Final Fantasy VII Remake’s upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox Series X❘S launch will come with a new accessibility feature known as Streamlined Progression. Nicknamed “cheat mode” or “God mode” by some, this system lets the player toggle various parameters like “HP is always full,” “MP is always full” or “damage dealt is always 9999.” This essentially allows you to blast through battles and exploration and focus only on the story, if that’s your cup of tea.
Talking to AUTOMATON Japan, FFVII Remake director Naoki Hamaguchi says he knew the feature would raise some eyebrows among players and even his own team, but that he personally pushed for it to be added. “The biggest reason was that we were finally able to announce the FFVII Remake trilogy’s multiplatform expansion. That timing was what really led to the decision to include Streamlined Progression.” As the series makes its way to new platforms and awaits its final entry, Hamaguchi wanted to make sure new players don’t get overwhelmed trying to tackle it from start to finish.
The idea also came from the director’s personal experience trying to stay on top of new game releases amidst his busy schedule. “Personally, I like to try many different games just to keep myself up to date, but I don’t really have the time, so I only get so far. Sometimes it makes me wish I had access to debug functions so I could cover more.”
On the other hand, Hamaguchi notes that adding features like Streamlined Progression to a game as soon as it’s released can be a mistake. “If we were to add it to the third installment at launch, it would probably spark controversy. We’d risk disrupting the experience for fans who have been waiting the longest and deserve to enjoy it the most (through spoilers coming out early and similar).” In this context, adding the boost functions to the first installment, which has been out since 2020, has fewer downsides.
Interestingly, Hamaguchi says that by using Streamlined Progression and speeding through cutscenes, you could potentially clear FFVII Remake “In under 10 hours, maybe around 7 to 8 hours if you’re quick,” which is incredibly short compared to the regular 40 to 50-hour clear time. Although he’d be happiest if people played the game fully, without boosts, Hamaguchi stands by his choice to offer players a choice.
“Naturally, when we announce features like these, we get responses like ‘This is sacrilegious!’ Even within the dev team, there are people who feel that way. But unless someone takes the initiative, it doesn’t happen. I personally believe that, with digital entertainment today, the player should have the choice in how they interact with content. That’s why I pushed for it.”
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade is available for PC (Steam) and PS5. The Switch 2 and Xbox Series X❘S editions launch on January 22, 2026.
I love these sorts of options when they make the game more challenging. Adds lots of replayability. Perhaps that’s why I should stick to PC – for mod support.
I like this and think it a a great idea for casual and repeat players wanting to revisit the games but not necessarily grind it out like they did the first time
To each their own with these kinds of features, but I really don’t understand who would buy a brand new game just to effectively turn off 90% of the features. Better off just saving your money and watching a cutscene compilation on youtube.