Players who endured the omnipresent chatter of Chadley during Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth can rest easy for one reason and groan for another: the eccentric researcher is returning for the trilogy’s finale. In a recent interview with GameSpot, game director Naoki Hamaguchi confirmed that Chadley will appear in Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, not only as a fixture of post-game content but with an expanded presence woven into the main story. The announcement arrived alongside details about how the character’s responsibilities are being reshaped for the final chapter, which launches in April 2027 across PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch 2.
For those unfamiliar with the running joke that has permeated recent entries in the remake series, Chadley began as a supporting NPC in Midgar’s slums during Final Fantasy 7 Remake. He was tasked with offering players a way to test their combat prowess against summoned creatures through challenge content, effectively turning an obscure background character into the game’s summon simulator operator. His role expanded considerably in Rebirth, where he became tied to nearly every open-world activity through the CHAD Module that players receive early in the journey.
A Laboratory of One on the Highwind
In Revelation, Chadley will no longer be roaming the world map as a constant companion. Instead, Hamaguchi revealed that the character will have his own dedicated space aboard the party’s airship. “Chadley is actually going to have his own room on the Highwind, that serves as his laboratory,” Hamaguchi said. “In there, Chadley is doing his own research about the meteor.”
This relocation comes with a shift in responsibilities. The field-guide duties that Chadley performed throughout Rebirth—navigating players across the various areas and continents on the world map—have been reassigned to Mai, his AI assistant. Players who found themselves distracted by Mai’s running commentary during Fiend Intel tasks in Rebirth may want to brace themselves, as she now takes over the role of guiding adventurers through the game’s expansive new regions.
“In terms of the role that Chadley had in Rebirth, where he would guide you around the various areas and continents that you see on the world map, that role has been given to Mai in Final Fantasy 7 Revelation. Chadley, in Revelation, he’s going to have a slightly different role where we’ll see a bit more of him in the main story.”
Naoki Hamaguchi, Game Director
The Evolution of a Beloved Running Joke
Hamaguchi traced Chadley’s journey through the trilogy, explaining how the character’s role has steadily grown since his introduction. According to the director, battle director Teruki Endo first brought the idea during development of the initial installment, seeking a way to present summon battles as challenge content for players.
“When we were thinking about how we could make that happen, we looked at Chadley,” Hamaguchi recalled. “‘Oh, so this guy is an NPC in the Midgar slums, he gives side quests, and he actually has a background from a lore standpoint. That kind of made it easier for us to utilize that setting in the lore to build in that combat simulator, so that’s kind of how it started.”
The pattern continued with Rebirth, where the team recognized an opportunity to lean into Chadley as a supportive character who could guide players through open-world exploration. Now, with Revelation approaching, developers feel comfortable placing him more prominently within the narrative itself.
“And so we brought him back, and now with Revelation, we’re like being able to bring him back again for the main story.”
Naoki Hamaguchi, Game Director
For players who have grown fond of Chadley and Mai despite their quirks, Hamaguchi promised that the duo will still share several “humorous and adorable” moments throughout the game. The character’s arc from minor lore figure to trilogy-wide running joke has become one of the more endearing aspects of the remake project.
Moving Past the CHAD Module
The most frequent criticism aimed at Chadley during Rebirth centered on the unavoidable phone calls delivered through the CHAD Module. These interruptions would freeze players in place while Chadley launched into tangents about various topics, disrupting the flow of exploration. Players could navigate around this by holding a button to skip the chatter or fast-forwarding through his dialogue to speed-read their way past the non-essential commentary.
The question remains whether Mai will subject players to similar interruptions in her new field-guide capacity. Given that she already provided running commentary during Fiend Intel tasks in Rebirth, it seems likely she’ll bring some of the same energy to her expanded role. If players are going to be forced to listen to field notes from someone regardless, many may find Mai a more palatable choice than Chadley.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation continues the ambitious remake project that has reimagined Square Enix’s landmark RPG for modern audiences. For those interested in the game’s broader development, Hamaguchi previously discussed how he was inspired by The Witcher 3 and explained how snowboarding is making its long-awaited debut in the threequel.
Looking Ahead
The trilogy’s concluding chapter remains on schedule for an April 2027 launch, giving developers ample time to refine the experience that has captivated players across two preceding installments. As fans await further details about Chadley’s expanded story role and Mai’s field-guide duties, one thing is certain: no matter how much players may have wished otherwise, the Chad is here to stay.
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