Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 3 Will Bring Chadley Back In A Major Role, With Playable Status Still Unconfirmed

Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 3 is shaping up to be one of Square Enix’s most ambitious trilogy conclusions, with the final entry expected to expand the scale of the remake saga through the Highwind airship, the long awaited playable debut of Cid and Vincent, and the continuation of Zack’s story. Now, director Naoki Hamaguchi has confirmed that Chadley will also return in an important role, while carefully avoiding a direct answer on whether the divisive but memorable character could become playable.

In a recent Restart interview, Hamaguchi addressed Chadley’s future in the final installment of the trilogy. While he did not confirm playable status, his answer leaves enough room for speculation, especially as recent rumors have suggested that Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 3 could include additional playable characters beyond Cid and Vincent.

“We understand that many fans are fond of Chadley. However, whether he’s become a playable character is something we’re unable to comment on at this time,”
- Naoki Hamaguchi

For fans following Square Enix’s carefully managed updates around the final game, that response is interesting. Hamaguchi could have simply dismissed the idea, but instead chose to leave the possibility open. It may be nothing more than a diplomatic answer meant to avoid spoilers, but with Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 3 still not officially revealed, every small comment from the development team is being closely examined.

What is confirmed is that Chadley will continue to matter in the story. Since his introduction in Final Fantasy VII Remake, Chadley has acted as a combat simulation researcher, materia system support character, and recurring source of optional challenges and world building. In Rebirth, his presence became even more pronounced, tying into exploration, regional intelligence, and side content across the expanded world map.

“That said, Chadley will continue to play an important role even in the final installment of the trilogy. His strong curiosity and tendency to talk a bit too much, inherent traits that he’s aware of and somewhat self conscious about, will be further explored in the third game, too. It’d make me happy if players could warmly follow how Chadley becomes involved in the story and what role he takes in supporting it.”
- Naoki Hamaguchi

That comment suggests that Chadley will not simply return as a mechanical support tool. Instead, Square Enix appears interested in exploring his personality, his self awareness, and his deeper place in the larger narrative. Whether that means more story scenes, expanded side content, direct involvement with the party, or something more experimental remains unknown.

Hamaguchi also used the interview to reinforce a key philosophy behind the entire Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy. According to him, the project was never designed to repeat the same structure across 3 titles. Each entry has been built to evolve the player experience.

“This remake series has never been about repeating the same experience. Remake focused on a story driven experience, while Rebirth made a major shift toward an open world design that utilizes the world map. In the final installment of the trilogy, the game evolves even further, expanding its scale through the Highwind. By changing and evolving the core experience with each title, we feel we’ve been able to maintain the interest and excitement of a larger number of game fans,”
- Naoki Hamaguchi

That direction makes the third game especially important. Final Fantasy VII Remake was a focused narrative reimagining of Midgar, while Rebirth opened the world with larger zones, exploration, minigames, side quests, and a broader party structure. Part 3 now has to bring the trilogy to a satisfying conclusion while also handling some of the original game’s biggest moments, locations, character arcs, and emotional payoffs.

The Highwind airship is expected to be one of the major features that changes the structure of the final installment. If Square Enix follows through on the sense of scale implied by Hamaguchi’s comments, players may see the biggest evolution yet in exploration and world traversal. With Cid and Vincent also expected to become playable, the combat system could expand again with new character roles, party combinations, and unique mechanics.

Chadley’s confirmed involvement adds another layer to that discussion. While some fans enjoy his analytical energy and constant commentary, others found his frequent interruptions in Rebirth divisive. If Square Enix gives him a more meaningful story role, the studio will need to balance his presence carefully, especially in a final chapter that already has a massive number of character arcs to resolve.

The timing of these comments also suggests that Square Enix may be preparing to reveal the game soon. With more details surfacing around Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 3, speculation is growing that the official announcement could arrive during the summer showcase season. PlayStation State of Play is scheduled for June 2, while Summer Game Fest follows on June 5. Since Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is also set to release on Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox Series X|S around that same window, Square Enix may be preparing for a broader Final Fantasy VII marketing push.

For now, the main takeaway is that Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 3 is not only expanding with the Highwind, Cid, Vincent, and Zack’s ongoing storyline, but also continuing Chadley’s role in a way that could become more important than expected. Whether he becomes playable or remains a major support character, Square Enix clearly has more planned for him in the trilogy’s finale.

Would you like Chadley to become playable in Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 3, or should Square Enix keep him as a support character?