Summary
TheAnimal Crossingfranchise is beloved for its cozy and relaxing gameplay. In the latest iteration,Animal Crossing: New Horizons, players can embark on a journey to their very own island paradise, so they can build a community, explore, and customize the idyllic world to their hearts' content. The game was met with critical acclaim when it released in 2020, earning itself an impressive score of 90 on Metacritic.
With 2024 underway, there has been no major news for theAnimalCrossingfranchise just yet. Some fans may be hopeful that it will get some attention. It has been more than 2 years since the last content update was released forAnimal Crossing: New Horizonsin November 2021. There is already plenty of discussion aboutwhat the nextAnimal Crossinggame could be, but little concrete information.
New Playable Content For Animal Crossing In 2024 Is Unlikely
WithbestsellerAnimal Crossing: New Horizonsapproaching its 4th anniversary, it seems unlikely that the game is in line for any major content updates. There has been some unfounded speculation that Nintendo is gearing up to surprise fans, but this is based purely on the fact that some newAnimal Crossingmerchandise has been released.
It’s impossible to completely rule out a late DLC release forAnimal Crossing: New Horizons.The game sold well, with lifetime sales nearing 40 millions as of November 2023. Nintendo has released content for older games before.Mario Kart 8 Deluxehas received updates as recently as November 2023, and it was released way back in 2017, so there is a precedent. DLC seems more likely than a newAnimal Crossinggame, but fans shouldn’t hold their breath for either. At most, a new game could be teased as part of the rumored Nintendo’s Switch 2 reveal, but the chances of this seem very slim.
2024 Will Be A Year Of Endings and New Beginnings For Animal Crossing
The new year isn’t looking hugely exciting for theAnimal Crossingfranchise, unfortunately. Still, there are a few things happening that fans should take note of, especially those still playingolderAnimal Crossinggames.
End Of The Line For Animal Crossing: New Leaf
Animal Crossinggames boast a longevity that few other franchises can match. The last mainline game beforeNew HorizonswasAnimal Crossing: New Leaf, which was released in 2017 and is considered one of the verybest games for the Nintendo 3DS. Nintendo is shutting down the online functionality of all 3DS and Wii U games sometime in April 2024, which includesAnimal Crossing: New Leaf. No exact date has been given just yet.
Animal Crossing: New Leafsold over 13 million copies to date. This should give some clarity on justhow wildly successfulAnimal Crossing: New Horizonshas beenwhen compared to its predecessor as well as other Nintendo franchises, even outselling the likes ofSuper Mario OdysseyandThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. This could also give an idea of how long Nintendo is likely to supportNew Horizons; if it’s going to be around as long asNew Leafhas been, players can expect full online functionality until 2030 or beyond.
Animal Crossing x Lego
For those who can’t get enough ofAnimal Crossing, there is an interesting crossover happening in 2024. Lego is releasing a few differentAnimal Crossing-themed sets featuring some iconic characters and locations from the series. They will be available for purchase on the Lego website.
This is not the first time Lego has created sets themed after Nintendo IP, but previous sets have mostly featured characters and settings from theSuper Mariofranchise. This is indicative of how popularAnimal Crossinghas become since the first game released on the GameCube in 2001, now one of Nintendo’s most lucrative franchises.
The 5upcomingAnimal CrossingLego setsreleasing on July 28, 2025, are as follows:
Animal Crossing
Animal Crossing is a Nintendo-exclusive life sim franchise spread across numerous Nintendo consoles. Featuring anthropomorphic villagers, strong customization, and a real-time day cycle, the Animal Crossing series offer unique and varied gameplay.
