It feels like there’s always rumours circulating about the next Nintendo Direct, and this time we’re expecting one to come around before the end of July. Which, considering the time of year and that the Nintendo Switch 2 is in dire need of more games, seems pretty likely.
However,there are also rumours that we’ll see a new Animal Crossing announcementat the next Direct, potentially leading to a 2026 release. This is harder to predict, butI’ve talked about why I think this seems to be a likely release window for the game already, and if those rumours are making the rounds, I’m inclined to believe them.
Maybe I’m just coping. Shut up, I need this.
But if we do indeed see a newAnimal Crossingshow up for theNintendo Switch 2, there are a few things I’m really hoping we see. I’m sure Nintendo is reading this right now, so let’s get straight to it.
Farming & Agriculture
Just Can’t Keep Animals, I Guess
Following the 2020 release of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, the 2.0 update in late 2021 brought with it numerous additions, including the ability to farm on your adorable island paradise.
In the wake of the ever-popular (and oversaturated) farming genre, Animal Crossing stepped up to make it a part of island life, too. Now, there wasn’t quite an economy for this addition like with turnips, and it was mainly for crafting certain food dishes and themed furniture.
However, when approaching a new Animal Crossing, I hope Nintendo includes farming from the start and potentially as a core element of the experience. It would be something to keep in mind as we build up our new towns, and provides just another reason to pick up the game each day. People love getting absorbed into the turnip market to make a profit, so imagine a whole crop harvest economy to capitalise on. Tom Nook would be proud.
Independence For The Roost
Give Brewster His Own Place Again
When we finally saw Brewster arrive in New Horizons, I was disappointed to see that his coffee shop - The Roost - was back to being a hidden nook in the depths of the museum. We’ve seen him have a separate business before, so why we reverted to this, I’m not sure.
It would make sense, in a game all about decorating your own island, to build a cute little cafe. You could have a nice quiet place to visit, fully furnished, with an exterior you could spruce up, plus trees and outdoor seating. Hopefully, with the next game, we can see Brewster thrive.
Also, hopefully, we don’t have to wait months just to see him.
A City To Visit
Let’s Go Back To The City
There’s a wonderful piece by Allyson Cochran that dives a bit deeper into this concept, but essentially: Give us a city to visit again.
I have no idea if the next Animal Crossing will once again take place on an island or return to the mainland, but by whatever means of travel is necessary, give us a location to visit for special shops, exclusive entertainment, and a way to add even more evolving elements to the experience.
A step further: imagine a city in Animal Crossing as a gathering hub, where you could encounter other players also on their trips into town, making the community and world of Animal Crossing feel more alive than ever before. This could either be an actual online connection where other players are in the same session, or even something as simple as Splatoon’s cities, where you can see NPCs that represent other players.
Speaking of multiplayer…
Actual Co-Op Gameplay
It’s Time For Another Villager To Help Out
We’ve always had the ability to create multiple houses in our Animal Crossing towns, with space enough for a few other family members or friends who use the same console. It’s a great way to share the joy of building up a town, but it’s always been split into taking turns.
What if we had this ability, but across multiple consoles, so you and your friends or your partner could live in the same town, contributing towards the same milestones and goals? Or even just being able to visit friends and perhaps be granted permission to make changes or help out. None of this ‘you can’t move furniture while someone is visiting’ - why?
It would only add to the magic of Animal Crossing to, through whatever means, be able to play more cooperatively with other players, rather than solely visiting just to look around and trade some items.
Nintendo Switch 2 Graphics
Give Me HDR Sunsets Or Give Me Death
Finally, this is a little obvious, but following the lack of updates for New Horizons on the Switch 2, I’d be a little disappointed if a new Animal Crossing looked comparable to the entry six years prior. Sure, it’s going tolook likeAnimal Crossing, but when we’re dealing with a console that can handle Cyberpunk 2077, all I’m asking is for a little more flair here and there.
Make use of that upscaling and the HDR lighting, and allow us to go bigger than ever before. I don’t know specifically what might be possible or what might even suit Animal Crossing — and we’ve yet to see the Switch 2 be pushed to any sort of extensive potential — but I hope Animal Crossing can be a strong start to begin showing off.
Use the new HD rumble to let us feel Resetti tunneling through the ground to scold us or something, idk.
