In early 2025, a Final Fantasy XIV mod ignited concerns about player stalking after reports surfaced detailing its ability to harvest sensitive player data. This included character details, retainer information, linked alternate characters, and more.
The mod, "Playerscope," enabled users to track nearby players, transmitting their data 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," allowing cross-character tracking via the Dawntrail expansion's Content ID system. This system, ironically intended for player blacklisting, was exploited.
Opting out required joining Playerscope's private Discord server. The implication was that every player outside this server was potentially having their data scraped, raising serious privacy concerns. The community reacted strongly, with many citing the mod's obvious potential for stalking.
Following its discovery on GitHub, Playerscope's popularity surged. Subsequent removal from GitHub due to Terms of Service violations led to alleged mirroring on Gittea and Gitflic, though IGN confirmed the mod's absence from these platforms. The possibility of its continued circulation within private communities remains.
Yoshida stated that the development and operations teams are considering requesting the mod's removal and pursuing legal action. He reassured players that account details like addresses and payment information were inaccessible via these tools. He urged players to avoid using third-party tools, refrain from sharing information about them, and emphasized that their use violates the Final Fantasy XIV User Agreement.
While tools like Advanced Combat Tracker are commonly used by the raiding community in conjunction with sites 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 options focused on fixing the game's underlying vulnerabilities that allowed the mod to function, suggesting alternative solutions that would require additional development effort. Many criticized the statement for failing to address the root cause of the problem. The Playerscope author has yet to comment.
