Nintendo changes controversial scene from 'Fire Emblem Fates' for U.S release

KYOTO, Japan, Jan. 22 (UPI) -- Nintendo is removing a controversial scene involving the drugging of a female character in their latest role playing game, Fate Emblem Fates before its western release.

The scene involves the player giving one of the game's party members Soleil, a woman who is attracted to other women, some "magic powder" that causes her to see men as women.

This is done as the game explains, to help Soleil with her obsession with attractive girls who distract her during confrontations on the battlefield.

When the title launched in Japan last year, the segment sparked controversy from fans who interrupted the scene as homophobic and as depicting aspects of gay conversion therapy.

Nintendo has now stated that the scene will be altered as part of the game's localization for the United States. "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," Nintendo said in a statement Thursday.

"Making changes is not unusual when we localize games, and we have indeed made changes in these games," the company continued. "When we localize a game we do so in order to make it appropriate for that particular territory. All our choices were made from that point of view."

Nintendo then stated how depending on which version is played, players can have certain characters, female or male marry others of the same sex.

Fire Emblem Fates launches on Feb. 19 for the Nintendo 3DS.