In early 2025, a Final Fantasy XIV mod ignited concerns about player stalking after reports surfaced that it harvested sensitive player data. This included character details, retainer information, linked alternate characters, and more. The mod, "Playerscope," tracked players near its user, sending data to a central database controlled by the mod's creator. This encompassed information typically inaccessible through in-game tools, including "Content ID" and "Account ID," enabling cross-character tracking via the Dawntrail expansion's Content ID system (designed for account-wide blacklisting). The only way to prevent data scraping was to join Playerscope's private Discord and opt out—meaning, theoretically, every player outside that Discord was affected. This significant privacy breach sparked community outrage, with many citing the mod's clear intent to stalk players.
Weeks ago, the mod's 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 on Gittea and Gitflic have been verified by IGN as inactive. However, the mod might still circulate within private communities.
Final Fantasy XIV producer and director Naoki "Yoshi-P" Yoshida addressed the situation on the game's official forum, directly referencing Playerscope. He stated that third-party tools accessing non-public character information, including internal account IDs used to link accounts, were confirmed. The development team is exploring options including removal requests and legal action. Yoshida reassured players that this tool could not access sensitive account information like addresses or payment details. He urged players to avoid using third-party tools, refrain from sharing installation details or assisting their spread, emphasizing that such usage violates the Final Fantasy XIV User Agreement and compromises player safety.
While third-party tools like Advanced Combat Tracker are commonly used by the raiding community (often alongside sites like FFlogs), Yoshida's legal threat represents a significant escalation.
The FFXIV Community Responds
The community's response to Yoshida's statement was largely critical. Players pointed out the statement's lack of focus on addressing the root cause of the problem—the vulnerability exploited by the mod—with suggestions to fix the client-side data exposure. The Playerscope author has yet to comment.
