It’s a tale as old as time—or at least as old as online gaming forums: Someone asks if a game will have an easy mode, and suddenly, a horde of self-appointed difficulty police show up, frothing at the mouth, ready to tell you why accessibility in gaming is a crime against humanity.

This time, it’s Xenoblade Chronicles X. Someone on Reddit dared to ask if it would have an easy mode, and predictably, the gaming gatekeepers crawled out of their bunkers, furious at the mere suggestion. Their argument? “If you’re not playing the game on the hardest setting, you’re not experiencing it correctly.” As if video games come with some kind of sacred, developer-ordained challenge level that must be preserved at all costs—otherwise, the gaming gods will smite us all.

Why Are People Like This?

There’s something weird about how some people treat difficulty in video games. Instead of seeing different modes as a way to allow more players to enjoy a game, they view it as a threat. The idea that someone, somewhere, might be experiencing the game in a way that doesn’t involve dying 47 times in a single boss fight sends them into an existential crisis.

But why? What does it actually take away from them? If a game includes an easy or story mode, does it automatically delete the hard mode? No. Does it remove their ability to challenge themselves? No. Does it reach into their home, unplug their controller, and force them to play on easy? Also no.

And yet, the response is almost always the same:

• “The game isn’t meant to be played that way!”

• “If you don’t like the difficulty, just get good!”

• “Adding an easy mode would ruin the experience for everyone!”

Except… it doesn’t. And never has.

The ‘Purity’ Argument is Nonsense

One of the most common excuses is that an easy mode somehow goes against the creator’s vision. First of all, games are products. They are made to be sold. If developers think they can make more money by including an easy mode, they absolutely will. This isn’t a museum exhibit; it’s a $90 piece of software designed to be engaging for as many people as possible.

Secondly, plenty of developers do support easy modes. FromSoftware, the kings of “difficult but fair” gameplay, have gone on record saying that accessibility matters. Even the Dark Souls team has acknowledged that difficulty shouldn’t be a barrier to enjoying a game’s world and story.

And let’s be real—if FromSoftware is talking about accessibility, then maybe, just maybe, adding an easy mode to Xenoblade Chronicles X won’t shatter the gaming industry.

Story Mode Exists for a Reason

Not everyone plays games for the same reasons. Some love the challenge, the grind, the struggle. Others are there for the story, the worldbuilding, the characters. There’s a reason games like The Last of Us, God of War, and Cyberpunk 2077 offer story modes—it allows people to experience the narrative without being blocked by a frustrating gameplay barrier.

Does this somehow make the game worse? No. It just means more people get to experience it.

The Real Issue: Gatekeeping and Ego

At the heart of this debate isn’t game design or developer intent—it’s gatekeeping. The people who fight against easy modes aren’t really interested in preserving a game’s integrity. What they want is exclusivity. They want to feel superior because they overcame a challenge that others couldn’t. And if suddenly, more people can access the game, their sense of accomplishment feels less special.

It’s the same energy as people who brag about watching obscure movies or listening to underground bands—except in this case, they’re upset that more people might get to enjoy a game they like.

Games Are for Everyone

The bottom line is this: Video games are meant to be fun. They are meant to be engaging, immersive, and enjoyable. If difficulty is part of what makes a game fun for you, great! Play on hard mode. But for the love of all that is good, stop acting like the existence of an easy mode is a personal attack.

No one is coming to take away your hard mode. No one is forcing you to play differently. Some people just want to experience a game without unnecessary frustration, and there is nothing wrong with that.

So, to those who rage about easy modes: Relax. Let people play how they want. And maybe—just maybe—go touch some grass.

Oh, and as for Xenoblade Chronicles X? It launched without any difficulty settings—an extremely disappointing choice that limits accessibility and excludes a portion of potential players. This is particularly disappointing given that Xenoblade 1-3 all had difficulty settings. A game with such an expansive world deserved to be enjoyed by more people, but instead, it locked itself behind a one-size-fits-all challenge. And no the game asking you if you want an easier battle after you die 10 times, doesn’t count as easy mode.

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