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Watch the February 13th Nintendo Direct here
It's mid-afternoon on a Wednesday for most of our readers, which is an odd time indeed for a press conference. But here we are and lucky for you, Engadget is a 24-hour news operation. Nintendo is moments away from hosting a livestream, where it has said it will reveal details about upcoming Switch games, namely Fire Emblem: Three Houses, currently due sometime this spring. [Ed. note: At least one Engadget staffer has threatened to take a week's leave from work if this is not the case.] We've embedded the livestream above, and the event is expected to last 35 minutes, according to Nintendo's terse promo. Join us, won't you?
Hey Nintendo, where's 'Metroid Prime 4'?
If you've been patiently waiting since last year's E3 conference for the reveal of the new Metroid Prime 4 game, we're sorry. The hotly anticipated next iteration of Samus Aran was nowhere to be seen during Nintendo Direct, the venerable gaming company's main announcement video that broadcast live this morning.
Nintendo launches special 'Pokémon' and 'Fire Emblem' bundles
You may want to check if you can cancel your Fire Emblem Warriors or Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon pre-orders. Nintendo has just announced a special FE Warriors edition for the Switch and a Veteran Trainer's dual pack that includes both new Pokémon games. The special edition FE Warriors comes with a copy of the game for Nintendo's hybrid console, three CDs' worth of music from the game, character art cards and a dual-sided poster. It'll set you back $80, or $20 more than just the game itself, but if you get weak in the knees for special edition collectibles, then that doesn't sound so bad. Nintendo has also revealed that the game will be available in North America on October 20th, at least for the Switch.
Nintendo plans to release two-to-three mobile games each year
After months of vague statements, Nintendo has finally confirmed its smartphone strategy, announcing that it will release two to three mobile titles every year. While all eyes are currently focused on the imminent launch of Nintendo's new console, company president Tatsumi Kimishima revealed that this smartphone release schedule will be taking effect this year. With Fire Emblem Heroes launching on both iOS and Android tomorrow and the as-yet untitled Animal Crossing delayed until 2018, it has yet to reveal which other treasured IP will get the mobile treatment in 2017.
The Nintendo 3DS is here to stay (for now)
With the Switch fast approaching, you might think Nintendo is ready to give up on the 3DS. Not so. The company has a small, but significant stack of games planned for the handheld in 2017, and it wants you to know about them. In a press release today, the company highlighted Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World, which comes out on February 3rd, Mario Sports Superstars -- which now has a release date, March 24th -- and Pikmin, a side-scroller spin-off featuring Captain Olimar and his color-coded friends. A (rather fantastic) Pikachu-themed new 3DS XL is also coming to America for $199.99 on February 24th, following its release in Japan late last year.
A new 'Fire Emblem' game is coming to Nintendo Switch in 2018
Good news, Fire Emblem fans: Today Nintendo announced that the next major title in its tactical RPG series will be for the Switch -- making it the franchise's first game on home consoles in almost ten years. The bad news? You won't be able to play it until 2018.
Nintendo's 'Fire Emblem Heroes' mobile game arrives next month (update)
If you've been yearning for a Fire Emblem game to play on the go that isn't relegated to a portable gaming system, maybe the upcoming Fire Emblem Heroes will do the trick. It's a tactical role-playing game (think Final Fantasy Tactics) where "fate has brought two warring kingdoms together in a bitter clash." Naturally. During today's Fire Emblem Direct stream, it was announced that you'll battle it out on an 8x6 grid.
Nintendo's new mobile games will be free-to-play
Nintendo's upcoming smartphone renditions of popular franchises Fire Emblem and Animal Crossing will be free to play, according to DeNA's Chief Executive Isao Moriyasu.
Why Nintendo chose 'Animal Crossing' over 'Mario' for mobile
Last week, Nintendo announced that it will bring popular titles like Animal Crossing and Fire Emblem to its new smartphone game lineup. While this was good news for fans of those franchises, it still raised some questions, like why those franchises specifically? During a special Q&A session after Nintendo's latest earnings report, current president of Nintendo Tatsumi Kimishima chose to shed some light on the situation, explaining that Animal Crossing and Fire Emblem were selected to "follow Miitomo from the viewpoint of increasing the diverse types of consumers interested in Nintendo, and widening opportunities for gameplay."
'Animal Crossing' and 'Fire Emblem' are coming to smartphones
Nintendo is working on two new smartphone apps based on Animal Crossing and Fire Emblem. They'll be released in the fall and take different approaches to their respective franchises. Fire Emblem, for instance, is normally a tactical role-playing game, giving you control of a small anime army as it battles through difficult skirmishes. Nintendo says the mobile version will be a "more accessible" take that still offers "great value." Animal Crossing, on the other hand, is a casual franchise about living in a carefree village and furnishing a beautiful home. Nintendo describes its upcoming smartphone app as a "connected" experience with "the world of Animal Crossing" on consoles. It's not clear, however, if this is a reference to a new Animal Crossing game, or existing titles like New Leaf, Happy Home Designer and Amiibo Festival. "By playing both Animal Crossing games, users will find increased enjoyment," Nintendo hints.
Operation Finish All The Games: February 2016
With February now in my rear-view mirror, it's time to check in with my ongoing quest to clear out my game backlog. While many people like to tackle the "Four in February" challenge, I'm perfectly happy to stick with my original goal of finishing one game a month throughout the entire year. How did I do with 29 cold days to work with?
'Super Smash Bros.' gets tournament modes and YouTube replays
Nintendo isn't done with the 3DS and Wii U versions of Super Smash Bros. just yet. The company has released an update today which adds tournament modes and the ability to post video replays to YouTube. Both features were teased just before E3, but we weren't expecting a slew of new character outfits and stages to go along with them. Nintendo is offering the Hyrule Castle and Peach's Castle arenas from the original Super Smash Bros. on N64, priced at $1.99 per platform or $2.99 across both. They're joined by a deluge of Mii fighter costumes, including King K. Rool from Donkey Kong, Chrom from Fire Emblem: Awakening and Lloyd Irving from Tales of Symphonia. All eight are available for $0.75 or $1.15 across both 3DS and Wii U. Alternatively, you can get everything as a bundle for $9.98 or $15.18 on both Nintendo systems. One last thing: there's a K.K. Slider Mii Fighter costume from Animal Crossing too. It's free to download and looks darn cute.
Nintendo includes same-sex marriages in 'Fire Emblem Fates'
Nintendo has a rocky past when it comes to same-sex relationships in its games, but the upcoming Fire Emblem Fates for its 3DS handheld should change that. There are a few different options to choose from, as Polygon reports. If you want to play as a male character who can marry a male party member, you should grab the Conquest edition of Fates. And if you want to be a female warrior who weds another lady, then the Birthright edition is the one for you. There's also a third downloadable storyline that'll let you do both. The marriages don't come easy from the sounds of it, either: you need to bond with your partner in battle before you can tie the knot.
Watch the peppy, neon 'Shin Megami Tensei x Fire Emblem' for Wii U trailer
"Thank you for waiting, everyone." That's how Nintendo capped the new trailer today for Shin Megami Tensei x Fire Emblem, a Wii U game it's developing with Japanese publisher Atlus, announced back in January 2013. While the video is fairly gorgeous and shows off some gameplay, it doesn't offer a release date. We did, however, get the following description: "The role-playing masters at Atlus are developing a truly modern RPG where everyday life exists alongside a secret world of fantasy." Watch the trailer below.
The new 'Fire Emblem' game alights on 3DS in 2016
A brand new Fire Emblem game is on its way to 3DS in 2016, Nintendo announced during its live stream today. This new entry in the acclaimed role-playing series will be the first to star each player's customized character as the main protagonist. "The path you choose ultimately decides your character's fate," Nintendo said. The company announced this fresh Fire Emblem in January 2014. Check out a trailer below.
This limited edition Nintendo 3DS totally has dragons on it
Yes, finally, you can buy a Nintendo 3DS with dragons on it. Today is the day. Well, not quite -- February 4th is the actual day, which is also the day that Fire Emblem Awakening launches on Nintendo's latest portable console. The dragon-emblazoned 3DS is just one small part of the package, as you'll also snag a 4GB SD memory card and the game itself pre-installed on said 3DS. Altogether, the whole package runs just $199, for a savings of approximately $10. It's no Pokémon-themed 3DS, but it'll do, we suppose. Take an even closer look at the limited edition 3DS just below the break.
Nintendo introduces paid DLC, lets you complete the games you completed
Did you get a Nintendo shaped bundle of joy for Christmas? Completed the games already? Fear not, as from March Kyoto's gaming veterans will be launching paid downloadable game content for its 3D handheld. The first title to get the goodies will be Fire Emblem, and as yet, there's no clues about what treats you'll get for the reported "several hundred yen" you'll be asked to stump up. Nintendo, however, is understandably keen to stimulate interest in its 3D titles, and more importantly, claw back some of that mobile gaming market-share. With hints of downloadable add-ons coming to the Wii-U also, and Mr. Iwata's previous commitment to deliver the goods, it clearly thinks this is the way to go -- let's just hope all the kinks have been ironed out come release day.
Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops previewed
The first canonical Metal Gear Solid portable game was unveiled at E3 earlier this year. The idea of a real non-Acid non-graphic novel Metal Gear has made it one of the most-wanted games for the system, even without too much information to work with. The unofficial Metal Gear Solid site has a new preview, with a few new screenshots. The game takes place six years after Snake Eater, and has Big Boss arrested after FOX Unit begins a revolt in South America. With the help of his comrades in the FOXHOUND Unit, it will be their responsibility to stop the bad guys from using their "ultimate weapon." This game will be a crucial part of the Metal Gear series' storyline, as it'll explain how Big Boss went from good guy to bad guy in Metal Gear. With cutscenes in the same style of the Digital Graphic Novel, Portable Ops seems like it'll be an interesting ride, to say the least.Portable Ops will feature a more distant camera so that players have a better view of their surroundings. Interestingly, it won't be a one-man sneaking mission anymore: you'll recruit and command other soldiers to help you take on your missions. Not only will you have generic soldiers at your disposal, but you'll also get more familiar faces, like Ocelot to join you. But be careful, in Fire Emblem style, if a character dies, they're dead for the rest of the game. There's also multiplayer, in which you can trade your partners ala Pokemon. According to the unofficial site, new trailers for Metal Gear Solid 4 and Portable Ops will be shown at Leipzig Games Convention, so expect more info very soon.[Via 1UP Boards]
