In early 2025, a mod for Final Fantasy 14 named "Playerscope" raised significant privacy concerns due to its ability to scrape hidden player data. This mod could access details such as character information, retainer data, and any alternate characters linked to a Square Enix account. Playerscope allows users to track specific player data of anyone nearby, sending this information to a centralized database managed by the mod author, regardless of whether the user is actively targeting a specific player or simply in the vicinity of others.
The mod exploits the "Content ID" and "Account ID" systems introduced in the Dawntrail expansion, enabling users to track players across different characters and even blacklist them across their service account. To prevent data scraping, players must join a private Discord channel and opt out; otherwise, their data is vulnerable. This situation has sparked widespread concern within the community, with some labeling it as a tool for stalking.
The mod gained popularity after being discovered on GitHub, but due to terms of service violations, it was removed. It may still be available on similar platforms like Gittea and Gitflic, though IGN confirmed that Playerscope repositories no longer exist on these sites. It could still be circulating within private communities.
Final Fantasy 14 producer and director Naoki 'Yoshi-P' Yoshida. Photo by Olly Curtis/Future Publishing via Getty Images.
In response, Naoki 'Yoshi-P' Yoshida issued a statement on the official Final Fantasy 14 forum addressing the issue of third-party mods, specifically referencing Playerscope. The statement emphasized that the development and operations teams are aware of the situation and are considering options such as requesting the tool's removal and deletion, or pursuing legal action. Yoshida reassured players that personal information like addresses and payment details cannot be accessed through these tools and stressed the importance of maintaining a safe environment by refraining from using or promoting third-party tools.
Despite the prohibition of third-party tools in Final Fantasy 14, tools like Advanced Combat Tracker are commonly used within the raiding community and referenced on websites like FFlogs. Yoshida's mention of potential legal action marks a significant escalation in the game's stance against such mods.
The community's response to Yoshida's statement has been critical, with players expressing disappointment and suggesting that the game should address the root cause by preventing the exposure of sensitive information at the client side. The author of Playerscope has not yet responded to these developments.
