Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave reviews begin 6+ weeks before release date, risking leaks

A Nintendo Direct for the latest Fire Emblem game airs on August 4th. Nevertheless, critics may be testing the Switch 2 title now. A veteran ResetEra poster claims Nintendo sent review copies to some sites in late July. That’s notable since the Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave release date doesn’t arrive until September 17th.

Majora’s Mask reported that the media is already engaged with the first-party project. As a result, the gamer found the timing of the Direct presentation unusual. Still, there are several reasons the company may be giving journalists extra playtime, despite potential leaks.

The deepest Fire Emblem game?

The most reasonable explanation is that the Switch 2 game will take many days or weeks to finish. Using the 2019 Three Houses as an example, completing all 4 routes often consumed players for over 200 hours. Authors of Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave reviews likely face a similar challenge.

Cain and the other three main heroes each have unique storylines that could significantly extend gameplay hours. Between matches, combatants explore environments while preparing for the next battle.

There has been a trend of publishers delaying distributing final builds to the press as long as possible. The open-world Crimson Desert boasts endless exploration. Yet, with console versions, some reviewers had to grind to prepare articles in time. 007 First Light is not as lengthy an experience, but sites again complained about late-arriving codes.

A confident Nintendo

Developers have also increasingly relied on day-one patches to address bugs. If a title needs more work, companies hesitate to allow critics to access it at an earlier stage. If reviews are in progress 6+ weeks before the Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave release date, it could be in better shape.

Nintendo is particularly paranoid about unauthorized impressions and videos surfacing. With copies in the wild this early, the chances of leaks related to the Switch 2 game are even higher.

The gaming giant apparently is willing to risk spoilers with Fortune’s Weave. For fans, another bonus is the chance to see hands-on previews appear after the August 4th Nintendo Direct.