This is where Square Enix threw a bit of a curveball at the Final Fantasy VII Remake fans, some of whom were not yet ready to celebrate with them: it was announced that on January 22, 2026, with the launch of Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade on Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox, new “Streamlined Progression” options will be added and released. Now the players are having some… feels.
What is Streamlined Progression, anyway? It’s a series of options for players struggling with the battle system in order to make the game easier… or players who just want to get the story. Things like automatic combat assists, maybe some damage reductions… This is being conceived as a way to get players caught up on Remake so that they can dive into Rebirth, and then Resolution.
But things really got messy- these would be Xbox and Switch 2 exclusives only! And for those PlayStation supporters who had been backing the game all this way? That feeling slightly left out?”
Almost instantly, when the official Final Fantasy VII account tweeted this announcement, the replies came flooding in from confused and angry players. Dan117TV went straight to the point and questioned, “These aren’t being added to the Playstation version?” While Ice_of_Sub_Zero asked, “Will new players who buy FFVII R:I on PS5 be able to enjoy these features too? Or are you guys discriminating against PlayStation now?”
Right now, that’s some strong language.
As if some of those comments don’t push one to get even angrier. Some were harsh with octaslasher2: “seriously screw you for denying this to Playstation players. Great to know that you treat your loyal players like this just because we already bought your game.” An obscene-level amount of emotional energy to a game difficulty setting.
But the others oppose the general temperature of the riot, willing to applaud the difficulty options. GenesissVII said, “A great option for those that want it!” Adding to that endorsement, Ice_of_Sub_Zero commented, “a quick-catch-up mode so people can get through Remake, play Rebirth, and make it in on time for the drop of Resolution.”
That lends to the bigger ongoing debate about difficulty options in games, some players argued against the new features. StarKillerX1 enquired, “Where’s the ‘Auto-Play’? Do they give pop-corn with the game?” While cayo0663 joked, “just watch a cutscene comp on youtube….same experience lol.”
Enter the hardcore pleasers of the game old-style… User Xiphos_YT stated proudly, “Platinumed the PS4 version, didn’t transfer my save and platinumed it on PS5 too, I’ll do everything without these on the Xbox and Switch 2 versions too.” And along comes AwenoKing throwing pure shade: “If you’re below the age of 50 and don’t suffer from any disabilities and need these maybe gaming isn’t for you.”
Yeah, that’s pretty harsh.
Then we come down to trophies and achievements, an absolute confusion. Players discuss whether these streamlined options would even allow the unlocking of trophies and achievements. b00stleee speculated: “Trophies/achievements are likely disabled when using the feature.” That seems so logical and would just make sense from a developer’s standpoint, but once again, no official word from Square Enix.
What is fascinating about this is how it shines a spotlight onto the ongoing conversation regarding accessibility in gaming. Some players consider these options as “baby mode” or “journalist mode,” (words of Vandersonj1001), whereas others think about it in terms of different players having different needs and wants. Killjoy3879 presents an excellent argument: “watching and playing are two different things. There are games I’d hate to watch and love to play and other games I’d hate to play but love to watch.”
Ultimately, the bigger problem seems to be that these options are locked behind a paywall of platform-exclusive features. Players who invested in the PlayStation ecosystem feel like they’re being punished for their loyalty while new players on other platforms get extra options. This is fracturing the community in a way nobody asked for.
There are no clear answers from Square Enix as to whether these features will make it to the PlayStation or PC versions down the line. Multiple players have asked the question bluntly, and one of those players is JoshM574: “will this update be coming to PS5 and PC versions of the game too?” but so far Square Enix is ominously silent on the subject.
Quite messy, this whole situation, honestly. On one hand, more options is almost always good for players. On the other, if quality-of-life improvements are withheld from your most devoted fanbase, feels… not really good. And now, considering we’re looking at January 2026 for the games’ return, there’s a lot of time for this to either stay relevant or descend further into controversy.
It works in two manners: one, squares, and two, going completely in silence until after the launch, won’t take the game out of the limelight at all. One way or the other, Final Fantasy VII Remake is one project that refuses to stay away. This remake project was filled with surprises and controversies, and this recent development only adds another chapter to that ongoing story.
Maybe in 2026, it will all be in the past and the community will have moved on. Either way, it would be one of those gaming controversies people talk about even years later. Time will tell, but for now, the Final Fantasy community has a lot more to discuss.
