Is the Xbox version's wild chat censorship a bug or is it working as intended?

Apologies if this is the wrong place to post this. I couldn't find an existing thread on this topic.

The Xbox version is subject to much stricter chat filtering/censorship and there seems to be no way to turn it off. I have the in-game profanity filter turned off and I have all message filtering options within the Xbox itself set to "unfiltered". Yet, the game's chat log is still doing crazy things like turning the word "class" into "cl???" and turning "Thanalan" into "Th????an".

Other platforms are not subject to this. All signs point to this being the result of Microsoft's meddling. But, I haven't been able to confirm since discussions on this seem to be far more sparse than I would think. Does anyone know if this is a bug that Microsoft and/or Square have acknowledged or is this just how the Xbox version is intended to be and we're stuck with it forever?

Here's a screenshot I took during the beta. But, the issue is still present in the full release:
https://i.redd.it/pe87n5118tmc1.png

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Originally Posted by willko

The Xbox version is subject to much stricter chat filtering/censorship and there seems to be no way to turn it off. I have the in-game profanity filter turned off and I have all message filtering options within the Xbox itself set to "unfiltered". Yet, the game's chat log is still doing crazy things like turning the word "class" into "cl???" and turning "Thanalan" into "Th????an".

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Thank you so much for sharing this, this is absolutely hilarious and has brought some genuine joy to my life. The Scunthorpe Problem strikes again!

yeah they moved my tread to feedback and suggestions. I hope they can fix it.

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Originally Posted by Starstriker198

yeah they moved my tread to feedback and suggestions. I hope they can fix it.

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I hope they fix it too. It looks like maybe there's progress being made, I guess? I just reached the same point from my original screenshot, only this time the word "class" isn't being censored. The censor is still taking issue with "psych yourself up" though. So, I don't know if this means they're taking a targeted approach and trying to make the chat filter less restrictive instead of just turning it off completely like they should.
https://i.imgur.com/W9GrwMR.png

Each time I come across blatantly erroneous censorship like this, I'm using the "report a problem" feature on the Xbox itself to send reports to Microsoft. Hopefully either Square or MSFT can figure out a fix for this.

I'm waiting for a comment from Square Enix if they will be fixing this before preordering Dawntrail for Xbox. If this is a permanent "feature" there is no point in playing on Xbox at all.

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Originally Posted by LuminaLumi

I'm waiting for a comment from Square Enix if they will be fixing this before preordering Dawntrail for Xbox. If this is a permanent "feature" there is no point in playing on Xbox at all.

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I bought an Xbox last week, partly cause it was a cheaper upgrade from ps4 then getting a ps5. I returned it today, it’s interfering to not able to read the chat properly. Hopefully it can be fixed down the line.

I read that people even gotten banned for advertising FC on Xbox own community page for the game

I never would have even realised there is "anal" in Thanalan if it wasn't for this thread.

Xbox version is going out of its way to take the "worst version" title from the steam one.

Can we at least get some kind of official acknowledgement of this issue? It's ridiculous that my own character name is filtered out. If this is an issue on Microsoft's end we need to know so we can file reports with the proper people.

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Originally Posted by Jwrigh7784

Can we at least get some kind of official acknowledgement of this issue? It's ridiculous that my own character name is filtered out. If this is an issue on Microsoft's end we need to know so we can file reports with the proper people.

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I've been filing reports with Microsoft as well. I agree that it would be great to get some official acknowledgement.

For Microsoft's side of things, I downloaded and installed the "Report a Problem" app on my Xbox, which adds an option to report problems on the menu that comes up with you hold down the guide button on your controller (the same menu you would use to shut down the console). While playing, any time there's some particularly egregious censorship happening in the chat, I hit that Report a Problem button to submit a ticket to Microsoft and check the box to include a screenshot with the report. Hopefully if enough people do something similar, this will get some traction.

The issue is affecting all users of the platform and it's strange that there's no official acknowledgement from either side.

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Originally Posted by willko

I've been filing reports with Microsoft as well. I agree that it would be great to get some official acknowledgement.

For Microsoft's side of things, I downloaded and installed the "Report a Problem" app on my Xbox, which adds an option to report problems on the menu that comes up with you hold down the guide button on your controller (the same menu you would use to shut down the console). While playing, any time there's some particularly egregious censorship happening in the chat, I hit that Report a Problem button to submit a ticket to Microsoft and check the box to include a screenshot with the report. Hopefully if enough people do something similar, this will get some traction.

The issue is affecting all users of the platform and it's strange that there's no official acknowledgement from either side.

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I didn't know such an app existed. Thanks for letting me know, I'm going to look into getting it. The sooner this issue gets addressed the better. As a side note I read on a few places online that when BDO came to Xbox they had the same issue and it was eventually fixed, though I'm not sure what kind of timeframe it took.

Keep Reporting it to xbox of ff14 its also in news as will.

Asmon made a decent video about it, its because the Xbox censorship doesnt consider the games you play lol

Good morning! Thank you for posting in the Final Fantasy XIV Technical Support Forums.

This concern has been forwarded and the development team is already investigating it. Unfortunately, they do not have an ETA at this time as to when a resolution will be reached. At this time, we may only suggest reaching out to Xbox/Microsoft with regards to the issue as well.

If you believe the issue to be a bug, we advise to post in the bug forum here: https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...2-In-Game-Bugs

Thank you once again for visiting the Final Fantasy XIV Technical Support Forums!

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Originally Posted by Votraftur

Good morning! Thank you for posting in the Final Fantasy XIV Technical Support Forums.

This concern has been forwarded and the development team is already investigating it. Unfortunately, they do not have an ETA at this time as to when a resolution will be reached. At this time, we may only suggest reaching out to Xbox/Microsoft with regards to the issue as well.

If you believe the issue to be a bug, we advise to post in the bug forum here: https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...2-In-Game-Bugs

Thank you once again for visiting the Final Fantasy XIV Technical Support Forums!

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I found one mention of this issue in the "Duplicate Bugs" section of the forums. But, I can't find any mention in any other Bug Reports section. Does this mean that I should not submit it to the In-Game-Bugs section, or should I still submit it anyway? Sorry, I'm new to this forum and don't want to run afoul by submitting duplicates or reporting things where I shouldn't. Some forums say to keep reporting issues and let them sort out duplicates while other forums don't like duplicate threads to be created at all.

Good morning! Thank you for visiting the Final Fantasy XIV Technical Support Forums.

If you have located the same or similar topic already posted in the bug forums, we would ask that you simply post a reply under those threads rather than creating a new one. Please do note however, we are certainly aware of the issue and are currently investigating.

Thank you once more for visiting the Final Fantasy XIV Technical Support Forums!

How comes there's still no news on this topic?
That's a pretty big deal imho.
Are the Xbox players so used to Microsoft censoring their chat that they don't even care?

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Originally Posted by Besferus

How comes there's still no news on this topic?
That's a pretty big deal imho.
Are the Xbox players so used to Microsoft censoring their chat that they don't even care?

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We definitely care. It's very frustrating that there's no news on this. I'd like to know if it's going to be fixed before DawnTrail launches because I don't really want to be stuck on a platform that goes out of its way to make it difficult to communicate. If we don't get any word on a fix, I'll end up getting Dawntrail on PS4. If it comes down to low resolution, long load times, and poor framerate vs a completely broken chat, neither option is a good one but I'll go with the technical limitations of old hardware. I just can't justify paying for the latest expansion on a platform that is intentionally crippling itself.

Greetings willko and thank you for posting in the Final Fantasy XIV Technical Support Forums!

We greatly appreciate your feedback regarding features of the game and we do apologize for any inconvenience this issue you and your fellow adventurers may have experienced due to a chat filter. Unfortunately, as it appears to be due to the platform system's filters, we would suggest reporting this to through their Xbox Support page. As it appears you've already sent reports in through the Xbox platform, we would also suggest leaving any additional details and feedback about it here. We have a dedicated section on the forums for feedback and suggestions and as such this thread will be moved to "Feedback & Suggestions" as a result.

If you and your fellow adventurers have any other additional information they wish to add regarding this function, please feel free to do so here. You may also follow Votraftur's suggestion of submitting a bug report by following the steps here https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/forums/632 so that our team may look into it further.

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Originally Posted by willko

We definitely care. It's very frustrating that there's no news on this. I'd like to know if it's going to be fixed before DawnTrail launches because I don't really want to be stuck on a platform that goes out of its way to make it difficult to communicate. If we don't get any word on a fix, I'll end up getting Dawntrail on PS4. If it comes down to low resolution, long load times, and poor framerate vs a completely broken chat, neither option is a good one but I'll go with the technical limitations of old hardware. I just can't justify paying for the latest expansion on a platform that is intentionally crippling itself.

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I feel you. I have FFXIV on PC, Xbox and PS5. I preordered on Xbox only though. Before knowing about the chat filter issue. Microsoft won't let me refund it ofc because I already used the preorder item code. Looks like I will have to buy the expansion on PS5 as well to be able to play it...

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Originally Posted by Eenkalzet

Greetings willko and thank you for posting in the Final Fantasy XIV Technical Support Forums!

We greatly appreciate your feedback regarding features of the game and we do apologize for any inconvenience this issue you and your fellow adventurers may have experienced due to a chat filter. Unfortunately, as it appears to be due to the platform system's filters, we would suggest reporting this to through their Xbox Support page. As it appears you've already sent reports in through the Xbox platform, we would also suggest leaving any additional details and feedback about it here. We have a dedicated section on the forums for feedback and suggestions and as such this thread will be moved to "Feedback & Suggestions" as a result.

If you and your fellow adventurers have any other additional information they wish to add regarding this function, please feel free to do so here. You may also follow Votraftur's suggestion of submitting a bug report by following the steps here https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/forums/632 so that our team may look into it further.

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Some people from reddit tried to reach out to Microsoft support. Looks like they don't care and the filter is working as intended. So everyone just gave up on this topic.

I was actually planning to buying the Xbox version of the game the other day(I already play on PS5 but would be great to play on Xbox SX also) but this issue has put me off buying it, I know several new players have quit the game as they are unable to communicate with other players(which is an essential part of the game)

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Originally Posted by Eenkalzet

Greetings willko and thank you for posting in the Final Fantasy XIV Technical Support Forums!

We greatly appreciate your feedback regarding features of the game and we do apologize for any inconvenience this issue you and your fellow adventurers may have experienced due to a chat filter. Unfortunately, as it appears to be due to the platform system's filters, we would suggest reporting this to through their Xbox Support page. As it appears you've already sent reports in through the Xbox platform, we would also suggest leaving any additional details and feedback about it here. We have a dedicated section on the forums for feedback and suggestions and as such this thread will be moved to "Feedback & Suggestions" as a result.

If you and your fellow adventurers have any other additional information they wish to add regarding this function, please feel free to do so here. You may also follow Votraftur's suggestion of submitting a bug report by following the steps here https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/forums/632 so that our team may look into it further.

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Must we take this as an official word from Square Enix that this issue will never be solved?

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Originally Posted by LuminaLumi

Must we take this as an official word from Square Enix that this issue will never be solved?

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I would say so. Since it's "platform system's filters" SE won't be able to fix it.
According to MS support the Xbox Live chat filter cannot be disabled completely. The are more online games on Xbox having the same issue.

I dont know if this is rly only on Microsofts side. i own my Series X now for 2 years and never experienced anything like it. Lately i play alot of Diablo 4. I can type whatever i want without this "????" censorship (profanity filters disabled). Maybe the game just dont read the settings correctly. I dont know. just feels weird to me, that this happens only in FFXIV. I dont know any other game. I have no problem with censoring bad language, but this thing in FFXIV is wild though. Even messages form the game itself are getting censored.

I love FFXIV on my series x and will continue to play on it, but this issue has to be solved at some point. At best with the 7.0 Update.

Welcome and Class seem to show correctly now so not sure if they are fixing it behind the scenes or if it’s just coincidence.
It’s starting to look like it’s something people will just have to put up with

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Originally Posted by Echo86

Welcome and Class seem to show correctly now so not sure if they are fixing it behind the scenes or if it’s just coincidence.
It’s starting to look like it’s something people will just have to put up with

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I haven't had a problem with "class" before so there hasn't been any changes yet, or at least in 2 months. We shall see once DT launches if there are any fixes to this or any other Xbox-specific issues like the loading times. So far I'm not holding my breath :(

I honestly don’t expect them to fix it any time soon. Since it was not even confirmed as an issue officially.
Looks like I’ll have to preorder DT on PS5 and forget about the Xbox version.

I gave the Xbox version a try on DT early access launch, and I found some words such as Knight worked, but some other words were still censored. Have you seen any changes with the chat?

I was waiting for them to fix the Xbox version before buying Dawntrail. There was a patch yesterday so I might get it now. Just curious about this issue still, hoping for changes...

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Originally Posted by LuminaLumi

I gave the Xbox version a try on DT early access launch, and I found some words such as Knight worked, but some other words were still censored. Have you seen any changes with the chat?

I was waiting for them to fix the Xbox version before buying Dawntrail. There was a patch yesterday so I might get it now. Just curious about this issue still, hoping for changes...

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Over time, it seems like the problem has become less invasive. But, the problem is definitely still present and still baffling that there's no way to simply turn the "feature" off.