Highlights

  • NBA 2K introduced face-scanning years ago, and it's a feature that could revolutionize Animal Crossing by allowing players to scan their pets into the game.
  • Face-scanning pets into Animal Crossing could add realism, deeper engagement, and education on basic pet care for players.
  • By integrating pet-scanning through the Nook Link app, Nintendo could streamline the process and enhance the emotional connection players have with their in-game pets.

Since its launch in 2001, the Animal Crossing franchise has become a safe space for creativity, inspiring players to express themselves through unique patterns and designs. However, despite its imaginative player base, the game still lacks certain features desired by the Animal Crossing community. One such example is the long-awaited addition of interactive pets, a concept in which various players have expressed a strong interest.

While seemingly worlds apart, the NBA 2K franchise could hold a unique solution to this ever-present desire. Specifically, Nintendo could draw inspiration from a special feature in the basketball simulation series. This could be a game-changer for the next Animal Crossing game if done well.

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NBA 2K Is Hiding a Great Feature For Animal Crossing

Animal Crossing Could Benefit From Face-Scanning Technology

Animal Crossing x NBA 2K

In 2014, NBA 2K15 introduced face-scanning technology to the series. Though some of these face-scans created monstrous designs, the technology that allows players to import their likeness into the game has significantly improved over the years. For people who love personalizing their gaming experiences, this feature should be of interest.

While the latest Animal Crossing game, New Horizons, offered plushies and fish tanks as pet alternatives, some players opted to display their captured creatures, like snapping turtles, as makeshift pets. Unfortunately, there's only so much the community can do with plushies and animal displays that they can't truly interact with. Players were able to get incredibly creative with the puppy plushies in New Horizons, but there's an obvious solution to this unnecessary workaround.

Animal Crossing Should Let Players Face-Scan Their Pets Into the Game

Though unexpected, the face-scanning mechanic from NBA 2K could offer a novel approach to pet implementation within Animal Crossing. Integrating this technology into the next installment of the franchise could allow players to scan their real-life pets, creating a personalized and potentially groundbreaking addition to the game. Doing so would not only fulfill that long-standing desire within the player base, but it would also:

  • Add a bit of realism to the game
  • Allow for deeper engagement
  • Provide education on basic pet care

The unique interactions and emotional connections players could build with a pet based on their real-life ones could be a major innovation. After all, the Animal Crossing community's desire to recreate their pets in-game is already evident, as players have already gone to the lengths of creating custom amiibo cards to represent their furry friends. A future game with this level of personalization would only serve to further deepen the emotional connection players feel with their Animal Crossing world, making it an even more cozy and satisfying experience.

The unique interactions and emotional connections players could build with a pet based on their real-life ones could be a major innovation.

Fortunately, introducing a pet integration feature through the existing Nook Link app seems like a possible solution. This approach would mirror NBA 2K's initial face-scanning implementation, where players needed to download a companion app first. By capitalizing on the established Nook Link app, Nintendo could potentially streamline pet integration without requiring its community to download anything else. The possibility is undoubtedly an intriguing concept for future Animal Crossing games and one that would likely resonate with a large segment of the community if Nintendo decided to travel this path.