Since its release in 1990, theFire Emblemfranchise continues to be one of the most popular tactical role-playing games right now.Fire Emblemhas produced numerous titlesunder its belt throughout its long history, each featuring deep narrative, lovable characters, and challenging gameplay that forces players to think and strategize every move or suffer the consequences.
When Nintendo releasedFire Emblem: Three Houseson the Switch in 2019, not only did Nintendo retain the classic gameplay that fans have associated with the franchise, but it also introduced new social mechanics that have never been implemented on aFire Emblemgame before. Last year, Nintendo released several expansions forThree Houses,but it appears that Wave 4 is the last. Given that it has been nearly three years since Nintendo released a mainlineFire Emblemgame, some fans are now wondering what’s next for the franchise?
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Fire Emblem Release History
Although three years may appear to be a long wait for a newFire Emblemgame, it is worth noting that Nintendo is still within the timeframe established by previous entries in the franchise. In 2012, Nintendo releasedFire Emblem Awakening, which is the game that revived the interest of players inFire Emblem.Despite its successful launch, it took three years before its successor,Fire Emblem Fates, was released in 2015. DiscountingFire Emblem: Heroes, which is a mobile spin-off game, took Nintendo four years before it released another mainline entry, which isFire Emblem: Three Houses.
Looking at the pattern set by previous games in the franchise, it is safe to assume that the acceptable gap betweenFire Emblemgames is between 3-4 years. Currently,Fire Emblem: Three Housesis approaching its third year in the market, so it wouldn’t be surprising if Nintendo will start to release hints and teasers about a new game in the franchise later this year. Of course, will Nintendo release a brand new game with a new story and characters? Or is it time for theFire Emblemfranchise to enter the world of remakes?
A New Game or a Remake?
Given that Nintendo hasn’t given any hints for its plans for theFire Emblemfranchise, it is difficult to tell whether the next entry will be a new game or a remake. However, manyFire Emblemfans would agree that the franchise is long overdue for a remake, especially since a handful ofFire Emblemgames were never released outside Japan. It is worth knowing that before 2003’sFire Emblem: The Blazing Blaze, or justFire Emblemin the West, all games in the franchise were only released in Japan. Of course, one exception is the first-everFire Emblemgame calledShadow Dragon and the Blade of Light, which Nintendo ported to the Switchlast December.
Having said this, it would be exciting to see Nintendo remakeFire Emblem Thracia 776,orFire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War, or any otherFire Emblemgame that fans outside Japan never experienced. Of course, a brand-new game, which is the likeliest path Nintendo could take, wouldn’t hurt either, especially the success of recentFire Emblemgames such asAwakeningandThree Houses. All in all, it remains to be seen what the future holds for theFire Emblemfranchise. However, given that the last mainline game is approaching its third year, fans should expect some tease or an announcement either late this year or early 2022.
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