Summary
Animal Crossing: New Horizonswas a bigger success than Nintendo likely thought possible. While the franchise was always popular, the pandemic allowed New Horizons to elevateAnimal Crossingto new heights. Because everyone was stuck indoors, gamers and non-gamers alike were in need of something to pass the time. For many,Animal Crossing: New Horizonswas the perfect solution, as it allowed them to spend hundreds of hours creating the perfect outdoors setting to explore while they were stuck inside in the real world. However,Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ time in the spotlight has come and gone, and now fans are curious about the future.
WhileAnimal Crossing: New Horizonsreceived some solid post-launch support, and went out with a bang thanks to the 2.0 update andHappy Home Paradise DLC, it has been a long time since it received some new content. Many are still holding out hope for a surpriseAnimal Crossing: New Horizonsupdate, but at this point, it seems highly unlikely. With the Switch’s days being numbered, the Switch 2 is going to beAnimal Crossingfans’ next opportunity for another entry.
Nintendo Switch 2 Can Provide a New and Improved Animal Crossing Game
To be clear, there is no guarantee that aNintendo Switch 2in particular is happening, though a number have leaks have suggested that a successor of some kind is in the works. Regardless of what form the next Nintendo console takes, it will surely get anAnimal Crossinggame at some point, whether that be at launch or a few years down the road. For that reason, even those that are not particularly hyped for the next Nintendo console and the other games the brand offers should keep an eye on whatever is happening with the Switch 2.
Before even considering the game itself, the announcement of the Switch 2 will be exciting forAnimal Crossing. First, there is a chance that the nextAnimal Crossinggame is revealed alongside the new Nintendo console as a potential system seller. Next, there is a chance for anotherAnimal Crossing-themed consolebundle, as the original proved to be a major hit. Finally, the Switch 2’s reveal will surely come with information on the console’s specs, and based on the rumors thus far, it may be a significant step up from its predecessor.
Once fans have official info on how much stronger the next Nintendo console is going to be, they can begin to think about what the nextAnimal Crossingcould look like, even if it is not shown during the console’s inevitable reveal event. At the very least, the increased power of the next NIntendo console could work wonders for load times, allowing players to go to Mystery Islands and visit other gamers far faster. However, it could also grant players far more building space than they have ever had intheAnimal Crossingseries, which would surely be something that creative players appreciate.
Ideally, though, players will see a newAnimal Crossinggame revealed when the next Nintendo console is. Even if it is just a brief teaser with a logo, title, and release window, many would surely be happy just to have something new to look forward to. While the series' community remains active, sharing clever island builds or coming up with newAnimal CrossingVillager types, the content drought has certainly been felt.
Both because of the possible technical improvements and because moreAnimal Crossingcontent on the original Switch is unlikely, Nintendo’s next piece of hardware is integral to the series’ future. With so little being done with theAnimal Crossingbrand now, aside from cute collaborations like theLEGOAnimal Crossingset, any kind of news would be appreciated. Though fans should obviously manage their expectations since nothing is confirmed, it is all-but guaranteed that a newAnimal Crossingwill release for Nintendo’s next console eventually. Hopefully, fans get info about the nextAnimal Crossinggame sooner rather than later, as it has a chance to be a major leap forward.
