Square Enix is once again enforcing strict measures regarding modding in Final Fantasy 14. The developer behind Mare Synchronos, a popular plugin facilitating the synchronization and sharing of appearance mods, has announced the termination of the project after receiving a legal inquiry from Square Enix. This isn’t the first mod to be affected by Square’s actions this year, but it signifies an escalation in the company’s stance.

The plugin’s developer, DarkArchon, stated that his decision to shut down Mare came after he consulted with legal counsel following the inquiry. Mare Synchronos had become one of the largest mods for Final Fantasy 14, boasting a Discord community with over 200,000 users. While not the primary tool for adding modded visuals to the game, it was crucial for sharing these changes among players in-game.

DarkArchon has already ceased new user registrations and removed all related software repositories. He stated, “The server will continue to run until Friday, August 22, 2025, at 5:00 AM. Enjoy your last doomsday party.”

Despite ongoing challenges regarding modding under Square Enix’s policies, this shutdown reflects the complexity of modding in an enduring title such as Final Fantasy 14. As developer Naoki Yoshida noted, the game has long maintained a strict no third-party tools policy, leading to inconsistent enforcement and community self-regulation.