Nintendo Direct broadcasts have become infamous for concluding with "and one more thing" surprise announcements, and the September 12, 2025, Direct was no exception. The final, unexpected reveal was Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave, the next title in Nintendo's long-running tactical strategy series. But the very end of the Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave trailer contained yet another surprise: the appearance of the Divine Dragon goddess Sothis, seemingly confirming that the game takes place in the same world as 2019's Fire Emblem: Three Houses. But where in the game's timeline — and where in its vast world — could Fortune's Weave take place?
Thousands Of Years Have Likely Passed
Notably, Sothis was the only Three Houses character to appear in the trailer — and she showed up as an adult, rather than her childlike form used throughout Three Houses and its spinoff Three Hopes. Given that Sothis is a slow-aging immortal, one possible theory is that Fortune's Weave takes place thousands of years after the events of Three Houses.
This would potentially be a good choice for Nintendo, as it would allow them to avoid explicitly making any of Three Houses' multiple endings canon. The game's routes and their differing philosophies have been the subject of debate for many years, with many fans throwing their support wholeheartedly behind either Edelgard, Dimitri, or Claude (or the Church of Seiros) and their plans for Fodlan. Additionally, a far-future setting could allow the game to explore how systems such as the Crest-based nobility or the strict divisions between Adrestia, Faerghus, and Leicester have changed over the centuries.
There's A Small Chance The Game Is A Prequel
There is also a chance that the game could be set hundreds or thousands of years before Three Houses, possibly during the time that Nemesis and his followers fought against Sothis and her children. This could be a potentially interesting choice, as it could introduce the ancestors of Three Houses' characters, such as the legendary Ten Elites.
However, there are a few elements of the trailer that make this theory less likely, although not fully deconfirmed. One character is shown wielding what appears to be a modern pistol, which would make more sense for a post-Three Houses setting. Another character wields what is distinctively a Crest Weapon — most, if not all, of these weapons were created following Sothis' defeat. Finally, Sothis says that the player has "forgotten her," implying they had a close relationship with her previously — as protagonist Byleth did in Three Houses.
Fortune's Weave's Geographical Location Is Also A Mystery
In addition, it is currently unclear exactly where Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave takes place. Given that many countries outside Fodlan were mentioned in Three Houses, it seems likely that Nintendo has chosen to explore one of those settings rather than return to the divided continent. Based on the desert setting and the looks and clothing of several characters featured in the trailer, one potential guess is Almyra, the nation to the east of Fodlan and the homeland of Three Houses characters Claude and Cyril. Almyra's politics and history were frequently referenced throughout Three Houses, but many fans expressed wanting to learn more about Fodlan's neighbor. Other possibilities include the island nations of Brigid and Albinea, the rarely-talked about Morfis, or even a restored version of the Duscur peninsula.
However, if the game is in fact set in one of Fodlan's countries, the most likely choice is the Adrestian Empire. The real-world influences behind Adrestia's culture include the Roman Empire, and the setting shown in the trailer did have a bit of a Roman feel, with a combat-based tournament set in an arena and multiple characters shown wearing tunics and sandals. This is a less likely theory, but still definitely possible. Until Nintendo reveals more about this upcoming Fire Emblem title, all fans can do is theorize, and theories about the game's place in the world and timeline will likely be plentiful.
