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Animal Crossing: New Horizons arrived like a heavenly angel during the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing players to meet up with friends, socialise and wake up early on a Sunday to sell turnips.
However, with no new updates for the game having been released since its Happy Home Paradise DLC in 2021, fans are eager to learn when Nintendo will release the next Animal Crossing entry.
Check out the trailer for Animal Crossing: New Horizons below!
First released in March 2020 and corresponding with the first COVID-19 lockdown (at least here in the UK), Animal Crossing: New Horizons was a lifesaver during the tough time.
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With people limited to socially interacting only via virtual means, this was the perfect opportunity to travel to each other’s in-game islands for a tour, meet up with their star-gazing Celeste, and raid their shops. Very rapidly, the game became a major success.
However, with Nintendo seemingly abandoning New Horizons after just over a year, it is one of gaming’s saddest stories and that is why fans are eager to learn when the next game will arrive.
Not only that but with the Nintendo Switch 2 expected to launch some time this year, it could mean that the next Animal Crossing entry could arrive shortly after.
According to a recent poll which took place over on r/AnimalCrossing, 312 people (out of a possible 641) believe that the next AC game will be released some time in 2026.
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At the time of writing, this has not been confirmed or even hinted at but it seems as though many fans believe we have just a year to wait.
“I’d love it if it were to be released holidays 2025, but more likely it will be summer 26,” user TheVolvaofVanaheim said.
“I just hope the villagers get some personality back from older generations of the game as the only thing that was appealing while playing NH, really, was the aesthetics.”
However, arterialrainbow isn’t feeling as optimistic.
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“I think 2026 would be the absolute earliest, but I’m expecting something closer to 2028 or later,” they commented.
“I just hope they can manage to release a fully finished game without delays this time but I won’t hold my breath.”
Whenever the next Animal Crossing entry is released, there is no doubt that millions of fans will flock to the much-loved social simulation title.
Topics: Animal Crossing, Nintendo, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch