Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 3 Will Keep Zack Central, but Hamaguchi’s Latest Comments Point to a Core Fate That Still Stays Anchored to the Original
Zack Fair will remain an important part of Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 3, and that is now one of the clearest takeaways from director Naoki Hamaguchi’s new interview with Nintenderos. According to Hamaguchi, Zack’s presence was part of the remake project’s concept from a fairly early stage, and Square Enix deliberately used him as a way to communicate the project’s altered worldview without relying only on direct exposition. Just as importantly, Hamaguchi made clear that this approach continues throughout the entire trilogy, which effectively confirms Zack’s story is not finished and will remain relevant in the final game.
That matters because Zack has become one of the biggest wild cards in the remake trilogy. In the original Final Fantasy VII, his role was brief but emotionally massive. In Remake and especially Rebirth, however, he has been elevated into a much more active narrative force, complete with playable sequences and a broader thematic purpose. Hamaguchi’s explanation suggests that Zack is no longer just a fan favorite brought back for emotional weight. He is now one of the key narrative instruments Square Enix is using to help players feel that this version of Final Fantasy VII exists in a world that is familiar, but not fully predictable.
Even so, the more revealing part of the interview may be what Hamaguchi said about the trilogy’s overall philosophy. He explained that the team intentionally structured the story so players would keep questioning whether the protagonists’ fates can truly change, but he also stressed that this does not mean everything is open for total reinvention. From the beginning, he said, the developers decided they could not compromise the emotional core of the characters or the fundamental themes that made Final Fantasy VII endure for so long. He described Rebirth as a project where change and preservation deliberately coexist, with surprises introduced to shake expectations while the core that must remain is still protected until the end.
That is why Zack’s continued presence does not automatically mean Zack’s ultimate destination will be radically rewritten. Hamaguchi does not directly say that Zack’s ending will stay the same, so that point remains interpretation rather than confirmation. Still, his wording strongly suggests that Part 3 is not being built to discard the emotional backbone of the original in favor of pure shock value. In practical terms, Square Enix appears committed to keeping fans uncertain about how events unfold moment to moment, while still respecting the deeper dramatic identity of Final Fantasy VII.
For longtime fans, that creates a fascinating tension going into the trilogy’s conclusion. Zack is clearly more important than he was in the 1997 original, yet Hamaguchi’s comments imply that his expanded role is meant to deepen the story’s perspective rather than completely overwrite its meaning. That is a smart balance for Square Enix to aim for. It lets the remake project keep its mystery, while also reassuring fans that the team understands there are certain emotional pillars it cannot afford to break.
At this point, Part 3 still does not have a public release date, but interviews like this continue to clarify the studio’s intent. Zack will matter. His story is not over. But if Hamaguchi’s comments are any indication, the final chapter is still far more likely to reinterpret the road than to erase the soul of the journey.
Do you think Zack’s larger role in the remake trilogy will lead to a truly different payoff, or is Square Enix ultimately guiding him back toward the same emotional destination in a new way?
