In the life cycle of a video game, it may be published inmultiple versions, including the process oflocalization into new languages. Outside of localization, successive versions of a game will usually implement a series of revisions and changes from the preceding version, ranging from fixing errors and bugs to adjusting game balance. In the age before digital distribution, it was not possible to revise pre-existing copies of an already-released game, so revised version were found in later print runs and re-releases of the game in question instead. This series of articles identifies different versions of the games of theFire Emblem series, their release dates and regions, as well as any changes in both gameplay and story which were made by each version.

AllVirtual Console re-releases of a game will usually use the most recent version of that game released in that region, although they may contain minor presentation changes of their own.

Glossary

Regions

Nintendo divides the parts of the world in which it currently publishes its games into four regions. All games on Nintendo's home consoles before theNintendo Switch, as well as their handhelds since theNintendo DSi, are subject toregional lockout which prevents a game from being played on a console which does not match its designated region.

The terminology used and the reasons for the regional division come from the days of analog television, where different parts of the world made use of one of several differentstandards of broadcast encoding. Until the current generation, when analog television was still widely used, game systems (aside from handhelds) were affected by this as well and releases in different regions required significant technical revision in order to work with televisions in that region. Although this is less relevant these days with the rise of digital television, the regions defined by the analog era are still used today as the basis for separating different parts of the world.

• TheNTSC (National Television System Committee) region traditionally covers all of North America, parts of Central and South America, and parts of south-east Asia. For Nintendo's purposes, it is divided into three regions:
  • NTSC-J is Japan itself, and being that Nintendo is a Japanese corporation, games are almost always released in this region first.
  • NTSC-U covers the Americas, although the United States and Canada are the primary focus. This is generally considered to be Nintendo's most significant overseas market by far and only needs one localization to be completed, so this region is usually the second to get a game, after Japan itself. NTSC-U versions typically fix most major bugs from the NTSC-J version and implement minor changes.
  • NTSC-K consists solely of South Korea.
• ThePAL (Phase Alternating Line) region, as far as Nintendo publication is concerned, includes all of western Europe, Russia, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. PAL versions of games are usually the last versions to be released (inFire Emblem,Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon is the only exception to this), as the game must be localized into between five and seven different languages (the standards being British English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, and Russian). As a result, PAL releases are often the final and most complete version of a game, with the majority of known bugs fixed and possibly significant further changes added.

Data

• Product ID: The identification code assigned to the version of the game by Nintendo. This code is always printed on the label of a game's cartridge or disc. The standard varies depending on console. For mostFire Emblem games, i.e. those fromGenealogy of the Holy War toNew Mystery of the Emblem and physical versions of games on 3DS, the standard is the following: the first part of the code indicates the console it was released on, the second part is a four character code unique to that particular version of the game, and the last part is the version's region of release.
• Internal title: Nintendo's games are typically assigned an internal name which is found in the game's metadata, rather than being presented anywhere when playing the game. They are typically short and contain key information to quickly tell them apart from other regional versions of the game. Revised versions of a game in the same region won't typically change this.

Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light

There is only one known released version ofShadow Dragon & the Blade of Light.

Fire Emblem Gaiden

There is only one known released version ofGaiden.

Additionally, the game has some minor changes in theVirtual Console release.

Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem

Mystery of the Emblem had one revision released,^[1] which fixed some bugs. This revision was distributed via theNintendo Power service^[2] at an unknown date.

Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War

Only one known edition ofGenealogy was released, with no later updates.^[3]

Fire Emblem: Thracia 776

There are three known builds ofThracia 776: the original Nintendo Power service release, a revision thereof, and the version that received a proper cartridge in the next year.^[4] The differences between the three are relatively minor.

Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade

There is only one known released version ofThe Binding Blade. However, an unreleased Simplified Chinese localization intended for an iQue Player system exists.

Additionally, the game has some minor changes in theVirtual Console release.

Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade

The Blazing Blade was released worldwide in four editions. It is unique in that it is the only internationally-releasedFire Emblem game that splits its European edition in two versions, each containing different European languages from the other.

Additionally, the game has some minor changes in theVirtual Console release.

Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones

The Sacred Stones was released worldwide in three editions, with no known revisions beyond the base releases.

Additionally, the game has some minor changes in theVirtual Console release.

Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance

Path of Radiance was released worldwide in three editions, with no known revisions beyond the base releases.

Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn

Radiant Dawn was released worldwide in three editions. The Japanese version received one re-release at an unknown date, with unknown changes. The NTSC-U edition received two re-releases: one at an unknown date, which patched an issue with thePath of Radiance data transfer function, and one in 2014 with no changes.

Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon

Shadow Dragon was released worldwide in three editions, with no known revisions beyond the base releases.

Additionally, theVirtual Console release has changes to enable use of theonline shop without use of the discontinued Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service.

Fire Emblem: New Mystery of the Emblem

There is only one known released version ofNew Mystery of the Emblem.

Fire Emblem Awakening

Awakening was released worldwide in three editions, with no known revisions beyond the base releases.

Fire Emblem Fates

In Japan,Fates was published in three editions: theBirthright cartridge, theConquest cartridge, and the single Nintendo eShop digital release where the player chooses which campaign they purchased partway through the first playthrough.

Like most games released on Nintendo's current platforms,Fates is supported by update patches which are periodically released to fix errors. The current version ofFates is v1.1, and this update applies to all three editions. In all cases, copies ofFates which have not downloaded the update will not be able to access the game's internet functions.

Birthright

Conquest

Digital/Special edition

Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia

Echoes: Shadows of Valentia was released worldwide in three editions. A patch was released worldwide on June 20, 2017, updating the game to version 1.1.^[6]

Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Three Houses was released worldwide as one version; regional differences are stored in each copy of the game and accessed based on theNintendo Switch's region setting. Five patches were released, each of which coincided with the release of a wave of the game'sDLC, though the patches' contents are not limited to just DLC compatibility:^[7]

• v1.0.1, released July 26, 2019
• v1.0.2, released September 10, 2019
• v1.1.0, released November 8, 2019
• v1.1.1, released December 19, 2019
• v1.2.0, released February 13, 2020

Fire Emblem Engage

Engage was released worldwide as one version; regional differences are stored in each copy of the game and accessed based on theNintendo Switch's region setting. Five patches were released, each of which coincided with the release of a wave of the game'sDLC, though the patches' contents are not limited to just DLC compatibility:^[8]

• v1.1.0, released January 19, 2023
• v1.2.0, released February 9, 2023
• v1.3.0, released March 8, 2023
• v2.0.0, released April 5, 2023

Spinoffs

Tokyo Mirage Sessions ♯FE

Several versions ofTokyo Mirage Sessions exist.

Standard Wii U version

Special/Fortissimo Edition

Wii U console bundle

This version was only released in Japan.

Encore

Fire Emblem Heroes

Fire Emblem Warriors

New Nintendo 3DS

Nintendo Switch

Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes

References