Final Fantasy 14's second incarnation launched in 2013 and has proven more resilient than the 2010 version. Square Enix's lawyers sent a letter to modder DarkArchon requesting removal of Mare Synchronos, a mod that allowed players' customized avatars to be visible outside their own game. The mod's removal triggered negative Steam reviews and review-bombing from some players. Square Enix expressed tolerance for fan mods while opposing mods that violate the game's intent or design or could create legal exposure, such as nude character mods displayed in-game. The company warned that custom appearances mimicking paid content can devalue services and collectibles that fund the game. Players were asked to respect rules and the game's integrity. The game recently expanded to mobile, released the Dawntrail expansion, and aims to maintain PlayStation 4 compatibility as hardware allows.
Yoshida's complete remarks were posted on FF14's official site, and he requested that excerpts from his statement not be used by media outlets. But since his response was nearly 2,000 words, a concise recap is unavoidable. The issue started when Square Enix's lawyers sent a letter to modder DarkArchon regarding Mare Synchronos, a mod that allowed players' customized avatars to be visible outside of their own game.
Although Yoshida notes that he tolerates mods and has admiration for some fan-made creations, he's against mods that violate the game's intent or design in a negative manner. As a potential example, Yoshida noted that Square Enix could face legal consequences in some countries over nude character mods on display in the game. He also cited customized appearances that mimic paid content from from the game as an example of devaluing the services and collectibles that Square Enix sells.
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