Modders did it to themselves

[Zackneifein]

I think it being perfect is impossible but, If modding were part of an official channel, it would be moderated. That means clear rules, limited access, and tools designed to prevent abuse and bring in revenue. Yes, there would still be underground mods, just like in every game, but they wouldn't be front and center. They'd be kept in the shadows, not shaping the public experience.

Plenty of other games have thriving modding communities with boundaries that are respected because the developers chose to engage instead of ignore. Saying it's "utopian" to expect structure and moderation is just dismissive. It's not about giving players total liberty, it's about giving them a safe, creative space with limits that actually work.

Square Enix could choose to support modding in a way that protects the game and its players. They just haven't. That’s the real issue.

We don't know why Square Enix acted now, or even if it's them. We don't know the reason - if you have to ask me, I'm convinced that it has nothing to do with "going against mod beasts" or anything like that (more like security risk, about the personnal data shared or things like that).

But one thing is sure, is that CBU3 stance is that they want total control over the art of the game. Which is... understandable, not the only stance to have, yes, but understandable ? There is game where modding is allowed that don't have (or lost) any visual identity and became an absolute mess of chaos.
I mean not everyone is like that, but there are authors or directors that hate fanfiction or re-edits of their movie and its their right. The fact is that here, for an online game, there is TOS and legal way to prevent it to happen as much as possible.

I'm not one saying that "you should unsub" because I always found it stupid, but fact is, if you are looking for a game with developers open to the modding community, FFXIV isn't for you. They were quite lenient for years and will continue to be outside of Mare, but never will be open about it. Like you said, modding is allowed in the Japanese Law if the developers allowed it, but it's not for nothing if it became a law, it's not their culture, it's also why the Japanese side of the playerbase isn't nearly as revolted as the occidental one is.

[BlisteringFrost]

We don't know why Square Enix acted now, or even if it's them. We don't know the reason - if you have to ask me, I'm convinced that it has nothing to do with "going against mod beasts" or anything like that (more like security risk, about the personnal data shared or things like that).

But one thing is sure, is that CBU3 stance is that they want total control over the art of the game. Which is... understandable, not the only stance to have, yes, but understandable ? There is game where modding is allowed that don't have (or lost) any visual identity and became an absolute mess of chaos.
I mean not everyone is like that, but there are authors or directors that hate fanfiction or re-edits of their movie and its their right. The fact is that here, for an online game, there is TOS and legal way to prevent it to happen as much as possible.

I'm not one saying that "you should unsub" because I always found it stupid, but fact is, if you are looking for a game with developers open to the modding community, FFXIV isn't for you. They were quite lenient for years and will continue to be outside of Mare, but never will be open about it. Like you said, modding is allowed in the Japanese Law if the developers allowed it, but it's not for nothing if it became a law, it's not their culture, it's also why the Japanese side of the playerbase isn't nearly as revolted as the occidental one is.

Now this isn't exactly hard proof to be fair, but....

[Zackneifein]

Now this isn't exactly hard proof to be fair, but....

It's also entirely possible. He don't say it's Square Enix so it's protecting him from potential action from them against him and he could have made enough money to be okay until his old age and chose to escape before going to far and being targeted.

But it's like speculating on who made the C&D or why if it's Square Enix : just blow hot air.