Final Fantasy 14’s group is as soon as once more in a tizzy about the usage of mods in sport, to the purpose the place the sport’s producer and director, Naoki Yoshida (Yoshi-P), has weighed in.
First, some background. Whereas modding is a particularly widespread follow throughout many video games, together with different MMORPGs like World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy 14 has all the time had a barely extra hostile relationship with them. That is to not say gamers do not use mods in FF14 – they completely do. However formally, they are not allowed. Even so, Sq. Enix has largely operated for a very long time on a coverage of letting mods slide…so long as gamers aren’t too loud or apparent about it. So gamers may use mods to customise their UIs, or change the way in which their character appears to be like simply on their very own display screen. So long as they are not interfering with different individuals’s video games or, say, being very public about their mod use, the writer has largely turned a blind eye.
However that technique hasn’t all the time labored out for Sq. Enix, particularly as a result of lack of actual readability for gamers as to what Sq. Enix will probably be permissive about, versus what it would instantly ban. And not too long ago, mods have been in the crosshairs of the developer as soon as once more. Earlier this 12 months, Yoshi-P himself threatened authorized motion after a mod went round that might observe different individuals’s participant knowledge – a mod that is fairly clearly not permitted by any requirements. However extra not too long ago, a unique, much less clearly problematic mod has entered the discourse: Mare Synchronos.
Mare Synchronos is a mod that is turn into in style with Final Fantasy 14 gamers over time, particularly for role-playing communities. Primarily, it lets those that use it “synchronize” their character appearances with these of different gamers. Here is an instance. If I am enjoying FF14 and haven’t got plenty of cool gear to decorate my character up in, and do not need to run the content material wanted to amass it for no matter purpose, I can use a mod that can let my character seem precisely how I need them to – however solely on my display screen. Nonetheless, with Mare Synchronos, everybody else utilizing Mare Synchronos can additionally see that modded look. Gamers who don’t use the mod will see my character in no matter bland gear I am truly sporting. And critically, Mare would not truly allow you to change your character’s look – different mods are wanted for that. Mare simply enables you to see different mods, and be seen.
Nonetheless, per week in the past, Mare Synchronos announced it was shutting down. The cited purpose was that it had acquired a “authorized inquiry” surrounding the challenge, and after reviewing choices, the creator determined to wind it down. It formally went darkish final Friday. Whereas some followers had been unphased by the shutdown, and even claimed they’d anticipated it will definitely, many others had been deeply upset. Although Mare’s developer hadn’t specified who the authorized inquiry was from, many speculating it was possible Sq. Enix, and even took to the FF14 official boards to complain concerning the third-party mod shutting down. It is even getting evaluate bombed on Steam proper now, at present sitting at “Blended” current opinions versus “Very Constructive” whole opinions.
Which is what has prompted Yoshi-P to talk up. In a lengthy post on the official Final Fantasy 14 website, the producer reiterated his past-stated stance on mods: he tolerates them. That stance, he says, hasn’t modified. Mods made solely for one’s personal private use that solely impression the person utilizing them, Yoshi-P explains, are superb with him. “I would wish to stress the significance that gamers comply with two guidelines: that their type of gameplay doesn’t infringe upon others, and that they don’t negatively impression the core sport, its providers, or supposed sport design, as talked about above.”
Yoshi-P goes on to element precisely what he means by “destructive impacting the supposed sport design” and “infringing upon others.” He affords an instance of a participant, Participant A, who likes to raid and acquires a brand new title and weapon by efficiently ending an Final raid. Participant B doesn’t have time to raid, and makes use of a mod that enables them to see their character with the identical title and weapon as Participant A. So long as that solely shows on Participant B’s display screen, that is not an issue for Yoshi-P.
Nonetheless, the place Yoshi-P takes subject is when this begins to impression others. If Participant B’s adjustments are seen to Participant A someway, “it significantly negates the cooperation, time, and energy invested, to not point out the delight they may have felt in their achievement.”
He goes on for example one other instance that’s unacceptable: a mod that enables gamers to freely equip optionally available objects bought from the FF14 On-line Retailer and show them to others:
“Some might say that Sq. Enix is responsible for attempting to earn cash by demanding that gamers spend additional on optionally available objects,” he writes. “We function our servers and knowledge facilities twenty-four hours a day, three-hundred-sixty-five days a 12 months with the hope that our gamers can take pleasure in a dependable gaming expertise. Presently, international inflation is taking its toll at a speedy tempo, driving up server electrical energy prices, the price of land, and even the worth of servers themselves. We don’t need to enhance subscription charges for gamers, if in any respect attainable─however holding our sport working requires ample revenue. If we begin making a deficit, FFXIV might not be capable of function. That is an instance of injury dealt to the providers we offer.”
In a 3rd instance, Yoshi-P mentions the potential for a mod that shows a personality utterly bare. Even when that is solely displayed on the participant’s display screen, he explains the way it might probably nonetheless be dangerous. As an example, if a participant posts a screenshot of their bare character on social media, FF14 might face authorized penalties.
“Legal guidelines that regulate the content material of video video games develop stricter by the 12 months,” he says. “These legal guidelines are there to guard minors and for a wide range of different causes, however the truth stays that they’re tangibly turning into stricter. Now we have an obligation to supply our providers in adherence to the legal guidelines of all international locations the place FFXIV is offered, and if we’re unable to take action, the distribution of our sport will be prohibited. That is one other instance of injury dealt to our providers.”
Yoshi-P ends his put up by saying he intends to take heed to participant suggestions and attempt to enhance the liberty of gamers to equip several types of gear. “Whereas paying respect to the long-standing custom of modding PC video games, I ask that every one gamers in flip respect our sport by having fun with their enjoyable throughout the confines of some primary guidelines,” he concludes.
Whereas this put up comprises some much-needed clarification, it finally does depart Final Fantasy 14 in the identical odd limbo state it is all the time been in: no mods allowed, besides it is superb if nobody ever is aware of you are utilizing them. Whereas that can possible be ample clarification for a lot of gamers, it is nonetheless a probably irritating place for gamers who’ve constructed their gameplay types across the modding group and what it has to supply. At the very least over on console, nobody has something to fret about.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You will discover her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Received a narrative tip? Ship it to rvalentine@ign.com.