Summary
TheAnimal Crossingfranchise 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’sAnimal Crossing:New Horizonssaw a huge surge in the Nintendo-exclusive franchise’s popularity. Four years later, there is a lot of speculation surrounding the nextAnimal Crossingand when it will be announced.
Although an official announcement has yet to be revealed,that hasn’t stoppedAnimal Crossingleaksfrom 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 nextAnimal Crossinggame will likely get its own themed console, just asNew Horizonsdid.
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 hasthe state ofAnimal Crossingbeen 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 speculatedrelease date for the nextAnimal Crossingis a little bit further down the road. As of now, a newAnimal Crossingmay not be expected until sometime in 2026. However, this still leaves Nintendo with a perfect opportunity to give the Switch 2 its ownAnimal Crossing-inspired makeover when it’s time for the successor to hit the market.
The Success of the New Horizons Edition Switch
Once thespecial editionNew HorizonsSwitchwas 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 nextAnimal Crossing.
New Horizons Took the Animal Crossing Franchise to New Heights
Animal Crossinghad been a huge hit among many Nintendo players for yearsleading up toNew Horizons. However, the height of the COVID-19 pandemic arriving right whenNew Horizonslaunched 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, theAnimal Crossingseries is more well-known than ever, so once the sequel toNew Horizonsis 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 tobuild their Nintendo collection. Mario and Link have definitely become the main mascots of the Nintendo brand, butAnimal Crossingis also at the top of the list. When the Switch 2’s release date is announced, a newAnimal Crossingreveal is sure to follow, and it will be intriguing to see how Nintendo approaches another special edition console to celebrate its launch.
