stalking behavior in the MMO Final Fantasy XIV (FFXIV) has stirred the community. The game’s director, Naoki Yoshida, commonly referred to as Yoshi-P, has addressed this issue, hinting that Square Enix might pursue legal action. Interestingly, though, there seems to be no immediate plan to tackle the underlying vulnerability that makes the mod functional.
Several weeks have passed since a troublesome mod emerged in FFXIV, raising concerns across its community. The outcry finally prompted an official response from Square Enix. Yoshi-P, in a post on the game’s forums, assured players that the company is well aware of the situation. He mentioned they are considering either requesting the mod’s removal or taking legal steps. Furthermore, he reassured everyone that the mod doesn’t access personal information and reiterated the company’s strict policy against third-party tools.
His statement reads, “We have confirmed that certain tools are being used to access FFXIV character information not normally visible during gameplay. Our Development and Operations teams are on the case, mindful of the community’s concerns. The use of such third-party tools breaches the FINAL FANTASY XIV User Agreement and poses potential risks to player safety. We’ll firmly continue to oppose their use.”
In a screenshot from FFXIV’s latest expansion, Dawntrail, Yoshi-P elaborated on how the mod operates. It captures internal account IDs and links them to database-matched characters. This becomes problematic because it can reveal alternate characters meant to escape in-game stalkers.
A crucial element here is that this situation arose due to a change with the Dawntrail update, which aimed to improve the game’s blacklist system. The overhaul linked blacklisting to account IDs, making all of a person’s characters inaccessible when blocked. This change unwittingly opened the door for the mods to exploit account ID data, thereby ironically enhancing the tools of dedicated stalkers.
Curiously, Yoshi-P’s message offers no indication that Square Enix plans to fix this loophole. This leaves a gap that another developer might exploit, even if the current mod is taken down. The gaming community shares this frustration; a comment on Reddit’s r/ffxivdiscussion forum highlights this oversight, noting, “Fixing the game to break the mod isn’t on the list of options they’re considering, I see.”
The idea of implementing anti-cheat measures might seem like a solution, but it’s a double-edged sword. The FFXIV community often relies on benign mods for functionalities like damage tracking, cosmetic enhancements, and player housing decorations. Square Enix has maintained a silent understanding with players who use these tools, which technically violate the game’s User Agreement. An outright ban could alienate a significant portion of players.
Considering the situation, taking a drastic measure such as blanket banning mods would overly penalize the community. Instead, Square Enix should refine their blacklist improvements to safeguard account ID information. This would render the current problematic mod useless and deter similar developments in the future, a result that legal threats alone won’t achieve.
Final Fantasy XIV stands as one of today’s leading MMOs, offering an engaging story, a lively world, and a myriad of activities. Since I started playing in 2023, it has become a top contender among PC games and, with its latest Xbox release, a must-have for console MMO lovers. The game’s generous free trial lets you delve into its early content without charge, although certain features like trading and guild participation remain restricted.
