Is GShade allowed?

Can the community team please answer this question?

Is this now the official stance of Square Enix? That the 2013 forum post is no longer official policy?

https://i.imgur.com/7qLr3TOh.jpg

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Originally Posted by Hvinire

Utilizing such a tool would not violate any agreements customers have with Square Enix, and we don't plan on doing anything to restrict users from accessing it.

However, we advise that players use this at their own risk. Square Enix does not regulate the content of the aforementioned add-on and will not be responsible for any damage or losses resulting from its use.

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Did Square Enix make and distribute it? You know the answer.

Short answer: No.

Long answer: Does it interact with the game files in any way what-so-ever? If the answer to that is "yes" then No.

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Originally Posted by weebtext

Did Square Enix make and distribute it? You know the answer.

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What a useless response.

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Originally Posted by GaiusDrakon

What a useless response.

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A perfect fit for a useless thread.

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Originally Posted by weebtext

A perfect fit for a useless thread.

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I hope you realize this is an important issue because if you actually bothered reading the thread SE has previously said that Reshade/ENB/Gshade are OK under the ToS, and now a GM has said it is no longer applicable.

We need clarification.

Meanwhile your response is completely useless.

I mean it's spelled out in black and white, I don't know what more you want.

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Originally Posted by GaiusDrakon

I hope you realize this is an important issue because if you actually bothered reading the thread SE has previously said that Reshade/ENB/Gshade are OK under the ToS, and now a GM has said it is no longer applicable.

We need clarification.

Meanwhile your response is completely useless.

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The clarification is don't get caught using it because third party tools are against ToS.

As long as you don't run around with a banner saying that you are using X(streaming, talking in-game about it, posting on twitter.) you are perfectly fine.

They don't have something actively scanning your computer so just don't broadcast it.

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Originally Posted by Kenky

Short answer: No.

Long answer: Does it interact with the game files in any way what-so-ever? If the answer to that is "yes" then No.

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Shader tools don't interact in any way with the game files tho, they work through directx. This is also the reason why these tools can be used in other games the same way they are used in XIV. So that would be in this case a true grey area, it is a third party tool indeed like discord would be but it doesn't interact with the game itself in any direct way.

I mean...they accepted entries from gshade users for the fanfest art contest and the screenshot entries galery is full of people using gshade. Like so obviously full that it is not just a single mistake that gotten into the accepted entries through slipping through the cracks. SE knew that people use gshade and they basically made a whole part of the entire contest around that and altering screenshots.

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Originally Posted by Ranaku

I mean...they accepted entries from gshade users for the fanfest art contest and the screenshot entries galery is full of people using gshade. Like so obviously full that it is not just a single mistake that gotten into the accepted entries through slipping through the cracks. SE knew that people use gshade and they basically made a whole part of the entire contest around that and altering screenshots.

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If that's the case then I don't think SE would have an issue with it. If they're allowing it in an official contest then I'm going to assume that they're condoning it too.

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Originally Posted by kpxmanifesto

If that's the case then I don't think SE would have an issue with it. If they're allowing it in an official contest then I'm going to assume that they're condoning it too.

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But we can't just assume; that's the problem.

What does the GM response mean?

They made a public statement explicitly saying that it's ok. Also, the way Gshade works hasn't changed, so why would their policy?

Until they come out and explicitly say NO (even then what are they going to do about it?) You can use it.

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Originally Posted by weebtext

Did Square Enix make and distribute it? You know the answer.

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Console player detected

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Originally Posted by Klytania

They made a public statement explicitly saying that it's ok. Also, the way Gshade works hasn't changed, so why would their policy?

Until they come out and explicitly say NO (even then what are they going to do about it?) You can use it.

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Ok, but what does the GM response mean then? Why would they say that the 7 year old post is no longer applicable?

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Originally Posted by GaiusDrakon

Ok, but what does the GM response mean then? Why would they say that the 7 year old post is no longer applicable?

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GMs get things wrong all the time. A private response to someone's inquiry doesn't constitute a policy change.

What they're doing right now is performative, so obviously they aren't going to contradict the latest thing YoshiP says. They got embarrassed by the heavy mod use and worst kept secret about XIV getting so much negative public attention, so they are playing whack-a-mole while overreacting like crazy.

It's stupid and makes them look incompetent, but it's what they're doing.

The correct move is to keep your head down and don't worry about it.

Its a third party addon that effect the game or adds something that not default or by SE. So it against the ToS. That it. There is no BUT.

My first thought on addons when this dumb argument started was gshade. Like before this uproar, it was they (the devs) look the other way as long as it wasn't in the forefront that effect the game; ie raids and pvp, ect.

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Originally Posted by SilverSkyway

Its a third party addon that effect the game or adds something that not default or by SE. So it against the ToS. That it. There is no BUT.

My first thought on addons when this dumb argument started was gshade. Like before this uproar, it was they (the devs) look the other way as long as it wasn't in the forefront that effect the game; ie raids and pvp, ect.

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I really wish people would stop parroting this generic response. It adds nothing.

My monitor has software that can change game colors, add sharpening and contrast, even add an aim reticle overlay to the center. (very handy for FPS games and hipfiring weapons that have bad in-game reticles)

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Originally Posted by SilverSkyway

Its a third party addon that effect the game or adds something that not default or by SE. So it against the ToS. That it. There is no BUT.

My first thought on addons when this dumb argument started was gshade. Like before this uproar, it was they (the devs) look the other way as long as it wasn't in the forefront that effect the game; ie raids and pvp, ect.

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I swear the anti-plugin TOS crusaders are allergic to knowing how they actually work.

If memory serves, Gshade is the one addon that was explicitly stated to be allowed, since it's essentially just a photo filter

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Originally Posted by Allegor

If memory serves, Gshade is the one addon that was explicitly stated to be allowed, since it's essentially just a photo filter

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Where and when was it stated to be allowed? This isn't in bad faith, I'm genuinely curious.

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Originally Posted by Wilford111

Where and when was it stated to be allowed? This isn't in bad faith, I'm genuinely curious.

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OP posted the screenshot. The white comment with the cactaur avatar.

A community rep explicitly, and publicly stated it was ok to use, tempered with the obligatory "use 3rd party software at your own risk" statement.

More specifically, Gshade affects DirectX, not FFXIV. It's the software equivalent of adjusting the color temperature on your monitor, not reading and updating game files.

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Originally Posted by Wilford111

Where and when was it stated to be allowed? This isn't in bad faith, I'm genuinely curious.

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I love how you make fun of me but this shows you didn't even read the post.

Typical brainlet on the forums honestly.

Gshade only committed the useless crime of hurting jealous non-pc players' derrieres.

It's stated that it's not a bannable thing, but a 'use at your own risk' type of subject. Not explicitly allowed, but not disallowed either.

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Originally Posted by Klytania

Console player detected

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You should get your detector fixed, friend.

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Originally Posted by Semirhage

I swear the anti-plugin TOS crusaders are allergic to knowing how they actually work.

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I don't know if you agreeing with me or not and that on me. lol.
Truthfully I want gshade to be okay by the devs. While I don't use it as it, I respect some of the reason it is use, ie gpose.

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Originally Posted by GaiusDrakon

I love how you make fun of me but this shows you didn't even read the post.

Typical brainlet on the forums honestly.

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Well I'm sorry, I assumed you listened to what the GM told you when he said that post from 2013 shouldn't be taken into consideration.

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Originally Posted by Klytania

I really wish people would stop parroting this generic response. It adds nothing.

My monitor has software that can change game colors, add sharpening and contrast, even add an aim reticle overlay to the center. (very handy for FPS games and hipfiring weapons that have bad in-game reticles)

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That's your monitor. That doesn't effect the game settings or what is default. There a different. Like discord a third party. Well no beep sherlock. My mouse is a third party if you want get all technical.
I and many people talking about the settings, file, ui, anything that not default with FF14.
But Gshape is a program that effect the game itself. I can not make the game more blue without said program. I can use it to add contrast to but monitor does that. I need a monitor to play. Don't need gshade or damage meter to play.

The answer is no. It is against TOS on the basis it alters the game itself. Which it does. The devs over the years have essentially said the same thing over and over. Use at your own risk. This risk is now elevated with the aforementioned cheating in PvP and quite possibly the new Ultimate.

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Originally Posted by MagiusNecros

The answer is no. It is against TOS on the basis it alters the game itself. Which it does. The devs over the years have essentially said the same thing over and over. Use at your own risk. This risk is now elevated with the aforementioned cheating in PvP and quite possibly the new Ultimate.

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Do you people even read the post before commenting

GShade has no impact on the game that is in any way harmful.

The devs themselves have already stated wanting better graphics.

I fail to see how actively reporting people with GShade is conductive.

It's like people want SE to put anti-software in and then they'll realize how irritating it is to deal with.

Some people just want to watch the world burn.

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Originally Posted by GaiusDrakon

Do you people even read the post before commenting

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I read your post. Official statement from 2013 is stated to be not worth consideration. It means that in 2022 the stance has changed. Or rather the TOS is being enforced. If anything it seems you have a comprehension problem with the answer you received from an Official.

They pretty much stated in PR speak that officially Gshade is not allowed as it breaks TOS. The stance is going to remain the same. Use at your own risk. Unofficially it should be fine. What happens in Limsa Lominsa stays in Limsa Lominsa.

Try not to think too hard about it.

Gshade is a graphics post-processor, right? I don't think that can reslly be called "altering the game files" - you're altering the output that is being rendered on your monitor. That kind of functionality is baked into a lot of video cards already.

Gonna be frank with you:

Go to Twitter right now and use #GPOSERS

Now:
See how many of them are using Gshade? Excluding NSFW, find a single person that has been banned from it.

See what I'm getting at?

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Originally Posted by KariTheFox

Gshade is a graphics post-processor, right? I don't think that can reslly be called "altering the game files" - you're altering the output that is being rendered on your monitor. That kind of functionality is baked into a lot of video cards already.

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Gshade does not modify the game files. The people have no clue what Gshade is and how it works. It is nothing more than an API redirector. It is similar to DXVK or Creative ALchemy.




Cheers

I have no idea how GShade actually works, but as long as it doesn't actually inject code into the game it should probably be fine.

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Originally Posted by CaptainLagbeard

I have no idea how GShade actually works, but as long as it doesn't actually inject code into the game it should probably be fine.

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It doesnt. It just changes some shaders from the DirectX interface.
People even post screenshots with Gshade here. So, its not forbidden.

But SE dont want to whitelist certain programs, because they want to keep their rights to ban everyone for any reason.

It's equivalent to turning the brightness or contrast up on your monitor.
Well, more equivalent to changing the colour space or LUT but I wanted an easy juxtaposition.

I am very prominently anti-add-on, I don't use it myself. But it's a stretch to consider it cheating, it's not even game specific!

No it isn't allowed. But..... Just don't talk about it and nobody will know