{"id":2155859,"date":"2026-09-21T20:10:15","date_gmt":"2026-09-21T17:10:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2155859"},"modified":"2026-09-21T20:10:15","modified_gmt":"2026-09-21T17:10:15","slug":"final-fantasy-7-revelation-will-include-option-to-let-players-automatically-level-up-their-characters-but-not-everyone-is-happy-about-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2155859","title":{"rendered":"Final Fantasy 7 Revelation Will Include Option to Let Players Automatically Level Up Their Characters, but Not Everyone Is Happy About It"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-cy=\"article-content\" class=\"jsx-3246540067 article-content page-0\">\n<section data-cy=\"article-subtitle\" class=\"article jsx-3932497636 article-section jsx-2044616299 news\" data-autopogo=\"true\">\n<section class=\"article-page\">\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Speaking with IGN Japan at Tokyo Game Show 2026, Final Fantasy 7 Revelation director Naoki Hamaguchi said the game will contain an option to let players automatically level up their characters, allowing them to experience the story without needing to grind \u2014 but the broader gaming community is at odds with this idea.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/games\/final-fantasy-vii-revelation\"><u>Final Fantasy 7 Revelation<\/u><\/a>, like every other game in the series, is very narrative-focused. Luckily, there\u2019ll be a feature for those who want to breeze through tough battles and get to its major story beats, as told by Hamaguchi at TGS 2026.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">During our <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/G5S0weOKEP0?t=8616\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>conversation<\/u><\/a>, he told us that he\u2019d received feedback from players who claimed they had a hard time getting through the previous games\u2019 main story due to being underleveled, saying they didn\u2019t want to grind through the wealth of side quests to work their way up to a higher level.<\/p>\n<p><span data-cy=\"slideshow-view-trigger\"><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-preview\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 slideshow-preview\">\n<h3 class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-1085005187\" data-cy=\"slideshow-preview-title\">Final Fantasy 7 Revelation Preview Screenshots<\/h3>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-container\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 images-container\"><button type=\"button\" data-cy=\"hero-image\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 hero-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><span class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button button--primary jsx-3027214138 jsx-4266531355 row-pagination-button next contained centered round large\" data-cy=\"paginate next\" title=\"Open Slideshow\"><span class=\"ign-icon right-chevron jsx-2750866048 jsx-2919720488\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"right-chevron\" style=\"mask:url(https:\/\/kraken.ignimgs.com\/_next\/static\/media\/RightChevron.272be43c.svg?cors=1) no-repeat center center \/ contain;background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-list\" class=\"scrollbar jsx-2072772685 jsx-4243969252 images-list\"><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"rounded jsx-412047461 overlay progressive-image jsx-2338608387 expand\" data-cy=\"slideshow-image-overlay\">\n<div data-cy=\"element-caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490\">View 35 Images<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">&#8220;Naturally, because we&#8217;ve prepared so much side content, [a player&#8217;s] level might not quite reach the requirement for the main story. There were voices [from players] saying, &#8216;Even though you say I don&#8217;t have to do the side content, if I don&#8217;t do it and make my characters stronger, I end up struggling,\u2019\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">&#8220;For people who really just want to do the main story, we&#8217;ve included an option that asks, if your level is not high enough for the recommended level when you reach a part of the main story, &#8216;Would you like to automatically raise [your level] to the recommended level?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">This particular remark has sparked a heated debate within the gaming community. The broad sentiment from critics argues that adding such a feature makes the game far too \u2018hand-holdy,\u2019 and furthermore, presents a startling implication that young players are no longer being faced with challenges in games.<\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-2896921488 video jsx-2008855984 aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9\">\n<div class=\"badge jsx-1349606671 jsx-3647116352\"><span class=\"ign-icon icon-play jsx-2750866048 jsx-1044454891\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"false\" data-cy=\"icon-play\" aria-label=\"Play\" style=\"mask:url(https:\/\/kraken.ignimgs.com\/_next\/static\/media\/Play.59e5540b.svg?cors=1) no-repeat center center \/ contain;background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Veteran game artist TheCartelDel provided the most viral argument against adding this feature, writing on X\/Twitter, \u201cWe need to have a serious discussion about how games used to be a unique method to teach kids and teens about patience, delayed gratification, and working hard to accomplish a goal \u2014 and now we&#8217;re designing away the need to persevere at all. You will learn to overcome nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cI like the FF7 remakes. I really do. But every piece of news I\u2019ve been seeing about Revelation feels like they\u2019re accommodating this game for people who don\u2019t like playing games and it\u2019s embarrassing,\u201d another user <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ougimujinken\/status\/2102023873466130432?s=20\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>said<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cHaving options to FACILITATE the experience is ALWAYS good, but there&#8217;s a difference between facilitating and ELIMINATING the experience,\u201d another <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Naomi_Misora93\/status\/2101996707042959391?s=20\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>argued<\/u><\/a>. \u201cIn an RPG, getting lost in its world, exploring, fighting, and leveling up is precisely the nature of the genre.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-theme=\"light\">\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\" lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">We need to have a serious discussion about how games used to be a unique method to teach kids &amp; teens about patience, delayed gratification, and working hard to accomplish a goal &#8211; and now we&#8217;re designing away the need to persevere at all. You will learn to overcome nothing. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/K0FOtDxa5n\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/t.co\/K0FOtDxa5n<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Del (@TheCartelDel) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TheCartelDel\/status\/2102064874520232212?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">September 21, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">That being said, FF7 Revelation is going to be a massive game, with Hamaguchi teasing that it\u2019ll take completionists <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/final-fantasy-7-revelation-will-easily-take-over-100-hours-for-completionists-to-beat-director-teases\"><u>\u201cat least 100 hours\u201d<\/u><\/a> to totally finish. It\u2019s an open-world game, after all, with a wide variety of side quests to complete and areas to explore. That\u2019s why there\u2019s a few ways players can navigate its world, either by dropping in from the Highwind (thanks for the ride, Cid) or traversing the landscape via Chocobo \u2014 or heck, even walking on foot.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Because such a massive open world can trigger decision fatigue from players who prefer a more linear experience, Hamaguchi said the development team is working hard to find a balance between providing enough guidance for those who struggled in exploration and those who want to wander off on their own, saying he\u2019d received some feedback calling the game a bit too hand-holdy.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cThere are people who want to explore, and there are people who don&#8217;t want to get lost. So, I think that for open-world games today, you need quite a thorough level of guidance. However, on the other hand, there were also opinions from people who wanted to discover things on their own, saying that the guidance was a bit intrusive or in the way. So, we are currently considering things like toggling that guidance on and off,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-2896921488 video jsx-2008855984 aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9\">\n<div class=\"badge jsx-1349606671 jsx-3647116352\"><span class=\"ign-icon icon-play jsx-2750866048 jsx-1044454891\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"false\" data-cy=\"icon-play\" aria-label=\"Play\" style=\"mask:url(https:\/\/kraken.ignimgs.com\/_next\/static\/media\/Play.59e5540b.svg?cors=1) no-repeat center center \/ contain;background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Either way, it appears that Hamaguchi is well-aware of concerns that the game will do too much heavy lifting on players\u2019 behalf. It\u2019s also worth noting that many AAA games these days offer difficulty levels specifically tailored to experiencing their story modes, so Hamaguchi\u2019s automatic level-up option isn\u2019t something totally new.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">What\u2019s your take on this feature? Do you think it\u2019s heralding an issue with the next generation of games, or do you think the conversation has been blown out of proportion? Let us know in the comments below.<\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"accent-divider\" class=\"jsx-3449795453 divider jsx-2786329600\"><\/div>\n<section class=\"author-sign-off\" data-cy=\"author-sign-off\"><span class=\"stack jsx-59817748 jsx-1927875859\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"rounded jsx-444076027 jsx-4218469134 profile-thumb jsx-2141281959 aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-1-1\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Virginia Glaze Avatar\" class=\"progressive-image profile-thumb-img jsx-249361588 jsx-2338608387 expand\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/avatars\/6a3973ecf71dd1001d20de39\/XD1zX2FT-1782150223173.jpg?crop=1%3A1&amp;width=56&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=80\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"stack jsx-2509706801 jsx-3630940851\"><span class=\"stack jsx-2959124702 jsx-702910195 author-sign-off-header\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/person\/virginiaglaze\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"interface jsx-1132626198 jsx-2809511915 bold underlined\">Virginia Glaze<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490 muted\">News Editor<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"stack jsx-2509706801 jsx-1220387432\"><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"author-sign-off-socials\" class=\"jsx-2877214176 author-sign-off-socials\"><button type=\"button\" aria-haspopup=\"listbox\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-label=\"View social links\" class=\"jsx-2877214176 socials-trigger\"><span title=\"X\" class=\"jsx-2877214176 social-icon-avatar\"><span class=\"ign-icon jsx-2877214176 jsx-2750866048 jsx-2788214270\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"jsx-2877214176\" style=\"mask:url(https:\/\/kraken.ignimgs.com\/_next\/static\/media\/Twitter.d0b97af5.svg?cors=1) no-repeat center center \/ contain;background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<div role=\"listbox\" class=\"scrollbar jsx-2772765485 jsx-4243969252 jsx-3705869475 dropdown-menu jsx-3625955085\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.twitter.com\/@TheeMissGlaze\" id=\"author-sign-off-social-twitterHandle\" class=\"menu-item jsx-3565735818 jsx-3927327418\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490 menu-item-text\" data-text=\"X\">X<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"ign-icon icon-twitter jsx-2750866048 jsx-3701596282\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"icon-twitter\" style=\"mask:url(https:\/\/kraken.ignimgs.com\/_next\/static\/media\/Twitter.d0b97af5.svg?cors=1) no-repeat center center \/ contain;background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"interface jsx-1132626198 sign-off-text\">\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><em>Virginia (she\/her) is IGN\u2019s News Editor. With ten years of experience reporting on games and entertainment, she\u2019s got a storied background in the fighting game community, influencer news, and viral online trends. Find her on Twitter at <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TheeMissGlaze\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer noopener noreferrer\"><em>@TheeMissGlaze<\/em><\/a><em>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/span><\/section>\n<\/section>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"jsx-2511205168 preferred-source\"><strong class=\"jsx-2511205168\">Get IGN&#8217;s Biggest Stories FIRST. Set Us as Your Source.<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.ign.com\" class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button button--secondary jsx-3027214138 icon-button contained centered large\" title=\"Add Source\" aria-label=\"Add Source\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"ign-icon icon-google jsx-2750866048 jsx-3701596282\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"false\" data-cy=\"icon-google\" alt=\"Google\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/kraken.ignimgs.com\/_next\/static\/media\/Google.9e99a9d7.svg?cors=0\"><span class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 large\">Add Source<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"stack jsx-1475529924\"><\/span><\/div>\n<section class=\"article-page\">\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Speaking with IGN Japan at Tokyo Game Show 2026, Final Fantasy 7 Revelation director Naoki Hamaguchi said the game will contain an option to let players automatically level up their characters, allowing them to experience the story without needing to grind \u2014 but the broader gaming community is at odds with this idea.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/games\/final-fantasy-vii-revelation\"><u>Final Fantasy 7 Revelation<\/u><\/a>, like every other game in the series, is very narrative-focused. Luckily, there\u2019ll be a feature for those who want to breeze through tough battles and get to its major story beats, as told by Hamaguchi at TGS 2026.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">During our <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/G5S0weOKEP0?t=8616\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>conversation<\/u><\/a>, he told us that he\u2019d received feedback from players who claimed they had a hard time getting through the previous games\u2019 main story due to being underleveled, saying they didn\u2019t want to grind through the wealth of side quests to work their way up to a higher level.<\/p>\n<p><span data-cy=\"slideshow-view-trigger\"><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-preview\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 slideshow-preview\">\n<h3 class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-1085005187\" data-cy=\"slideshow-preview-title\">Final Fantasy 7 Revelation Preview Screenshots<\/h3>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-container\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 images-container\"><button type=\"button\" data-cy=\"hero-image\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 hero-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><span class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button button--primary jsx-3027214138 jsx-4266531355 row-pagination-button next contained centered round large\" data-cy=\"paginate next\" title=\"Open Slideshow\"><span class=\"ign-icon right-chevron jsx-2750866048 jsx-2919720488\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"right-chevron\" style=\"mask:url(https:\/\/kraken.ignimgs.com\/_next\/static\/media\/RightChevron.272be43c.svg?cors=1) no-repeat center center \/ contain;background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-list\" class=\"scrollbar jsx-2072772685 jsx-4243969252 images-list\"><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"rounded jsx-412047461 overlay progressive-image jsx-2338608387 expand\" data-cy=\"slideshow-image-overlay\">\n<div data-cy=\"element-caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490\">View 35 Images<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2896921488 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">&#8220;Naturally, because we&#8217;ve prepared so much side content, [a player&#8217;s] level might not quite reach the requirement for the main story. There were voices [from players] saying, &#8216;Even though you say I don&#8217;t have to do the side content, if I don&#8217;t do it and make my characters stronger, I end up struggling,\u2019\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">&#8220;For people who really just want to do the main story, we&#8217;ve included an option that asks, if your level is not high enough for the recommended level when you reach a part of the main story, &#8216;Would you like to automatically raise [your level] to the recommended level?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">This particular remark has sparked a heated debate within the gaming community. The broad sentiment from critics argues that adding such a feature makes the game far too \u2018hand-holdy,\u2019 and furthermore, presents a startling implication that young players are no longer being faced with challenges in games.<\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-2896921488 video jsx-2008855984 aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9\">\n<div class=\"badge jsx-1349606671 jsx-3647116352\"><span class=\"ign-icon icon-play jsx-2750866048 jsx-1044454891\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"false\" data-cy=\"icon-play\" aria-label=\"Play\" style=\"mask:url(https:\/\/kraken.ignimgs.com\/_next\/static\/media\/Play.59e5540b.svg?cors=1) no-repeat center center \/ contain;background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Veteran game artist TheCartelDel provided the most viral argument against adding this feature, writing on X\/Twitter, \u201cWe need to have a serious discussion about how games used to be a unique method to teach kids and teens about patience, delayed gratification, and working hard to accomplish a goal \u2014 and now we&#8217;re designing away the need to persevere at all. You will learn to overcome nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cI like the FF7 remakes. I really do. But every piece of news I\u2019ve been seeing about Revelation feels like they\u2019re accommodating this game for people who don\u2019t like playing games and it\u2019s embarrassing,\u201d another user <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ougimujinken\/status\/2102023873466130432?s=20\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>said<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cHaving options to FACILITATE the experience is ALWAYS good, but there&#8217;s a difference between facilitating and ELIMINATING the experience,\u201d another <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Naomi_Misora93\/status\/2101996707042959391?s=20\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>argued<\/u><\/a>. \u201cIn an RPG, getting lost in its world, exploring, fighting, and leveling up is precisely the nature of the genre.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-theme=\"light\">\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\" lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">We need to have a serious discussion about how games used to be a unique method to teach kids &amp; teens about patience, delayed gratification, and working hard to accomplish a goal &#8211; and now we&#8217;re designing away the need to persevere at all. You will learn to overcome nothing. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/K0FOtDxa5n\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/t.co\/K0FOtDxa5n<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Del (@TheCartelDel) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TheCartelDel\/status\/2102064874520232212?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">September 21, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">That being said, FF7 Revelation is going to be a massive game, with Hamaguchi teasing that it\u2019ll take completionists <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/final-fantasy-7-revelation-will-easily-take-over-100-hours-for-completionists-to-beat-director-teases\"><u>\u201cat least 100 hours\u201d<\/u><\/a> to totally finish. It\u2019s an open-world game, after all, with a wide variety of side quests to complete and areas to explore. That\u2019s why there\u2019s a few ways players can navigate its world, either by dropping in from the Highwind (thanks for the ride, Cid) or traversing the landscape via Chocobo \u2014 or heck, even walking on foot.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Because such a massive open world can trigger decision fatigue from players who prefer a more linear experience, Hamaguchi said the development team is working hard to find a balance between providing enough guidance for those who struggled in exploration and those who want to wander off on their own, saying he\u2019d received some feedback calling the game a bit too hand-holdy.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cThere are people who want to explore, and there are people who don&#8217;t want to get lost. So, I think that for open-world games today, you need quite a thorough level of guidance. However, on the other hand, there were also opinions from people who wanted to discover things on their own, saying that the guidance was a bit intrusive or in the way. So, we are currently considering things like toggling that guidance on and off,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-2896921488 video jsx-2008855984 aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9\">\n<div class=\"badge jsx-1349606671 jsx-3647116352\"><span class=\"ign-icon icon-play jsx-2750866048 jsx-1044454891\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"false\" data-cy=\"icon-play\" aria-label=\"Play\" style=\"mask:url(https:\/\/kraken.ignimgs.com\/_next\/static\/media\/Play.59e5540b.svg?cors=1) no-repeat center center \/ contain;background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Either way, it appears that Hamaguchi is well-aware of concerns that the game will do too much heavy lifting on players\u2019 behalf. It\u2019s also worth noting that many AAA games these days offer difficulty levels specifically tailored to experiencing their story modes, so Hamaguchi\u2019s automatic level-up option isn\u2019t something totally new.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">What\u2019s your take on this feature? Do you think it\u2019s heralding an issue with the next generation of games, or do you think the conversation has been blown out of proportion? Let us know in the comments below.<\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"accent-divider\" class=\"jsx-3449795453 divider jsx-2786329600\"><\/div>\n<section class=\"author-sign-off\" data-cy=\"author-sign-off\"><span class=\"stack jsx-59817748 jsx-1927875859\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"rounded jsx-444076027 jsx-4218469134 profile-thumb jsx-2141281959 aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-1-1\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Virginia Glaze Avatar\" class=\"progressive-image profile-thumb-img jsx-249361588 jsx-2338608387 expand\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/avatars\/6a3973ecf71dd1001d20de39\/XD1zX2FT-1782150223173.jpg?crop=1%3A1&amp;width=56&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=80\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"stack jsx-2509706801 jsx-3630940851\"><span class=\"stack jsx-2959124702 jsx-702910195 author-sign-off-header\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/person\/virginiaglaze\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"interface jsx-1132626198 jsx-2809511915 bold underlined\">Virginia Glaze<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490 muted\">News Editor<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"stack jsx-2509706801 jsx-1220387432\"><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"author-sign-off-socials\" class=\"jsx-2877214176 author-sign-off-socials\"><button type=\"button\" aria-haspopup=\"listbox\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-label=\"View social links\" class=\"jsx-2877214176 socials-trigger\"><span title=\"X\" class=\"jsx-2877214176 social-icon-avatar\"><span class=\"ign-icon jsx-2877214176 jsx-2750866048 jsx-2788214270\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"jsx-2877214176\" style=\"mask:url(https:\/\/kraken.ignimgs.com\/_next\/static\/media\/Twitter.d0b97af5.svg?cors=1) no-repeat center center \/ contain;background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<div role=\"listbox\" class=\"scrollbar jsx-2772765485 jsx-4243969252 jsx-3705869475 dropdown-menu jsx-3625955085\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.twitter.com\/@TheeMissGlaze\" id=\"author-sign-off-social-twitterHandle\" class=\"menu-item jsx-3565735818 jsx-3927327418\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490 menu-item-text\" data-text=\"X\">X<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"ign-icon icon-twitter jsx-2750866048 jsx-3701596282\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"icon-twitter\" style=\"mask:url(https:\/\/kraken.ignimgs.com\/_next\/static\/media\/Twitter.d0b97af5.svg?cors=1) no-repeat center center \/ contain;background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"interface jsx-1132626198 sign-off-text\">\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><em>Virginia (she\/her) is IGN\u2019s News Editor. With ten years of experience reporting on games and entertainment, she\u2019s got a storied background in the fighting game community, influencer news, and viral online trends. Find her on Twitter at <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TheeMissGlaze\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer noopener noreferrer\"><em>@TheeMissGlaze<\/em><\/a><em>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/span><\/section>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Speaking with IGN Japan at Tokyo Game Show 2026, Final Fantasy 7 Revelation director Naoki Hamaguchi said the game will contain an option to let players automatically level up their characters, allowing them to experience the story without needing to grind \u2014 but the broader gaming community is at odds with this idea. Final Fantasy [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,243],"class_list":["post-2155859","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-ign-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2155859","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2155859"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2155859\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2155859"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2155859"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2155859"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}