Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes' trailer was the first to be showcased during theFebruary 2022 Nintendo Direct. Taking place in the same universe as 2019’sFire Emblem: Three Houses,Three Hopesraises many questions about the continuity of the game’s timeline. Once again co-developed by Koei Tecmo (which previously worked onHyrule WarriorsandHyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity), this new entry into theFire Emblemfranchise is unique fromThree Housesin many ways.
SinceFire Emblem: Awakening’ssuccess saved the series in 2013, the games have routinely introduced new gameplay elements. Romance options, for instance, have become an increasingly important part of gameplay, and nowhere is this more obvious than inThree Houses’romances. This openness to change may be what prompted Nintendo’s collaborations with Koei Tecmo. Between Nintendo, Intelligent Systems, and Koei Tecmo, there are plenty of new ideas to anticipate inThree Hopes.
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New Characters in Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes
One obvious addition toThree Hopes’world is new characters. In the reveal trailer, two of these characters can be seen: one with red hair and another with purple hair. Some fans have speculated the former may be Monica fromThree Houses, and the purple-haired character is seen breaking one of Byleth’s swords, which has begged questions about the absence ofByleth’s Sword of the Creator. In addition to these two, another character with white hair appears on the game’s cover art opposite Sothis. It’s looking as though these new characters will serve asThree Hopes’antagonists, against whom the three lords may have to team up.
Byleth’s Presence During the Timeskip
Everything from the trailer suggestsThree Hopeswill take place immediately before and after the Battle of Garreg Mach. Main characters' appearances have changed, the three lords are shown fighting one another, and a clip of the map clearly labels one mission “Prepare for the Conquest of Garreg Mach.” If this is the case, its story will differ greatly fromThree Housesin that Byleth will be present, possibly leading toinconsistentFire Emblemlore. Immediately after the battle inThree Houses, the professor enters a deep sleep until they’re awoken by Sothis five years later. It appears Byleth is awake and very much present inThree Hopes, and this is another sign the game will be “a different story set in the same universe,” as Nintendo has advertised.
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An Alliance Between Dimitri, Edelgard, and Claude
The three lords fromThree Houses- Dimitri, Edelgard, and Claude - are seen not only fighting one another, but supporting each other too. In multiple shots they appear back-to-back, taking out waves of enemies together. It could be that inThree Hopes, players are treated to an alliance between the three lords. This is a welcome change for many as, despiteThree Houses' branching story, Dimitri, Edelgard, and Claude can only complete their respective campaigns at the expense of the others' lives. This could be the first time players see all three characters succeed together.
There is a ton of potential for Koei Tecmo’sWarriorsseries, especially for anotherNintendo-themedWarriorsgame.Hyrule Warriorsand its sequel helped introduce Nintendo to theMusougenre, andFire Emblem Warriors:Three Hopescould be one of its strongest titles. It offers an opportunity to celebrate the IP’s world, and the continent of Fodlan has a lot to offer. If fans are lucky there might even be an opportunity to play as the Gatekeeper inFire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes.
Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopesreleases for Nintendo Switch on July 31, 2025.
