Final Fantasy 7 Remake Can Now Be Finished in 7 Hours — Game Director Explains the Change

Naoki Hamaguchi, the game director for the Final Fantasy VII Remake series, explained why he pushed to include a Streamlined Progression option in the Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox Series X/S ports.

This option — often referred to as a “cheat mode” or “god mode” — lets players set their HP and MP to maximum and fix damage at 9,999. Its main purpose is to make the game more accessible to newcomers, particularly in advance of the trilogy’s final installment.

Hamaguchi acknowledged that the feature would provoke mixed responses from fans and members of the development team. The idea came from his own experience: as a director he sometimes struggles when learning new games himself.

With Streamlined Progression combined with accelerated cutscenes, Final Fantasy VII Remake can be completed in under 10 hours, and in a brisk playthrough it can take roughly 7–8 hours — a stark contrast to the typical 40–50 hour playtime.

Hamaguchi emphasized: “Nothing will change until the player chooses to do so. In interactive entertainment, the player decides how to engage with the content and how to experience the game. That’s why I insisted on this feature.”

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade is available on PC and PS5. The release for Switch 2 and Xbox Series X/S is scheduled for January 22, 2026.

Source: iXBT.games