Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 Will Feature Chadley’s Return—Director Hamaguchi Confirms Fan-Favourite NPC’s Expanded Role

Naoki Hamaguchi, series director, has confirmed that Chadley—the divisive Shinra materia researcher and recurring NPC—will play an “important role” in the upcoming Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3, with his backstory and involvement in the main narrative set for deeper exploration.

Despite the lack of an official title for the third entry in Square Enix’s Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy, developer commentary is shedding new light on its direction. In an interview with Restart.Run, director Naoki Hamaguchi specifically stated, “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.” This marks the first official confirmation that Chadley, an NPC who has sparked strong reactions among fans, will be central to the concluding chapter.

Chadley’s Continued Evolution in the Remake Trilogy

Chadley has become one of the most recognised, and often debated, additions to the Final Fantasy 7 Remake series. Initially introduced in Remake as a lab assistant and materia researcher, Chadley has since served multiple roles: he facilitated optional combat battle sim challenges in the initial release, functioned as a Fort Condor grandmaster with reportedly “illegal moves” in Intergrade, and appeared as a strategic card game opponent in Rebirth, notably in the Queen’s Blood questline. As Eurogamer describes, “the internet at large loves to hate the helpful little weirdo”. Over time, Chadley’s narrative significance has expanded from minor NPC and merchant to plot-relevant utility character.

Addressing speculation around Chadley’s future, Hamaguchi told Restart, “We understand that many fans are fond of Chadley. However, whether [he’d] become a playable character is something we’re unable to comment on at this time.” The director left the question of Chadley’s playability deliberately open, but assured fans: “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.” With this, Hamaguchi confirmed that Chadley’s story arc will be addressed and likely conclude in Part 3.

Key Facts on Chadley’s Role:

• Chadley is confirmed to return and ‘play an important role’ in Part 3.
• His character traits—curiosity, verbosity, and self-awareness—will be “further explored”.
• Whether Chadley is playable remains unconfirmed as per Hamaguchi’s statement.
• His continued presence supports theories that mini-games or side activities will again feature prominently, most likely overseen or enhanced through Chadley’s involvement.

What Else Is Known About Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3?

Although marketing and Square Enix remain tight-lipped on details, Hamaguchi confirmed several critical facts about Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3:

• The director has completed “over 40 full playthroughs” of the game’s current build, highlighting a rigorous quality approach in development.
• Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 is targeting a multiplatform release. Hamaguchi assured fans it would not “compromise on graphics whatsoever” as it expands beyond a single platform.
• Despite rampant speculation, the title of the third game is finalised internally, but has not yet been made public.
• Players can expect further information soon, with Hamaguchi’s active interviews indicating ongoing PR ramp-up.

As a mid-series anchoring character, Chadley’s trajectory from NPC to apparent narrative lynchpin demonstrates Square Enix’s commitment to expanding and recontextualising classic and original characters in the Remake trilogy. Expect further announcements in the coming months regarding supporting cast, gameplay features, and the trilogy’s conclusion.