Since theNintendo Switch 2’slaunch,I’ve been enjoying Mario Kart Worldandthe upgraded Tears of the Kingdom. Not purely by choice, but because that’s pretty much the only games out there right now. In the lead-up toDonkey Kong Bananza, I’ve also started a fresh new island onAnimal Crossing: New Horizons, but this time, I told myself I would play it casually. My obsession during the pandemic years got a little out of hand.
Yet in my hubris, I’ve already failed, and now I hear the call each day to pick up the Switch 2 and make some progress on my island getaway. But with each bug caught and fossil assessed, it’s only becoming more and more obvious that we’re missing a Switch 2 upgrade for this game, too. Mario Kart, Pokemon, and Zelda all make use of the Switch 2 for significant performance boosts.Doesn’t Animal Crossing deserve one as well?
No Mention Of New Horizons Around The Switch 2 Is Just Odd
Mario and Zelda are some of Nintendo’s oldest franchises, so it makes sense that we already have new entries and upgrades on the Switch 2 for them. What doesn’t make sense is how Animal Crossing has been glossed over entirely. Sure, it’s been a few years now since the game was actively supported, but it was undoubtedly one of Nintendo’s biggest games in the last decade.
It felt like everyone in the world had a little slice of life built on Animal Crossing: New Horizons, so when you’re trying to sell a new console to, well, everyone in the world, why wouldn’t you incentivise people with that same game?
You could argue that a new game might be in the works, and Nintendo doesn’t want to take the spotlight away from an impending announcement sometime in the next year, but I hardly think a $10 upgrade is really going to stagger any success of future Animal Crossing games.
Well, unless the next one is $80. Then, yeah, it might stagger it.
Please, Just Uncap The Framerate Or Something, Anything
Still, as I continue to gather materials for Nook’s Cranny and island hop to find - or avoid - certain villagers, the game feels like it’s falling behind on the new hardware. I know Animal Crossing isn’t exactly a reactively demanding game, so it’s not like 60-120fps is going to offer any real benefit for gameplay outside of being more visually pleasant, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want it. Also, imagine those sunset horizons with HDR, letting me be ever so slightly more blinded by the sun saying goodnight.
Also, for those of you who have an islandfullof flowers and furniture… I know you could use the performance boost.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m having a great time returning to the cozy little town builder. I just don’t want to get so sucked into Animal Crossing: New Horizons again, only to feel fatigued by it once more, andthenNintendo comes along and announces a fancy new upgrade for it. Because I know that will happen. Of course it will.
