Third-party tools are basically not allowed in Final Fantasy XIV. This was emphasized multiple times by the head of the MMORPG. Some players still use them. One of them is the streamer Pyromancer, who became angry when he was criticized for using the addons.
The situation in brief:
- Third-party tools and addons have basically been banned in Final Fantasy XIV for years. Players use them at their own risk and with the possibility of receiving temporary or permanent bans.
- On May 9, the head of the MMORPG, Naoki Yoshida, published a blog post in which he reiterated that third-party tools are not allowed. He also explained what types of programs fall into this category.
- Yoshida’s post came in connection with the world-first race for the kill of the new ultimate raid Dragon War (Fatal). Several participants used unauthorized addons to gain advantages in combat.
- As a result, several players received temporary bans for openly showcasing the use of addons in their streams or videos.
Yoshida’s post caused a significant uproar in the FFXIV community. Factions formed that represented different viewpoints regarding the regulation.
While some demanded strict enforcement of the no-addons policy, others defended some of the addons. A prominent defender was the well-known streamer Pyromancer.
“You are so fucking dumb.”
Pyromancer was one of the YouTubers and streamers who switched to FFXIV in summer 2021 because he was dissatisfied with WoW. The switch gave his channels an enormous boost in followers, active viewers, and subs, making him one of the largest FFXIV streamers in a very short time.
This is what happened: In his streams, Pyromancer openly used addons and mods that altered his user interface. His icons, windows, and text boxes looked different. Addons also indicated when he could move while casting spells without being interrupted, as the server does not register it due to lag, which is a DPS advantage.
In previous streams, the streamer claimed that the third-party tools he uses are not banned. He seemed unaware of the rule that no such tools are allowed.
In one of his latest streams, several viewers pointed out to Pyromancer that this type of addon is not allowed. The streamer defended its use because he “just wants to play the game with a nice UI that doesn’t look like garbage. That’s all I want.”
The conversation with the chat started calmly but escalated further. Pyromancer began shouting at viewers who contradicted him and banning them. There were also strong insults against individual users.
The video ended with Pyromancer telling his opponents to “go outside and interact with real people.” The Twitch clip of the video is no longer available, but it was uploaded separately on several YouTube channels.
What’s behind it: FFXIV viewers who know Pyromancer are aware that the streamer has a short fuse. He has previously blown up and reacted aggressively to criticism. This makes him an easy target for trolls.
According to the FFXIV streamer Arthars, a group of 5Chan users has targeted Pyromancer because he openly shows mods in his streams and argues for their use. This group is said to have organized to conduct mass reports intended to lead to the streamer being banned.
Some of these users also appeared in Pyromancer’s stream and argued with him until he blew up.
One day after his rage stream, Pyromancer went online again. In an emotional stream , he apologized for his behavior. He justified his extreme reactions with ADHD, which he suffers from.
The streamer explained that he regularly sees a psychotherapist and takes medication for it. However, the disorder cannot always be controlled, which leads to his outbursts or insulting comments.
He still wants to continue streaming FFXIV because he loves the MMORPG and knows that most of the community is friendly. Initially, he stated that the game is “like therapy” for him. He will stream without addons or mods in the future.
Yoshida’s post leads to a division in the community
This is what FFXIV players are arguing about: The post by Yoshida sparked heated discussions within the FFXIV community. The use of mods and third-party programs is officially not allowed but still relatively widespread.
- Players change the appearance of the UI, their characters, and the in-game clothing that can only be seen by them. Or they take the appearance of paid and partially unreleased items from the official store.
- They gain gameplay advantages through addons, such as being immune to CC effects in PvP or seeing AoE areas in PvE that should actually be invisible.
- They use automated bot programs that, for example, automatically craft their character or monitor the market board and immediately adjust the price of their items as soon as someone offers cheaper items for sale, and so on.
Director Yoshida has regularly warned in the past that the use of such third-party programs can lead to penalties or a permanent ban. Therefore, the use is always at one’s own risk.
After the last blog post from the boss, two large factions formed that are either for or completely against the use of addons:
- The opponents of the addons say that the use is unfair to console players since FFXIV has unrestricted crossplay. Addon users on PCs gain unfair advantages. Moreover, rules are there to be followed. Forbidden is forbidden.
- The supporters like Pyromancer justify their position by stating that these addons, for example, improve the interface of FFXIV and offer useful options that don’t disturb anyone but make playing more enjoyable.
Whether the boss’s warning will lead to less use is hard to assess. However, there will definitely be fewer streams in the future where the addons are visible, as the videos are evidence that can be used against the players.
What is your opinion on mods and addons? Do you think that Square Enix is overreacting here and should allow some or should they be banned entirely? Let us know in the comments.
Meanwhile, there are also issues in FFXIV’s PvP:
The PvP in Final Fantasy XIV is finally fun; now it just needs to survive
