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Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s streamlined progression is a reminder of the joy of cheating
A Polygon writer reflects on the return of overt "cheat" options in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, arguing that streamlined progression settings recapture the old-school thrill of classic video game cheats. The piece traces cheating's history from development tools like the 1986 Konami Code to 1990s devices such as the Game Genie, framing modern optional toggles as a natural evolution rather than a departure from that tradition. This matters because it highlights an ongoing debate about accessibility and player choice in single-player games, where such options can broaden appeal without affecting anyone else's experience.
In June, alongside the launch of Rebirth's Xbox and Nintendo Switch 2 versions, Square Enix added a free update introducing 13 optional streamlined progression toggles, including infinite money, boosted EXP and AP gain, and infinite HP and MP. The writer describes using them to revisit an old save with faster levelling and no financial constraints, reigniting enthusiasm ahead of Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, the trilogy's next instalment due next spring. The Final Fantasy community is divided: some feel the toggles undermine completionists since achievements remain enabled regardless, while others welcome them as a way to enjoy the game with less time investment or to attract newcomers.
In short
- Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth added 13 optional streamlined progression toggles in June.
- Writer says these "cheats" revive the fun of classic gaming shortcuts.
- Fan community is split over whether they undermine or enhance the experience.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The streamlined progression toggles represent a natural evolution of a tradition extending back decades to development tools and the Konami Code—player choice in single-player experiences. These options harm no one; they allow different players to engage with the narrative and world at their preferred pace without grind, whether through time constraints, accessibility needs, or revisiting content differently. By making the game accessible to more people without forcing anyone to use these settings, Square Enix honours both players seeking challenge and those seeking story-driven experience.
The case against
When achievement systems remain fully enabled regardless of which toggles players activate, the integrity of the progression and achievement systems becomes questionable—a 100-hour platinum trophy earned through normal play becomes equivalent to one obtained with infinite resources. These toggles also risk normalising a design philosophy where developers assume players will bypass intended content, potentially making games feel less carefully paced or challenging even for those playing legitimately. The 'optional' framing obscures that their presence fundamentally changes the design conversation and may erode the meaningful struggle that has historically defined gaming achievement.
Explained simply
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is the second part of a remake of a classic 1997 video game, released by Square Enix for PlayStation 5 and more recently on Xbox and Nintendo Switch 2. In June, the game received a free update adding 13 optional "streamlined progression" settings, allowing players to turn on features like unlimited money, faster character levelling, and unlimited health and magic points.
These toggles are official cheats built directly into the game, unlike the secret codes that older games used to hide for players to discover. The community is divided on whether they're valuable—some worry they undermine the game's challenge and argue achievements shouldn't unlock when they're active, whilst others welcome them as accessibility features that let players enjoy the story without spending hundreds of hours training characters or replaying difficult sections.
This reflects a broader question in gaming about how much developers should prioritise player choice and accessibility against maintaining their intended experience. Optional difficulty or progression toggles have become increasingly common in modern games as studios try to broaden appeal without affecting anyone else's experience.