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Ashely currently works as a news writer for Polygon. After getting her Translation degree, she was hired as a guide and news writer for GameRant and TheGamer. She enjoyed working as an author for these sites for six years, and in 2026, she started at Polygon, where she is able to continue to do what she loves: writing about video games.
Revelation greatly improves FF7 Remake series' greater difficulty mode
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Skilled players who welcome a challenge will often crank up the difficulty when starting a game for the first time. This wasn't possible in Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Rebirth, as fans would have to finish the game in order to unlock a greater difficulty mode. But things will be different in Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, according to series director Naoki Hamaguchi.
Director Naoki Hamaguchi has been working on the Final Fantasy 7 Remake series for nearly a decade. He has elevated FF7 to new heights and is well regarded by fans — with some even asking him to direct Final Fantasy 17. Hamaguchi will continue to improve the remake series up until it culminates with the launch of Final Fantasy 7 Revelation on Apr. 8, 2027. The game is revamping Hard Mode, making key changes to improve it, including allowing players to enable it from the start.
FF7 Revelation has Hard Mode from the start due to extensive post-game content
FF7 Remake and Rebirth laid the foundation for Revelation, allowing the series to evolve and improve in the trilogy's final chapter. This was clear with the map upgrade, but it doesn't stop there. In Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, Hard Mode won't be as restrictive. There are no item bans, so players can make any type of build — strategy is important, but so is creative freedom. Most importantly, Hard Mode will be available from the start, so fans won't be forced to finish a playthrough to unlock it.
According to Hamaguchi, this choice was made because finishing Final Fantasy 7 Revelation unlocks an array of post-game content. If Hard Mode were unlocked then, gamers might feel conflicted between starting a new playthrough on their desired difficulty or rushing through the post-game.
This was not the only news shared by Hamaguchi. Players looking for a balanced experience throughout the entire game will be happy to know that Dynamic Mode is making a return in Revelation. This difficulty setting scales enemies to match the party's current level. This way, players can freely explore the world and lose themselves in side quests without accidentally becoming overpowered and making certain enemy fights feel trivial.
As with other entries in the series, players will likely be able to change difficulty in Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, but it'll require restarting the current chapter.