Right now, the nextAnimal Crossinghas yet to be confirmed by Nintendo, but with the recent announcement of the Switch 2, a reveal feels more likely than ever. The most recent entry in theAnimal Crossingfranchise,New Horizons, brought a hit title to the original Switch back in 2020, but five years have passed, so it’s about time for a fresh chapter.
While Nintendo hasn’t made any official announcement regardingthe nextAnimal Crossing, leaks and rumors have offered possible insight into what the series has in store next. From reports of more robust multiplayer elements to mini-games and driveable vehicles, such upgrades toNew Horizons' follow-up could be the beginning of a new era. However, until Nintendo reveals such features, these claims simply remain rumors. There’s no telling whenAnimal Crossingwill get another game, but when that day comes, there needs to be a major overhaul to Villager interactions.
Animal Crossing’s Next Entry Should Put a Focus on Villager Personalities
A Big New Horizons Criticism WIth Villager Interactions Needs Addressed
WhileNew Horizonsfeatured plenty of the usualAnimal Crossingfranchise charm, one of the biggest critiques of the game involved the personalities of its Villager NPCs. Compared to previous entries in the series, a lot of longtime players have expressed their frustrations withVillagers inNew Horizons, claiming their personalities are bland and interactions repetitive.
Since the game’s launch, the staleness of Villager personalities has been a topic of discussion among players on the internet. After so many years, one would expect Villager personalities to evolve in big ways, but they remained relatively basic inNew Horizons.Now thatthe Switch 2 is on the way,Animal Crossingis bound to be back in the spotlight, and repeating the same Villager personality mistakes could prove incredibly disappointing for a lot of players.
A recent report revealed thatAnimal Crossing: New Horizonshas reached a new milestone, selling over 8 million physical copies in Japan.
Upcoming News About the Switch 2 Hopefully Brings an Animal Crossing Announcement With It
The initial reveal of Nintendo’s next console finally arrived after rumors and leaks permeated the 2024 gaming news cycle. Now that the Switch 2 is set to launch sometime later this year, many are waiting to see what its launch titles are going to be.Titles likeMetroid Prime 4: Beyondfeel like an inevitability, but there is also the possibility that the nextAnimal Crossingcould be slated to ring in the console’s launch, too.
With Nintendo set to host a Direct eventcentered around the Switch 2in the coming months, it could be the first reveal of which games to expect alongside the console’s launch. If a newAnimal Crossinghappens to be on that list, then Nintendo will have to ensure that the sequel toNew Horizonsboasts improvements that set this installment apart. Whatever the nextAnimal Crossinghas in store, it hopefully side-steps the potential of feeling like a repackaged version of its predecessor.
The Switch 2’s Nintendo Direct event is scheduled to broadcast on Wednesday, April 2.
BetweenNew Horizons' lack of unique NPC personalities and the rumors suggesting big things ahead for the nextAnimal Crossing, the follow-up has a lot of expectations to live up to. Even ifAnimal Crossingisn’t a Switch 2 launch title, the console is the likely home of the next entry. Seeing how Nintendo chooses to makeAnimal Crossingon the Switch 2a special experience is intriguing, but there will hopefully be more meaningful in-game interactions brought to players, as well.
