Three days after the patch release for Final Fantasy XIV (FFXIV) version 6.05, Square-Enix Japan (SE Japan) made a staggering and abrupt decision to terminate service for numerous FFXIV accounts. All of the accounts affected in this case belonged to Chinese customers. Further investigation indicates there is a high probability these decisions were made on unconvincing grounds.

This report is created with the sole purpose to analyze and authenticate the racial discrimination behind SE Japan's decision making process. In this incident, SE Japan not only failed to recognize and constrain the vast number of gratuitous in-game harassment reports directed only at Chinese-speaking players, they had also consented to the racially insulting attacks toward Chinese and American players alike both in game and on social media platforms. By condoning these violent acts, SE Japan single-handedly created a public chain of discrimination within the Mana community, greatly damaged the ecosystem of the playing environment for Chinese-speaking players.  

We hereby act on behalf of all the victims affected negatively by the actions of SE Japan, including but not limited to the Chinese players whose accounts were terminated unfairly, as well as the American and South East Asian players, who were discriminated against only for speaking/typing Chinese in public. We strongly condemn SE Japan for their intolerance towards their customers, and we demand a formal apology from SE Japan, and reasonable reparations.

[Prerequisite Statement] SE North America/SE Europe and SE Japan are independently managed divisions following divergent policies and user agreements. The term ‘players’ in this report only refers to those who have an active character in FFXIV's Mana Data Center, or someone emulated as such. Moreover, the term ‘SE Japan’ stands for Square-Enix Japan only and shall not be confused with Square-Enix or any of its affiliated departments. We strongly oppose those who try to use this report to criticize any other company/organization, including but not limited to FFXIV China.

[Our Bottom Line] Before a conviction could be applied with concrete evidence, all players should be treated equally by the company, holding the same rights, no matter what country they are from, what language they speak, or where they are. To this end, we offered this report to help SE Japan fulfill its own principles and values, and foster customer relations.

[Last Thoughts] Every Warriors of Light had arrived in Mana with passion for FFXIV. Never did some of them expect, after fighting their way through various enemies in expansion 6.0, what they ultimately had to face was a careless and condescending company and their "fans". Compared to what happened in the game, the real-world victims are treated as anything but the WoLs they portrayed as. As a business who sells hopes and dreams, SE Japan used nationality as weights on a scale, and set a number for each of their players. This directly contradicts the equality and compassion they try to portray throughout their story. We would like to also ask SE Japan, before making these discriminating attacks, to consider the players not as accounts with informations attached, but real people sitting behind their screen. Think about them, the Warriors of Light you tore apart.

We hope every Warrior of Light aspires to avoid mindless echoing, always listening to both sides of the story, and finding answers on your own. To stand up against darkness no matter how tough it may seem, to speak up when you see injustice no matter how small you feel, and to fight towards a better world no matter how hopeless it could be, for ourselves and for others. 

Most of the people helping out are not the actual victims, but this report exists because we believe in these ideas and virtues. It doesn't matter if you are Japanese or Chinese, or a citizen of any country for that matter, if you have ever experienced discrimination in-game or in real life, we ask you to please help us fight this battle, spread this report, sign this petition, and make us heard.

[Full report in English/Chinese/Japanese/Spanish with detailed analysis and evidence will be available to download on this page in near future]