Summary
Fire Emblem Engagewas released a few years after the series' thirty-year anniversary, and was met with somewhat mixed reception. The game featured some of the most polished gameplay in the series, but a story that was rarely lauded by critics. Although conversation about the game has quieted down significantly,Fire Emblem Engagehas still left one major question hanging in the air.
A little under two years have passed sinceFire Emblem Engagewas released in January of last year. However,Fire Emblem Engageleaked onlinelong before it was officially announced. These leaks were often laughed off at the time thanks to the more unconventional aspects of Alear’s design. Of course, they turned out to be true, but a game leaked alongsideEngageremains unseen.
A Fire Emblem 4 Remake Should Still Be on Every Fan’s Mind
Fire Emblem Engage’s Origins as a Ridiculous Rumor
Within theFire Emblemcommunity, much of the conversation these days revolves around a potentialFire EmblemEngagesuccessor more than it does any other aspect of the game itself. However,the nextFire Emblemgamemay already be known to fans who have been paying close attention since beforeEngage’s development cycle.
Fire Emblem Engagewas not the only game mentioned within the leak that revealed its existence. These very same rumors also revealed plans for an upcomingFire Emblemremake, with many fans stirring ongoing speculation about the topic ever since. AlthoughFire Emblem Engage’s rumored existence was eventually proven true, the accompanyingFire Emblemremake still has yet to rear its head.
Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia May Have Paved the Way for Future Fire Emblem Remakes
The particular game that was placed on everyone’s radar wasFire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War, otherwise known simply asFE4. Though the game’s status as an obscure title should make it seem less likely, there are notable factors that actually lend this leak further credibility. For one, other recent titles indicate why Nintendo would prioritize aFire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy Warremake.
Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentiapaved the wayfor future titles, and certainly set an evident precedent. The title being remade byEchoeswasFire Emblem Gaiden, the second game in the series.Fire Emblem Gaidenshares a key similarity withGenealogy of the Holy War, one that makes its remake sound all the more likely. Most notably, neitherFire Emblem GaidennorGenealogy of the Holy Warever received an international release.
Even today, there’s no viable way to legitimately play the original titles.Fire Emblemfirst came to international audiences with the seventh game in the series. WhileFire Emblem: Blazing Bladecertainly deserves a remake, it is already much more accessible than its predecessors.Echoesseems to suggest that developers are focusing on remaking the games that need it the most,Fire Emblemtitles with much less existing acclaim internationally.
Nintendo Could Pivot Fire Emblem Remake Plans
It’s possible that theFire Emblem Engageleakremains wholly credible, and remake plans have simply been scrapped, but this particular possibility seems unlikely. However, it is certainly worth mentioning that otherFire Emblemtitles may be as deserving of a remake, if not more. Regardless, it’s much more likely that Nintendo has simply continued to adjust the release window of the nextFire Emblemgame.
Thanks to the growing popularity of the series, a newFire Emblemgame makes perfect sense as aNintendo Switch 2 launch title. If rumors are to be believed, and evidence seems to indicate that they are, theFire Emblem 4remake likely began development long before the Switch was so close to the end of its lifespan. While aFire Emblemremake would’ve been the perfect title for the Switch’s final year, it’s more likely than not that plans were simply delayed in order to accommodate the Nintendo Switch successor.
If anything, it may even be better to opt for releasing a new mainline game rather than another remake. Fans are certainly expecting a follow-up toFire Emblem: Three HousesandEngage, and a remake wouldn’t necessarily fill that role. Whatever the case, rumors of aFire Emblemremakehave lost neither credibility nor anticipation, despite the game’s absence so far.
