Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail helped players block stalkers, but the problem might get much worse with a backend exploit some mods are already taking advantage of

Final Fantasy 14‘s expansion, Dawntrail, introduced an array of blacklist tools intended to alleviate concerns about insufficient protection from player stalking and harassment within the MMO. Regrettably, the implementation of these enhancements has seemingly unveiled a backend vulnerability, making it simpler for malicious users to engage in harassment. Consequently, illicit mods are arising that leverage this flaw.

In Dawntrail, the latest update includes blacklist functionality whereby blocking an individual character prevents all characters associated with that player’s account from interacting. As PC Gamer points out, this update also assigns a unique “account identifier” to each player, which gets transmitted to the game server whenever you share the same game space as one of their characters.

In essence, by utilizing a specific modification, someone theoretically might link characters to account IDs and construct a database that reveals an individual’s complete collection of alternate accounts (alts). This concept isn’t difficult to envision as a potential tool for harassment. Previously, your primary defense against a persistent stalker in Final Fantasy XIV might have been creating a new character; however, if someone could trace your alts, you’d need to create an entirely new account – something Square Enix’s infamously complex account system wouldn’t facilitate without difficulty, and it would also mean starting over from scratch on your progress.

This week, it was found out that a mod named PlayerScope, which is being developed, will provide extensive tracking of character details linked to an account. It covers various aspects such as alternate characters, retainer assistants, and plans to include Free Company and PvP team information in future updates. The mod isn’t publicly accessible yet, but the developer is selecting players for early access to use the plugin.

As a passionate supporter, I must express that the general sentiment among fellow enthusiasts is far from positive regarding this new tool. It seems the majority perceive its primary function as being a means to bother other gamers, which is certainly not welcomed by anyone. The developers’ proposal for those who wish to avoid tracking to join the PlayerScope Discord has met with considerable resistance.

As a passionate gamer, I’ve found myself part of a relatively modest Discord community for PlayerScope. However, we’re optimistic about creating a buzz around this platform, hoping it catches the eye of Square Enix. Ideally, they would address the account ID issue that allows us to use it in the first place, but if not, we’re keeping our fingers crossed for them to take notice and make necessary changes.

2025-01-10 22:09

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