Nintendo removes controversial ‘gay conversion’ scene in Western version of Fire Emblem Fates

Nintendo has revealed that the Western version of Fire Emblem Fates has seen some revisions, specifically the removal of an entire scene that involves "gay conversion" and "drugging."

“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.” a Nintendo representative told Nintendo World Report.

In the Japanese version of the game, players raise the level of a bond between characters by pairing them together in battle. The result of gaining the highest bond level typically end with a set of conversations and a marriage proposal.

The scene that has been deemed to controversial has to do with Soleil, a female character attracted to other females who often gets flustered and weak in the knees around men. In later support conversations, if you pair her up with the male protagonist, he spikes her drink with "magic powder" that makes her see women as men and vice-versa to help her "practice" around women. Without her knowing, the 'magic powder' takes effect, resulting the character falling in love with the female version of the male protagonist. Once the magic wears off and she sees him as male, she says that she fell in love with the female version of him and now wants to marry him.

Aside from the drugging, many viewed this particular action as "gay conversion therapy," a method used by religious groups to change one's sexual orientation from gay to straight.

Nintendo did not reveal how they have changed the scene to fit the Western audience.