The Next Generation of Animal Crossing
If you're anything like me, you've played ACNH to its completion and now you're feeling... empty. It's like the winds of life have been blown out from your soul, and there's a sad K.K. Slider song playing in the background—Stale Cupcakes, to be exact. Oh, and it's always raining. Alright, that's dramatic, moving on.
When is the next Animal Crossing coming out?
With all the recent hype around Nintendo Direct and the summer announcements, there's a glimmer of hope for a new Animal Crossing. The June 18th broadcast had some interesting reveals, but something was missing: our beloved Animal Crossing! The Switch's second top-grossing game, behind Mario Kart, with a whopping $45.36 million in sales, was absent! How could they?! Maybe Animal Crossing has middle child syndrome, or maybe they're saving the best for last. I’m just a mere mortal; I don't know such things.
To be clear: there are no confirmed statements from Nintendo about a new Animal Crossing on their rumored newest console. Nada. Zilch. It’s a “no news is bad news” situation. We’re running on pure speculation here, fueled by whispers from sources like NWeedle on Twitter—a semi-reliable insider in the gaming world—and some hope from Animal Crossing enthusiasts everywhere. Are these the gospel truth? Or just gamer gossip? I'll let you be the judge. I’m just here to gather the juicy bits for you.
Rumors Stir
On March 12th, 2024, Twitter user Nash Weedle posted about the possibility of a new Animal Crossing game arriving in 2026. I know, that's quite a wait! However, the post hinted at exciting features we might see. The tweet, originally in Spanish, mentioned driveable vehicles and a large interactive city reminiscent of The City in both New Leaf and City Folk. It also suggested there'd be minigames and puzzles, which were a hit in New Leaf, and more robust multiplayer features.
As a veteran Animal Crossing player, this sparks joy, suggesting that Nintendo might have heard the cries for bringing back incredible elements from older games that fell short in New Horizons.
Cover Picture Is Updated
This one might be a stretch, but let's embrace our inner conspiracy theorist. On July 2nd, 2024, the official Animal Crossing Facebook page updated their cover photo at 3:18 AM. Curious, right? What could they possibly be hinting at? The photo itself just shows Tom Nook and Isabelle in a promotional pose near the logo, but it's enough to make you wonder. Seems suspicious for a game that's over 4 years old... unless they're clearing the path for a new installment.
A vast majority of the comments on the picture are from desperate fans sharing their opinions on what should be included in the next game, what they liked about New Horizons, and mostly just people begging for any hint that a new Animal Crossing is in the works.
Historical Success
The Animal Crossing franchise has seen measurable success since its inception over 20 years ago. Originally known as Dobutsu No Mori or Animal Forest for our true OG fans (seriously, it’s time to reapply your serums, babe), the life simulation series has evolved significantly over the years. It had some rocky beginnings but followed Nintendo's mantra of turning endeavors into success, even when initial outcomes seemed uncertain. With only five games in the series, it ranks as the fifth best-selling franchise for Nintendo to date. Check out this users in-depth look at the history of Animal Crossing.
As mentioned in the beginning, New Horizons stands as the second best selling game for the Switch but it also reigns supreme as the fifth best-selling game of all time for Nintendo. With this knowledge, it seems inevitable that there will be a new game for the dedicated Animal Crossing fans across the universe—it’s just a matter of when, not if.
Let's continue to hold our heads high, knowing that Animal Crossing stands as a monolith in the gaming world. After all, we can't rush perfection. For now, we'll keep terraforming poorly and gathering island inspiration without taking action. 😉 Just kidding! Now, get building!