It’s been a couple of years since the release ofFire Emblem Engage, and it feels like theFire Emblemfandom has lapsed into waiting for the next installment again. Released in January 2023,Fire Emblem Engagewas a somewhat controversial entry, though not a bad one. Whereas the priorFire Emblem: Three Housesfocused on developing a dark take on theFire Emblemworld with several story paths,Engageopted for a straightforward story backed up by more mechanics-heavy gameplay and references to past games. Both have their fans, and both have been well served with DLC and publicity.
Only,Fire Emblem: Three Housesstill feels like the dominant Nintendo Switch Fire Emblem game. Having Byleth inSuper Smash Bros. Ultimatecertainly helps, butThree Housesalso gotits own spin-off,Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes, in mid-2022. Some of that game’s fans do take umbrage withEngagefor coming so soon afterward and potentially denying it some much-needed DLC, but Koei Tecmo and Nintendo can reach a different solution that pleases everyone.Fire Emblem Engageis well-suited for its ownFire Emblem Warriorsspin-off, and releasing it soon would yield the best results.
Why Now Is The Time For Another Fire Emblem Warriors
Nintendo and Koei Tecmo Both Have Something To Offer A New Warriors Title
Some context is necessary for why anEngage-flavoredWarriorsgame would be at its peak if it was released within the next couple of years.Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopescame out three years afterThree Houses, and it’s only been two years sinceEngagelaunched, so a similar schedule should work here. It could be delayed by another year or two due to Koei Tecmo’s studios devoting significant resources to therecently-releasedDynasty Warriors Origins, but launching as close to that as possible could still benefit a licensedWarriorstitle due toOrigins’ reputation as the parentMusouseries’ return.
Regardless of when a new hypotheticalFire Emblem Warriorsis released, it should arrive after the Nintendo Switch 2 has launched. Hopefully, it comes soon enough to receive a sales boost from the Switch 2’s launch period, but that’s not the only benefit. Even if this newFE Warriorstitle has a native Switch 1 version, which it ideally would be withEngage, it would benefit from the Switch 2’s improved hardware. All theWarriorsgames on Nintendo Switch have suffered technical problemsdue to the nature of aWarriorsgame’s 1-versus-1000 combat, and having one quickly prove that’s no longer an issue should turn some heads.
No One Fire Emblem Can Support A Warriors Title Like Engage Can
Timeliness is a major factor whyFire Emblem Engageshould see aWarriorsspin-off, but there are other reasons that give the idea inherent appeal. For one,Engage’sFell XenologueDLCprovides the perfect setup for a side story, as it involves the protagonist Alear being summoned to an alternate timeline. This specific detail isn’t necessary, but including it could match the alternate history thatThree Hopespresented, while also allowing this spin-off to be technically canon. More importantly, theWarriorstitle would giveEngageanother chance to tell a good story, which was criticized the first time around.
Fire Emblem Engage’s Emblems Are Ideal For A Warriors Title
Above everything else, however,Fire Emblem Engageis uniquely suited for aWarriors' adaptation due to its focus on nostalgia. Using Emblem Rings and Emblem Bracelets tosummon spirits of pastFire Emblemheroesis a core mechanic, and if the Emblems are reinterpreted as playable characters that can be swapped in mid-battle, then this title’s roster could draw on anyFire Emblemcharacter just like the originalFire Emblem Warriors. AWarriorsgame is best with a huge playable cast, whichFire Emblem Engageshould be able to supply better than most.
