Back in 2020,Animal Crossing: New Horizonswas one of the hottest games of the year. Launching during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, many longtime fans of the franchise (and plenty of newcomers) flocked toAnimal Crossing: New Horizonsas a way to pass time and play with friends while still being safe.New Horizonswas a massive success, but its popularity has dwindled in recent years.
Granted, it has been four years since the game’s launch. There have been plenty of huge titles released since then that have taken over the spotlight, butAnimal Crossingstill has a passionate following, despite new releases. The biggestproblem withNew Horizonsat the moment is that the game has been stuck in limbo for a while now. In a few months, it will be two whole years sinceNew Horizonsreceived its last update. If Nintendo has no future plans for more updates, it would be better to announce the nextAnimal Crossinggame sooner rather than later.
A New Animal Crossing Announcement Could Help Player Woes
New Horizons Players Don’t Have Much to Look Forward to at the Moment
As of now, there is no news on whenthe nextAnimal Crossinggamewill arrive. There have been rumors swirling around about features that could be inNew Horizons' successor, but Nintendo has yet to confirm any of this speculation as true. Due toNew Horizonscoming up on the two-year anniversary of its last update, players have not been able to experience anything new in the game in quite some time. Although the sandbox title has more features than it did at launch, not having any news to look forward to is disappointing.
Even if the nextAnimal Crossinggame doesn’t arrive for a few more years, having an official confirmation is better than nothing.Rumors of a newAnimal Crossinggamehave suggested fun additions, like a revamped multiplayer and a sprawling shopping mall, which has made many players eager to learn more. However, anticipating and hoping with no end in sight can be painful and make the wait feel longer than it actually is.
The most recentNew Horizonsupdate was Patch 2.0.6 on Jun 15, 2025.
The theories and rumors surrounding the nextAnimal Crossingentry arguably make the current state of the game feel even more stale. Hearing speculation about what could be included in a new chapter while receiving no fresh content for over a year really magnifies how there isn’t much else to do inNew Horizonsfor those who have explored and experienced everything. There are still plenty ofthingsNew Horizonsplayers have yet to discover, but overall, the game being stuck in its current state can make it hard for some to stay engaged.
Animal Crossing Suffering From the Fast-Paced Nature of Updates and Sequels
New Horizons Keeping Up With Current Trends
The time betweenNew Horizonsand its successor was once not as noticeable. However, the fast-paced nature of the industry now can make four years feel like double the time. The time betweenNew Horizonsand its predecessor,New Leaf, was a whopping eight years. Now, updates to games can feel constant at times, and sequels are expected much sooner. There are pros and cons to this quicker pace, but it definitely makes the arrival of follow-ups feel longer. WhilesomeNew Horizonsplayersare still finding new details and just now jumping into the game for the first time, others have seen it all.
Despite the differences in players, one thing is nearly for certain: announcing the nextAnimal Crossingchapter soon would give the franchise’s audience something to look forward to together. Even if the next game isn’t released until 2026, like some rumors are suggesting,it could reignite fervor in theAnimal Crossingfranchiseas a whole.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
WHERE TO PLAY
Escape to a deserted island and create your own paradise as you explore, create, and customize in the Animal Crossing: New Horizons game. Your island getaway has a wealth of natural resources that can be used to craft everything from tools to creature comforts. You can hunt down insects at the crack of dawn, decorate your paradise throughout the day, or enjoy sunset on the beach while fishing in the ocean. The time of day and season match real life, so each day on your island is a chance to check in and find new surprises all year round.Show off your island utopia to family and friends—or pack your bags and visit theirs. Whether playing online** or with others beside you***, island living is even better when you can share it. Even without hopping on a flight, you’ll meet a cast of charming animal residents bursting with personality. Friendly faces like Tom Nook and Isabelle will lend their services and happily help you grow your budding community. Escape to your island getaway—however, whenever, and wherever you want.
