With New Horizons Dead in the Water, The Sooner The Next Animal Crossing is Revealed the Better (2024)

Back in 2020, Animal Crossing: New Horizons was 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 to Animal Crossing: New Horizons as a way to pass time and play with friends while still being safe. New Horizons was 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, but Animal Crossing still has a passionate following, despite new releases. The biggest problem with New Horizons at 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 since New Horizons received its last update. If Nintendo has no future plans for more updates, it would be better to announce the next Animal Crossing game sooner rather than later.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Player Loses Island in Their Divorce

An Animal Crossing: New Horizons player shares their unfortunate story with fellow fans of losing their island in their divorce.

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 when the next Animal Crossing game will arrive. There have been rumors swirling around about features that could be in New Horizons' successor, but Nintendo has yet to confirm any of this speculation as true. Due to New Horizons coming 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 next Animal Crossing game doesn't arrive for a few more years, having an official confirmation is better than nothing. Rumors of a new Animal Crossing game have 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 recent New Horizons update was Patch 2.0.6 on November 14, 2022.

Animal Crossing Suffering From the Fast-Paced Nature of Updates and Sequels

New Horizons Keeping Up With Current Trends

The time between New Horizons and 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 between New Horizons and 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. While some New Horizons players are 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 next Animal Crossing chapter 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 the Animal Crossing franchise as a whole.

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Animal Crossing: New Horizons

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.

Simulation

Systems

OpenCritic Reviews: Top Critic Rating:90/100 Critics Recommend:99%

Franchise: Animal Crossing
Platform(s): Switch
Released: March 20, 2020
Developer(s): Nintendo EPD
Publisher(s): Nintendo
Multiplayer: Online Multiplayer , Local Multiplayer
ESRB: E for Everyone: Comic Mischief
How Long To Beat: 100 Hours
Expansions: Animal Crossing: New Horizons — Happy Home Paradise

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