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

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

Author : Thomas Mar 16,2025

In early 2025, a Final Fantasy XIV mod ignited concerns about player stalking after reports surfaced that it could scrape sensitive player data. This included character details, retainer information, linked alternate characters, and more. The mod, "Playerscope," tracked players' data, sending it to a central database controlled by the mod's creator. This occurred regardless of whether a specific player was targeted or if the user was simply in proximity to others. The mod accessed information typically unavailable through in-game tools.

Playerscope exploited the "Content ID" and "Account ID" systems, introduced in the Dawntrail expansion, to track players across multiple characters. This leveraged the blacklist feature intended to allow players to block others across their service account and characters. The only way to prevent data scraping was to join the Playerscope Discord and opt out—meaning, theoretically, every Final Fantasy XIV player outside that Discord was potentially affected. This significant privacy breach prompted strong community backlash, with many calling out the mod's obvious purpose: stalking.

Weeks ago, the mod author revealed Playerscope's presence on GitHub, leading to a surge in popularity. Subsequently, due to terms of service violations, it was removed from GitHub, though alleged mirrors appeared on Gittea and Gitflic. IGN confirmed the absence of a Playerscope repository on these alternative platforms, but the mod might still circulate privately.

Final Fantasy 14 producer and director Naoki 'Yoshi-P' Yoshida. Photo by Olly Curtis/Future Publishing via Getty Images.

Final Fantasy XIV producer and director Naoki 'Yoshi-P' Yoshida addressed the situation on the game's official forum, directly referencing Playerscope. His statement acknowledged the existence of third-party tools accessing normally hidden character information, including parts of a character's internal account ID used to link other characters on the same service account. Yoshida stated that the development and operations teams were considering requesting the tool's removal and pursuing legal action. He reassured players that account information like addresses and payment details couldn't be accessed via these tools. Yoshida reiterated the prohibition of third-party tools in the Final Fantasy XIV User Agreement and urged players to avoid using them or sharing information about their use.

While tools like Advanced Combat Tracker are commonly used by the raiding community and integrated with sites like FFlogs, Yoshida's legal threat marked a significant escalation.

The FFXIV Community Responds

The community reacted critically to Yoshida's statement. Many criticized the lack of focus on addressing the underlying vulnerability allowing the mod to function, suggesting that fixing the game's client-side data exposure would be a more effective solution. The Playerscope author has yet to respond publicly.

Latest Articles More
  • Pokemon TCG Pocket Sleep Status Explained

    In Pokémon TCG Pocket, Sleep is the most frustrating status condition. While there's a cure, its lingering effects can be detrimental. This guide covers everything you need to know about Sleep and how to counteract it.What Does Sleep Mean in Pokémon TCG Pocket?When a Pokémon is afflicted with Sleep

    Mar 16,2025
  • Sony Cutting PS4 Games from PlayStation Plus Next Year

    Sony is phasing out PlayStation 4 games from its PlayStation Plus Essentials monthly games and Games Catalog starting January 2026, focusing solely on PlayStation 5 titles. This change, announced alongside February 2025's PlayStation Plus monthly games, reflects a shift in player preference towards

    Mar 16,2025
  • DOOM: The Dark Ages system requirements have been revealed

    Prepare for a brutal journey back in time! At the Xbox Developer_Direct, id Software unleashed DOOM: The Dark Ages, revealing thrilling gameplay and a May 15th release date. Get ready for a visual masterpiece, powered by the cutting-edge idTech8 engine. Expect breathtaking realism with ray tracin

    Mar 16,2025
  • All Elden Ring Nightreign Bosses (So Far)

    Nightreign, a standalone co-op experience branching from the Elden Ring universe, invites players to team up and conquer terrifying new bosses within its chilling fantasy world. Below is a list of all currently confirmed bosses. All Bosses in Elden Ring Nightreign Currently, 25 bosses have been con

    Mar 16,2025
  • Idle Heroes Gear Guide – Equipment, Treasures, and Artifacts Explained

    Idle Heroes reigns supreme as one of the most popular idle RPGs on mobile, boasting over a million active players and raking in over $4 million last month alone! The game constantly introduces exciting new heroes with unique mechanics, keeping the summoning and team-building experience fresh. With

    Mar 16,2025
  • How To Fix The Requirements Not Met Bug In Path of Exile 2

    Navigating the early access world of Path of Exile 2? You might encounter a frustrating "Requirements Not Met" message when attempting to allocate skill points. This guide helps you troubleshoot this issue.What's the "Requirements Not Met" Bug in Path of Exile 2?Some players experience a "Requireme

    Mar 16,2025