Final Fantasy 14 player ‘accidentally’ creates stalking plugin

One Final Fantasy XIV player has developed a plugin (mod) that inadvertently allows for stalking of players across characters in the game.

The mod, known as “PlayerScope,” scans the game for character Account IDs, records the identifier, and then cross-references them with other characters sharing the same account IDs, effectively linking them to the same player.

This discovery has sparked concern among players as it enables individuals to be tracked across different characters. Whether it’s pretending to be ill to skip a raid and engage in Chocobo Racing on an alternate character, or navigating the intricate world of Roleplay, where emotions run high, the implications of this plugin are significant.

But how does the plugin access this data? Final Fantasy XIV introduced a new social feature with Dawntrail: blacklisting. This feature allows users to block a player across their entire account to prevent them from creating an alternate character and causing further inconvenience. This inadvertently made account IDs more accessible to plugin creators.

So why was this plugin created? Allegedly, the motivation behind PlayerScope was driven by a petty yet relatable reason. According to sources familiar with the creator, the plugin was designed to identify individuals undercutting prices on the Market Board (FFXIV’s Auction House). Understandably, this could cause frustration.

However, the existence of PlayerScope poses a threat to the game’s modding community. Square Enix has typically turned a blind eye to mods, as long as they do not involve cheating and go unnoticed. While mods are not officially endorsed, Square Enix has shown little interest in restricting them.

While most mods are harmless, focusing on cosmetic enhancements or quality of life improvements, the game’s challenging end-game content has led to the emergence of minor cheats like halos to highlight player hitboxes or enhanced indicators for mechanics.

Despite these issues, Square Enix has not intervened thus far. It remains to be seen whether the backlash against PlayerScope will prompt a change in their approach.

Final Fantasy XIV is currently available on Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox, and Microsoft Windows (via Steam).