The announcement trailer for the new Nintendo Switch OLED model has rightfully received a lot of attention, with fans discussing the new system's specs and coping with disappointment over its lack of 4K support. But in the trailer itself, there's another big, but subtler, disappointment: Animal Crossing: New Horizons was nowhere to be found.
A surprise announcement for a new system is prime time for a company to show off its biggest titles, and the OLED model's reveal followed through, showcasing the upcoming Pokémon remakes, Splatoon 3, Metroid Dread, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Bowser's Fury, Mario Party Superstars, and even Ring Fit Adventure and the unnamed sequel to Breath of the Wild. Besides Mario Kart and Donkey Kong, which haven't seen major releases since 2017 and 2018, the only flagship Nintendo property missing from the trailer was Animal Crossing.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons was an international sensation upon its release in March 2020. According to Statista, New Horizons sold more digital copies in a single month than any other console game in history. And yet, since early 2021, Nintendo has been eerily quiet about the wildly popular game. There hasn't been an update of any kind since April - troubling for a game that relies on periodic events. New Horizons wasn't mentioned in Nintendo's E3 Direct, either. To follow that absence with another in the OLED model's announcement is worrying.
Is Nintendo Done With Animal Crossing: New Horizons?
Animal Crossing: New Horizons updates in February and March 2021 added fun, Mario-themed items and new customizable goods, but dedicated players have now entered a cycle of holidays they already experienced last year. April's update to the spring and summer events was only a slight tweak. More than two months later, no further updates have launched or even been announced - the longest stretch without one since the game's release. The only official statement on the matter comes from Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser. Speaking to The Verge, he promised new Animal Crossing content is on the way.
"While we didn’t talk about it [during the E3 Nintendo Direct], we absolutely have plans going forward to ensure the 33 million people who have islands out there have new and fun activities to engage with. Look for more to come."
While reassuring, Bowser's quote is still dishearteningly vague. What exactly are the "new and fun activities?" How extensively will they add to New Horizons' gameplay, and when can players expect them? The continued absence of Animal Crossing: New Horizons from Nintendo's major events and announcements gives credence to growing concerns it's simply not among Nintendo's priorities. Giving screen time to Ring Fit Adventure and none to New Horizons is a surprising choice. Hopefully, it doesn't indicate Animal Crossing has been abandoned.
Source: Statista