Fire Emblem 3DS confirmed for UK 2012 launch

Fire Emblem: Awakening will launch in the UK this year on 3DS, Nintendo has confirmed.

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata revealed the good news in a presentation full of 3DS soundbites, including a new name and release date for Mario Tennis Open. It arrives for 3DS in Europe on 25th May.

Fire Emblem DLC available post-launch will expand the game via fresh maps and story episodes. It comes free, in Japan at least, for a limited time.

Another Brain Training title from Dr. Kawashima was announced for Japan, meanwhile. It will focus on improving your memory and concentration, and features a mode where Kawashima transforms into a devil.

A mysterious collaboration between Capcom, Sega and Bandai Namco was also teased. It will be published by Banpresto, although no further details were given.

Iwata mentioned that Game Gear titles would soon launch on the 3DS Virtual Console, something Famitsu (via Andriasang) confirmed will begin next week in Japan with the launch of Shinobi, Sonic & Tales 2 and Dragon Crystal Shirani's Maze. The Game Gear range launches in March in the UK.

Other newsbites included details on Kid Icarus: Uprising's Street Pass functions. You'll be able to trade item parts named "seeds" to create new combinations.

Nintendo has announced that the game will be released with a pack of six Kid Icarus AR cards, but those who pre-order the game will receive an extra pack containing 24 more. The exclusive Kid Icarus AR Cards will also be available through Club Nintendo - for 250 Stars you'll be able to get 2 packs containing 6 AR cards each, some packs containing "extremely rare" cards.

Fatal Frame spin-off horror game Spirit Camera: The Cursed Memoir will also include AR functions, involving a 16-page AR Book included with the game. Project Zero 2: Wii Edition is also coming to Europe - it's a new version of Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly.

New gameplay videos of Kid Icarus: Uprising and 3DS downloadable game Dillion's Rolling Western lie below.