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, raising significant privacy issues.
The mod, "Playerscope," tracked players' data, transmitting it to a central database controlled by the mod's creator. This included access to "Content ID" and "Account ID," allowing tracking across multiple characters, exploiting the Dawntrail expansion's Content ID system designed for player blacklisting.
The only way to prevent data scraping was to opt out via the mod's private Discord server. This essentially meant that every player outside this server was potentially having their data harvested. The community reacted strongly, with widespread accusations of the mod's intent being to facilitate stalking.
After initially gaining popularity following its discovery on GitHub, Playerscope was removed from GitHub due to Terms of Service violations. While reportedly mirrored on Gittea and Gitflic, IGN verified the mod's absence from these platforms. However, it may still circulate within private communities.
Yoshida's statement emphasized the prohibition of third-party tools under the game's User Agreement, citing potential safety risks for players. He urged players not to share information about such tools or assist in their distribution.
This stance contrasts with the community's acceptance of tools like Advanced Combat Tracker used by raiders and integrated with websites like FFlogs. Yoshida's legal threat represents a significant escalation.
Community Reaction
The community's response to Yoshida's statement was largely critical. Players questioned the lack of solutions addressing the root cause of the problem, suggesting improvements to client-side data security as a more effective solution than solely pursuing legal action. The Playerscope author has yet to comment publicly.
