2016's strategy RPG Fire Emblem Fates will include an option to trigger same-sex marriage, a Nintendo spokesman has confirmed.

It follows intense criticism regarding last year's 3DS title Tomodachi Life, which did not include a same-sex relationship option despite being mainly based around creating characters based on yourself and friends and forming relationships.

Fire Emblem Fates will, like its predecessor Fire Emblem Awakening, have a significant romance aspect, where players can marry characters to form in-game bonds. Nintendo confirmed that Fire Emblem Fates will launch in Europe as two versions, and that each version has a same-sex marriage option.

Fire Emblem Conquest will feature a male character that the player's male main character can marry, and Fire Emblem Birthright will feature a female character that the player's female main character can marry.

If you buy either version of the game, a third campaign will be offered as downloadable content, which will include both characters.

Fire Emblem Fates will release in Europe next year.