Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the undisputed quarantine game, and a lot of fans will agree. The series has followed a straight-up development period for years, but now, the developers want things to change.
Animal Crossing New Horizons introduced a lot of new features to the franchise that has been around since the Gamecube. Aside from being able to craft their furniture, the game also introduced a lot of new mechanics that fans loved. However, the developers believe that it’s time to take things up to another level for the series.
Moving forward with game developers
Series head Hisashi Nogami and game director Aya Kyogoku attended an online talk for Japan’s Computer Entertainment Developer’s Conference (CEDEC). In it, the two key persons for the Animal Crossing franchise talked more about the future of the game.
In their interview, Kyogoku says that the series was able to become successful because each installment was different from the last. At the same time, the games retained the core appeal of the franchise.
Kyogoku says, “while this is the real pleasure of developing a series, it is also the most difficult point,” she said, adding that the development team had realized over the years that the Animal Crossing series “cannot be sustained without change.”
“In order for the series to continue to exist as an IP and for many people to enjoy it for a long time, it is important to continue to challenge and change with the times,” she adds.
What’s next?
Animal Crossing New Horizons is indeed the best outing for the series. Aside from all of the new features it introduced, the developers were also able to create a more sustainable game. The hit Switch title gets regular content updates. This allowed players to jump into the game again and again.
According to leaks, there are still many upcoming features to the game. These include a cafe, the ability to have more villagers, and much more. We’ve yet to know when these updates will arrive, but we know that the developers will gradually improve the game in the coming months.
Animal Crossing New Horizons is one of the best and most memorable games in the franchise to date. Fans are happy with Nintendo’s work. With a good plan ahead, fans should rest easy knowing that the beloved Animal Crossing franchise is in good hands.
Image used courtesy of Nintendo/YouTube