While there are no details as to when a new Animal Crossing game will be released, it is all but guaranteed that one will come eventually. Indeed, it is very likely that a new entry will be developed for Nintendo's next-generation console, the Switch 2, at some point. That next Animal Crossing can be made with the benefits of the console's more powerful hardware and new features in mind, and there is one feature in particular that could lead to a few game-changing possibilities.
The Switch 2 is meant to be a direct follow-up to Nintendo's previous major console, taking its predecessor's core features and improving upon them. The upcoming console also offers new features for people to enjoy, one of which could do wonders for the next Animal Crossing. That feature is Nintendo Switch 2 GameChat, the console's exclusive communication platform that people can use if they subscribe to Nintendo Switch Online. GameChat aims to offer an experience that other platforms cannot, and it could definitely play a role in improving the next Animal Crossing's social elements and its multiplayer offering.
The Window for One Animal Crossing Spin-Off to Happen is Closing Fast
Animal Crossing has many opportunities to grow as a franchise, but there is one that it has yet to touch on and whose window is closing fast.
How the Next Animal Crossing Could Benefit From GameChat
It would be a missed opportunity if the Switch 2's new features were not fully utilized when bringing Nintendo's most-popular franchises to the new console. For example, a new Animal Crossing game for the Switch 2 should not miss out on GameChat integration, as the feature could provide a variety of benefits:
- Players would no longer have to rely exclusively on emotes or text to communicate, as GameChat's voice chat would allow them to directly convey their emotions in the quickest manner possible.
- Players would have a better time trading items with one another and communicating about what needs to be done, as voice chat makes it easier to be clear when giving instructions.
- If the feature's integration supported proximity chat, it could make environments feel larger and multiplayer experiences feel more immersive.
By fully utilizing GameChat, the next Animal Crossing game could be both more accessible and more fun than all the series' previous entries. Hopefully, Nintendo will consider implementing the feature, allowing fans to enjoy the many benefits that it offers.
How GameChat Could Be Taken to the Next Level in a Future Animal Crossing Game
Players can enhance the GameChat experience with the Nintendo Switch 2 camera, a device that allows gamers to see each other while playing. The camera also has additional functionalities that are accessible when playing certain games. These types of functionalities could be available when playing the next Animal Crossing, as it could have unique gameplay features that are best experienced with both GameChat and the camera. For example, the camera could allow for mini-games that are centered around a player's movements. While it should not be mandatory that players have a camera, as that could lead to problems with fans, there's no doubt that this auxiliary hardware could be used to make the next Animal Crossing the most engaging entry in the franchise.
The Nintendo Switch 2's social features could be a godsend for Animal Crossing, as there is so much that the franchise's next game could do by integrating them into its gameplay. While it's likely that GameChat will play some role in the next entry, how well the feature is received will depend on the strength of its execution.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 90 /100 Critics Rec: 99%
- Released
- March 20, 2020
- ESRB
- Everyone / Comic Mischief, Mild Fantasy Violence, Users Interact, In-Game Purchases
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo EPD
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Engine
- Havok
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Local Multiplayer
- Expansions
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons — Happy Home Paradise
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Simulation
