Summary
- Rumors swirl around the next Animal Crossing game with leaks suggesting new features like a shopping mall and enhanced multiplayer options.
- Fans eagerly await the announcement of the next Animal Crossing installment, with predictions of a themed console to accompany its release.
- The success of Animal Crossing: New Horizons skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to increased popularity and anticipation for the next sequel.
The Animal Crossing franchise has quickly staked its claim as one of Nintendo's most successful series. Many have been drawn to the adorable cozy life sim over the years, and 2020's Animal Crossing: New Horizons saw a huge surge in the Nintendo-exclusive franchise's popularity. Four years later, there is a lot of speculation surrounding the next Animal Crossing and when it will be announced.
Although an official announcement has yet to be revealed, that hasn't stopped Animal Crossing leaks from making their way onto the internet. Rumors of a shopping mall and more in-depth multiplayer options have only made the excitement of a new installment more prevalent. An announcement will hopefully be in the cards soon, but there is at least one thing that is almost guaranteed. The next Animal Crossing game will likely get its own themed console, just as New Horizons did.
Animal Crossing Fan Builds Impressive Models of Nook's Cranny and Able Sisters Shops
An Animal Crossing fan puts their incredible skills to work to create remarkably detailed models of Nook's Cranny and Able Sisters shops.
Waiting For the Next Animal Crossing and Switch 2
The Switch 2 is Primed For a Special Animal Crossing Edition
Nintendo's future plans have been rife with rumors and speculation. Not only has the state of Animal Crossing been a huge talking point, but the impending arrival of the Switch 2 has kept many on the edge of their seats. Both have yet to receive official confirmation from Nintendo, but the rumor mill has suggested that the Switch 2 could be set for a March 2025 release date.
Unfortunately, the speculated release date for the next Animal Crossing is a little bit further down the road. As of now, a new Animal Crossing may not be expected until sometime in 2026. However, this still leaves Nintendo with a perfect opportunity to give the Switch 2 its own Animal Crossing-inspired makeover when it's time for the successor to hit the market.
The Success of the New Horizons Edition Switch
Once the special edition New Horizons Switch was announced, it quickly sold out. The game alone was a huge hit, becoming one of the best-selling games of 2020, and the fervor surrounding the special edition Switch was a further example of that. The body of the console featured a scene of Tom Nook and the Nooklings, Timmy and Tommy, on an island while the joy-cons were colored in a great seafoam green and pale blue. The special edition console sold like wildfire, so it only makes sense that Nintendo would pull the same move with the next Animal Crossing.
New Horizons Took the Animal Crossing Franchise to New Heights
Animal Crossing had been a huge hit among many Nintendo players for years leading up to New Horizons. However, the height of the COVID-19 pandemic arriving right when New Horizons launched was a perfect storm for Nintendo that rapidly increased the game's popularity. The game offered the perfect way to spend time with friends during lockdown while staying socially distanced, bringing a brand-new audience to the franchise. Now, the Animal Crossing series is more well-known than ever, so once the sequel to New Horizons is officially announced, the excitement is bound to boil over.
As a company, Nintendo is really gifted at marketing its exclusive titles. Through the years, the company has made plenty of special edition Switch consoles that the most hardcore players can buy to build their Nintendo collection. Mario and Link have definitely become the main mascots of the Nintendo brand, but Animal Crossing is also at the top of the list. When the Switch 2's release date is announced, a new Animal Crossing reveal is sure to follow, and it will be intriguing to see how Nintendo approaches another special edition console to celebrate its launch.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 90 /100 Critics Rec: 99%
- Released
- March 20, 2020
- ESRB
- E for Everyone: Comic Mischief
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo EPD
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
WHERE TO PLAY
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Local Multiplayer
- Expansions
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons — Happy Home Paradise
- Franchise
- Animal Crossing
- Platform(s)
- Switch
- Genre(s)
- Simulation
- How Long To Beat
- 100 Hours
