The Next Animal Crossing Could Drop Sooner Than You Think—Here’s Why Fans Should Be Excited

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The timing for the release of “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” could not have been more opportune. Originally slated for a 2019 premiere but delayed due to an extended development phase, this highly anticipated addition to the “Animal Crossing” series hit shelves on March 20, 2020. Nintendo opted to postpone the launch of “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” in order to ensure a top-quality gaming experience for players. Given the extensive overhaul of in-game features, this choice was quite rational. However, the game’s phenomenal success and the subsequent rise in popularity of comfort-oriented gaming were completely unanticipated by Nintendo. Launched during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, the game provided countless players around the globe with a desperately needed respite from global news anxieties. Its immense popularity marked the advent of a new era in the life-simulation gaming market, significantly raising player expectations and generating keen interest in comfort-themed games.

As a dedicated Animal Crossing gamer, I can’t help but feel a pang of disappointment when I reflect on New Horizons. With over 40 million copies sold, making it the second-best-selling Switch title ever, its popularity and financial success are undeniable. However, in contrast to its predecessor, it seems that New Horizons didn’t receive the same level of long-term support post-launch. After its last major content update and the release of Happy Home Paradise DLC in November 2021, the game has largely fallen silent.

The decision to halt significant updates left fans scratching their heads, particularly given New Horizons’ incredible success as a title. The announcement of the Nintendo Switch 2 launch date only serves to heighten the anticipation and longing among Animal Crossing fans for new content.

Though Nintendo has been typically tight-lipped about future plans for Animal Crossing, the advent of the Switch 2 offers a glimmer of hope to a fandom yearning for fresh experiences.

A History of Delayed Starts for the Animal Crossing Series

When launching a new console, Nintendo typically offers a variety of games to demonstrate its value to players. However, the “Animal Crossing” franchise has not been among the selected for this purpose. By examining the release dates of previous “Animal Crossing” games, it’s evident that there is a consistent trend of delayed launches.

Only the primary Animal Crossing games that were launched on a Nintendo platform are listed in the titles below. As a result, we’re not considering spin-off games like “Animal Crossing: Amiibo Festival” and “Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp.

Animal Crossing Title Release Date (US) Relevant Console and Console Release Date (US)
Animal Crossing September 16, 2002 Nintendo GameCube | November 18, 2001
Animal Crossing: Wild World December 5, 2005 Nintendo DS | November 21, 2004
Animal Crossing: City Folk November 16, 2008 Nintendo Wii | November 19, 2006
Animal Crossing: New Leaf June 9, 2013 Nintendo 3DS | March 27, 2011
Animal Crossing: New Horizons March 20, 2020 Nintendo Switch | March 3, 2017

As a devoted fan, I’ve noticed that Nintendo typically holds back the mainline entries for the beloved “Animal Crossing” franchise at least a year after the release of a new console. The exception being the initial title on the GameCube which was released less than a year post-launch – truly an anomaly! Generally, Nintendo waits around two and a half years between a console debut and an “Animal Crossing” game launch. Given this pattern, it’s no wonder that the latest Nintendo Direct didn’t share any “Animal Crossing” news.

By releasing the new Animal Crossing game at a strategic time, Nintendo has the opportunity to perfect fresh hardware features and let their iconic franchises, such as Animal Crossing, contribute significantly to long-term sales rather than just initial adoption. Following the moderate response to City Folk on the Wii, Nintendo understood that each new installment of Animal Crossing needs to innovate to meet the high standards set by the franchise’s groundbreaking legacy. However, New Horizons took this concept a step further, both literally and figuratively. It demonstrated the franchise’s potential to join Nintendo’s most reliable intellectual properties, appealing to both casual and core gamers. This shift in dynamics alters what Animal Crossing can bring to a console launch and vice versa. If Animal Crossing breaks free from the pattern of delayed releases, there’s a possibility that it could undergo a rejuvenation—some might even say it could be starting anew.

New Horizons Might Have Accelerated the Timeline

It’s quite logical to think that Nintendo, given the phenomenal success of New Horizons, might speed up the development process for the next Animal Crossing. The game’s sales demonstrates its potential as a powerful system seller. With the Nintendo Switch 2 set to launch in June 2025, it would be tactically smart to release a new Animal Crossing early on, rather than as a mid-life boost. This way, Nintendo could introduce the game as a significant foundation stone for the console’s initial phase.

Why Updates Could Have Suddenly Paused for New Horizons

In the yearly Nintendo Direct event held in 2021, Nintendo unveiled the upcoming release of Happy Home Paradise DLC, set for November 2021. Fans rejoiced after the announcement, eager to explore fresh content for their beloved game Animal Crossing: New Horizons, which offered a welcome distraction from the difficulties faced in 2020. However, it was also revealed during that broadcast that this would be the last significant expansion for the game, a revelation that took many by surprise given the game’s impressive financial performance.

The game “New Horizons” didn’t receive regular seasonal updates and expansions after its release, leaving many players feeling that it was discontinued prematurely. This is especially noticeable when compared to the extensive support given to “New Leaf,” which established new benchmarks for the franchise with brand partnerships and collaborations. However, it’s possible that the sudden halt in updates wasn’t a mistake but a deliberate shift in strategy. Nintendo might have decided to divert resources from further “New Horizons” updates towards the development of the next mainline game, one that could leverage the capabilities of the Switch 2’s hardware and performance. In this perspective, the abrupt ending of updates isn’t indicative of neglect but rather a sign of ambition: the quiet start of a next-generation “Animal Crossing” experience.

A New Animal Crossing Makes for the Perfect Anniversary Gift

A significant reason for fans to stay optimistic is that 2026 holds great significance for the Animal Crossing series as it marks the 25th anniversary of its original Japanese release, originally named “Animal Forest” or Doubutsu no Mori. Since Nintendo often celebrates milestones in a grand fashion, the likelihood of releasing a new Animal Crossing game to honor this quarter-century milestone is high. The timing could be perfect: a hardware launch in 2025 and an Animal Crossing release in 2026, honoring its past while setting the stage for a new era in the franchise.

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2025-04-15 19:39