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Yes. Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore is based on the Western Wii U release, not the original Japanese Wii U game. Nintendo says the Switch version has a shared worldwide specification, so the Japanese Switch release is not an uncensored version of the original Japanese Wii U edition. The changes carried into Encore were made for the Western Wii U release; they were not newly introduced for Switch.
Which version is Encore based on?
Nintendo’s October 2019 notice says Encore was developed by adding new elements to the Western Wii U edition and was intended to use one specification worldwide. Nintendo also apologized that its promotion had not made the base version clear and had mistakenly shown images from the Japanese Wii U version. Nintendo’s Japanese notice is the primary source; its statement is translated here.
That distinction matters because “Japanese version” can mean either the original Japanese Wii U game or the later Japanese Switch release. The original Wii U edition is the point of comparison for the reported content differences. The Japanese Switch edition follows the same specification as Encore elsewhere, rather than restoring the original Wii U content. Nintendo’s UK product page lists the Switch release date as 17 January 2020.
What content differences were reported?
Contemporary reporting on the Western Wii U localization described several kinds of changes. These are examples, not a complete official change log; the cited sources do not establish a definitive count of altered scenes or assets.
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- Character ages: Some characters’ ages were raised from 17 to 18.
- Costumes and images: Some outfits were made less revealing, and bikini portraits in a dungeon were replaced with fully clothed images.
- Story presentation: Material involving gravure modelling was altered.
These examples were reported by Forbes and Nintendo Life. Forbes quoted Nintendo as saying changes reflected varying requirements and regulations in territories where it distributes products. That broad explanation does not identify the specific reason for each individual edit.
Does Encore restore the Japanese Wii U content?
No. Encore adds material to the Western Wii U-based game, but those additions should not be mistaken for restoration of the original Japanese Wii U content. Nintendo and its UK product page describe new material including an EX Story, a dungeon, music, outfits, and battle assists. Nintendo’s product information describes the Switch edition and its added content.
What about the Hot Springs material?
Nintendo Life’s coverage reported that the Switch release includes most previous Wii U DLC but omits the Hot Spring set. This is a reported omission, not part of Nintendo’s official statement about Encore’s base version. Nintendo Life’s 2016 report also noted at the time that it lacked official confirmation about Western availability of the Hot Springs DLC, so distinguish that earlier uncertainty from its later review reporting. Nintendo Life’s Encore review.
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- The game that brought together the worlds of Fire Emblem and ATLUS is coming to the Nintendo Switch system.
- An interdimensional evil has invaded modern-day Tokyo, resulting in this fantastical barrage of music, style, and Yes, danger.
- So, fight back! Battle through dungeons to pump up your strategy and creative decimate your foes.Before all hope fades to black.
How the editions compare
| Edition | What the sources establish |
|---|---|
| Japanese Wii U original | The original domestic edition is the comparison point Nintendo says was not Encore’s base. Reported differences from the Western release include costume, age, image, and gravure-modelling changes. |
| Western Wii U release | This is the edition used as Encore’s base. |
| Nintendo Switch Encore, including Japan | Nintendo says the Switch game uses a shared worldwide specification. It adds new material and, according to Nintendo Life’s review, omits the Hot Spring DLC set. |
What Nintendo said about the version confusion
In its October 18, 2019 Japanese notice, Nintendo acknowledged that its promotion had not said clearly from the outset that Encore was based on the Western Wii U title, and that it had mistakenly posted screenshots from the domestic Japanese Wii U version. The following is a translation of that official notice, not an original English-language Nintendo quote:
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“However, in our promotional activities for Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore, we did not announce from the outset that the title was based on Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE, and, in addition, screenshots from the domestic Wii U version of Genei Ibunroku #FE, which should not have been included in the title, were mistakenly posted on the official website, which could have caused customers to misunderstand the contents of the title.”
Co-director Mitsuru Hirata also acknowledged the difference in a Nintendo Life report published July 8, 2016. Hirata said he felt disappointment that overseas players could not receive the same experience as players of the Japanese version, while also thanking overseas fans for their support. The report quoted him as calling the new costumes a possible benefit for overseas fans. Nintendo Life’s report.
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