The game takes place on the continent of Fódlan. The landmass is divided into three rival nations who are now at peace: the Adrestian Empire to the southwest, the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus to the north, and the Leicester Alliance to the east. At the center of the continent is the Garreg Mach Monastery, a neutral territory home to both the Church of Seiros and the Officer's Academy. The game's "Three Houses" refer to the three boarding houses of the academy, the Black Eagles, the Blue Lions, and the Golden Deer, each populated with students from the three main nations.
The game is set during two time periods. The first begins in Imperial Year 1180, during the characters' time as students at the Officer's Academy. The story then jumps five years later to the time of a promised reunion between the three house leaders, only for their respective nations to now be seemingly at war with each other.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses is an upcoming tactical role-playing game, developed by Intelligent Systems with support from Koei Tecmo Games.