The Animal Crossing franchise 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 the Animal Crossing franchise 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 for Animal Crossing: New Horizons in November 2021. There is already plenty of discussion about what the next Animal Crossing game could be, but little concrete information.

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New Playable Content For Animal Crossing In 2024 Is Unlikely

With bestseller Animal Crossing: New Horizons approaching 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 new Animal Crossing merchandise has been released.

It's impossible to completely rule out a late DLC release for Animal 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 Deluxe has 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 new Animal Crossing game, 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 the Animal Crossing franchise, unfortunately. Still, there are a few things happening that fans should take note of, especially those still playing older Animal Crossing games.

End Of The Line For Animal Crossing: New Leaf

Animal Crossing games boast a longevity that few other franchises can match. The last mainline game before New Horizons was Animal Crossing: New Leaf, which was released in 2017 and is considered one of the very best games for the Nintendo 3DS. Nintendo is shutting down the online functionality of all 3DS and Wii U games sometime in April 2024, which includes Animal Crossing: New Leaf. No exact date has been given just yet.

Animal Crossing: New Leaf sold over 13 million copies to date. This should give some clarity on just how wildly successful Animal Crossing: New Horizons has been when compared to its predecessor as well as other Nintendo franchises, even outselling the likes of Super Mario Odyssey and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. This could also give an idea of how long Nintendo is likely to support New Horizons; if it's going to be around as long as New Leaf has been, players can expect full online functionality until 2030 or beyond.

Animal Crossing x Lego

For those who can't get enough of Animal Crossing, there is an interesting crossover happening in 2024. Lego is releasing a few different Animal 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 the Super Mario franchise. This is indicative of how popular Animal Crossing has become since the first game released on the GameCube in 2001, now one of Nintendo's most lucrative franchises.

The 5 upcoming Animal Crossing Lego sets releasing on March 1, 2024, are as follows:

• Julian's Birthday Party (77046)
• Bunnie's Outdoor Activities (77047)
• Kapp'n's Island Boat Tour (77048)
• Isabelle's House Visit (77049)
• Nook's Cranny and Rosie's House (77050)

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.