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 included character details, retainer information, linked alternate characters, and more.
The mod, "Playerscope," tracked player data within a user's vicinity, transmitting it to a central database controlled by the mod's creator. This exposed information typically inaccessible through in-game tools, including "Content ID" and "Account ID," enabling cross-character tracking. This exploited the Content ID system from the Dawntrail expansion, originally designed for player blacklisting.
Opting out required joining the Playerscope Discord and explicitly disabling data collection. Otherwise, virtually every player outside this Discord was potentially affected, raising significant privacy concerns. The community's reaction was swift and critical, with many labeling the mod's purpose as stalking.
Initially hosted on Github, Playerscope's popularity surged after its discovery. Subsequent removal from Github due to Terms of Service violations allegedly led to mirroring on Gittea and Gitflic, though IGN confirmed the mod's absence from these platforms. However, its continued existence within private communities remains a possibility.
Yoshida stated that the development team is exploring options, including requesting removal and potential legal action. He reassured players that account-specific data like addresses and payment information remained inaccessible through these tools. He urged players to avoid third-party tools, emphasizing their prohibition under the game's User Agreement and potential threat to player safety.
While third-party tools like Advanced Combat Tracker are commonly used (and data cross-referenced via sites like FFlogs), Yoshida's legal threat represents a significant escalation.
Community Response:
The FFXIV community reacted negatively to Yoshida's statement, criticizing the lack of focus on addressing the root cause of the data exposure. Players questioned why Square Enix wasn't prioritizing client-side data protection instead of solely focusing on legal action against the mod creator. The Playerscope author has yet to comment publicly.
