Final Fantasy 14 Director Yoshi-P Threatens Legal Action Against 'Stalking' Mod

In early 2025, a Final Fantasy XIV mod ignited concerns about player stalking due to reports of its ability to harvest sensitive player data. This data included character details, retainer information, linked alternate characters, and more.

The mod, "Playerscope," tracked players' data within its vicinity, transmitting it to a central database controlled by the mod's creator. This included access to "Content ID" and "Account ID," enabling cross-character tracking, exploiting the Dawntrail expansion's Content ID system intended for player blacklisting.

Opting out required joining the Playerscope Discord server. The implication was that every non-Discord member's data was being scraped, posing a significant privacy risk. Community backlash was swift and intense, with many calling out the mod's inherent "stalking" potential.

Initially hosted on Github, Playerscope's popularity exploded after its discovery. Subsequently removed from Github for Terms of Service violations, it allegedly resurfaced on alternative platforms like Gittea and Gitflic, though IGN verified its absence from these sites. The possibility of its continued circulation within private communities remains.

Naoki 'Yoshi-P' Yoshida, producer and director of Final Fantasy XIV, addressed the situation on the game's official forum, directly referencing Playerscope. He stated that Square Enix was aware of the mod and its potential to expose internal account IDs, potentially linking information across multiple characters on the same service account. Yoshida outlined potential responses: requesting removal and deletion of the mod, and pursuing legal action. He reassured players that account details like addresses and payment information were inaccessible via the mod. He also urged players to avoid using third-party tools and not to aid their distribution.

While third-party tools like Advanced Combat Tracker are commonly used (and data cross-referenced on sites like FFlogs), Yoshida's legal threat represents a significant escalation.

Community Reaction

The FFXIV community's response to Yoshida's statement was largely critical. Many criticized the lack of proactive measures to address the root cause of the vulnerability, suggesting that focusing on client-side data protection would be a more effective solution. The Playerscope author has yet to comment.