Nintendo changes controversial Fire Emblem Fates scene for Western launch

A controversial scene in the Japanese version of Fire Emblem Fates, involving the suggested drugging of a female party member, will be altered upon its Western release, Nintendo confirmed.

Nintendo of America said in a statement that the changes were made in order to localize the game appropriately for North America.

The statement Polygon received from Nintendo reads as follows:

In the version of the game that ships in the U.S. and Europe, there is no expression which might be considered as gay conversion or drugging that occurs between characters.

Making changes is not unusual when we localize games, and we have indeed made changes in these games. When we localize a game we do so in order to make it appropriate for that particular territory. All our choices were made from that point of view.

In the Conquest edition a male main character created by the gamer can pair up with another male character (Niles) which ultimately leads to marriage. Similarly, in the Birthright edition, a female main character created by the gamer can pair up with and eventually marry another female character (Rhajat). Like married couples of the opposite gender, these same-sex couples enjoy the stat boosts that come with marriage, which means when they are paired up in battle they are stronger than when they are apart or paired up with another character.

In the third edition, Revelation, that will be released as DLC in the eShop on March 10, a same-sex marriage is possible regardless of the sex of your main character, as both Niles and Rhajat can be encountered in this edition.

In the original Japanese release, an event can occur with a certain team member, Soleil, in which the male player character admits to pouring a "magic powder" in her drink. The effect of this move is that the teammate will see all people as the opposite gender; this is meant to help a female teammate with her obsession with attractive girls, whom she is constantly distracted by on the battlefield. Some players interpreted the scene to be an attempted "gay conversion."

A fan uploaded and translated the scene in full; you can watch it below.

Another Fates player detailed the initial controversy back when it first played out last summer, following its June release in Japan.

Fire Emblem Fates arrives in North America on Feb. 19.