Xbox bans FFXIV players for saying 'Free Company'

Xbox reportedly banned several FFXIV players after mentioning Free Company while using in-game chat. Free Company is a term for groups run by players from where one can recruit resources to complete tasks that are difficult to do single-handedly.

It’s not a surprise for players to recruit others to join their guild (Free Company) because more people working towards the same target can help complete tasks faster. However, it seems some players are serving a ban from Xbox just for advertising their Free Company on Xbox. 

Here’s why Xbox is banning FFXIV players after mentioning ‘Free Company’

No one is entirely sure of the reasons behind the ban. However, many talked about responses they got from Xbox on the matter. Apparently, the phrase ‘Free Company’ triggers the Xbox’s word filter suspecting the user of solicitation or self-promotion.

A Reddit user (@TGB_B20kEn) shared a post on the Final Fantasy 14 subreddit to report the issue. A part of the post shared by the Redditor reads: 

I have just gotten banned by Xbox because they believe that “Free Company” is solicitation in their looking for group posts. I filed an appeal and that got denied and have no idea what else to do.

Further down the thread, the user also shared the details of the message that triggered the ban. It reads:

Hello Sprouts! We are currently recruiting for a new Free Company that accepts anyone! Please have Discord because we have PC Players! Pm if interested friends!

According to the user, he is banned for 61 days, and in between the specified period, the user can’t communicate with others, join multiplayer games, or upload media to the Xbox network.

This is just one case, the Reddit post by the user has a pool of comments that point in the same direction. It has been just over a week since Final Fantasy 14 debuted on Xbox and is already in controversy. 

Are you also among the affected FFXIV players? Let us know in the comments below.