Categories: Technology

It’s time for game developers to bring back the cheat code

For gamers of a certain age, sequences of gibberish characters like idkfa, torg, ABACABB, and UUDDLRLRBA are akin to long-lost magical incantations. They hark back to a time when game developers frequently and regularly let players use cheat codes to customize their gaming experience with everything from infinite health and instant level selection to full debug menus or gigantic anime-style giant head avatars. There were even external cheat devices that allowed players to hack console games with cheat codes that the developers never intended.

Although the heyday of the cheat code is long gone, the idea of ​​allowing players to manipulate their gaming experiences in the same way is coming back into fashion for some developers. Last month, Square Enix announced that the upcoming Switch 2 and Xbox ports of Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade would include new “simplified progression” features. As the name suggests, the new options menu will give players the ability to go through the game with infinite health, magic, and money, faster leveling, max damage attacks, and much more.

“Constant Max HP” is a fun way to spell and pronounce “god mode.”

“Constant Max HP” is a fun way to spell and pronounce “god mode.”


Credit: Reddit/Square Enix

While some reacted negatively to what they derisively called a “cheat mode,” director Naoki Hamaguchi defended the new options in a recent interview with Automaton. “Personally, I like to try lots of different games just to keep up to date, but I don’t really have the time, so I only get to that point,” he said. “Personally, I believe that with today’s digital entertainment, the player should have a choice in how they interact with the content. That’s why I pushed for this solution.”

He’s right. Players are responsible enough to know if, when, and how to use these types of options to streamline their progress in a game. At the same time, I think many games would benefit from hiding these types of gameplay-altering options behind the obscurity of old-fashioned cheat codes, rather than attempting in-app menus.

Source link

James Walker

James Walker – Technology Correspondent Writes about AI, Apple, Google, and emerging innovations.

Recent Posts

NBA annual survey says Thunder will repeat, Nuggets’ Jokic as MVP

Tim BontempsOctober 9, 2025, 11:46 a.m. ETCloseTim Bontemps is a senior NBA writer for ESPN.com who covers the league and…

5 hours ago

Donald Trump to present Ben Carson with the Presidential Medal of Freedom

Former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Dr. Ben Carson, recently named National Nutrition Advisor at the U.S. Department of…

5 hours ago

Federal health insurance premiums will see another significant increase in 2026

Federal employees and annuitants are heading into another year of sharp increases in their health insurance premiums, both under the…

5 hours ago

Drake’s Lawsuit Against Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’ Dismissed by Judge

A federal judge on Thursday (Oct. 9) dismissed Drake's defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like…

5 hours ago

10/9: CBS Morning News – CBS News

10/9: CBS Morning News - CBS News Watch CBS News Israel and Hamas agree to first phase of Gaza peace…

5 hours ago

Letitia James, who sued Trump, indicted for alleged bank fraud: NPR

New York Attorney General Letitia James speaks during a news conference January 8, 2025 in New York. Michael M. Santiago/Getty…

5 hours ago