With many Switch games lined up to receive new enhanced or even expanded versions as Nintendo transitions to its Switch 2 console, a Switch 2 Edition forAnimal Crossing: New Horizonscould be a huge hit if it adds a simple yet significant feature. Despite already showcasing a range of all-new games for the Switch 2, Nintendo has also revealed that several existing Switch games will be updated in line with the next-gen console and its capabilities. But while a Switch 2 Edition hasn’t been confirmed by Nintendo just yet,Animal Crossing: New Horizonscould benefit from an upgrade by introducing one key feature.
Unlike pastAnimal Crossinggames that centered around rural towns and villages,AC: New Horizonsset a new standardfor the series by giving players the freedom to shape, build, and decorate their own deserted island. However, between the base game’s original content and post-launch updates,AC: New Horizonslimited its players to one island per save file despite the creative potential it had just introduced. But since the Switch 2 Editions ofThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildand its sequel,Tears of the Kingdom, will support second save files, Nintendo could finally resolve this and giveAC: New Horizonsthe same treatment.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons Could Benefit From A Switch 2 Edition
At its core,Animal Crossingis built on the social sim genre and the immersion of real-time gameplay, where players are encouraged to play virtually every day and actively interact with both NPCs and fellow players. However,AC: New Horizonsand its ability to customize islandsthrough terraforming went a step further than previousAnimal Crossinggames, introducing new levels of creative control for these communities. Ultimately, while limiting players to one town per save file in pastAnimal Crossinggames may not have been an issue, it now becomes an obstacle forAC: New Horizons' newfound potential.
Like the Reddit post below, players took to social media to express their frustrations aboutAC: New Horizons' one-island limitand share potential workarounds, ranging from simply restarting the game to using multiple game copies and Switch consoles.
Though it would mean a break from tradition,Animal Crossingmay be at a point where the series should consider allowing players to build several towns, islands, or communities, either in-game or across multiple save files. If players are prepared to go to such lengths to have multiple islands, Nintendo could ease this change intoAnimal Crossing’s formula, starting witha Switch 2 Edition forAC: New Horizons.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons' Switch 2 Edition Could Deliver Multiple Saves
As was revealed forBreath of the WildandTears of the Kingdom, the Switch 2 Editions for both games will introduce multiple saves, allowing players to pick up where they had left off in past games with the option of starting from scratch. Similarly,AC: New Horizonscould transfer these featuresover to its Switch 2 Edition, carrying over data from the Switch while offering an additional save to start a new island. Alternatively, the Switch 2 Edition could push the envelope by letting players create several islands in one save file that they could travel between in-game, such as by usingAC: New Horizons' Airport.
It’s the Perfect Time for Animal Crossing: New Horizons' Switch 2 Edition
Despite releasing in 2020 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic,AC: New Horizonsbecame a success as the ideal cozy game for players in lockdown and fans of Nintendo’s flagship franchise. While this could make it one of the older games to be considered for a Switch 2 Edition compared to 2022’sKirby and the Forgotten Landor 2023’sTears of the Kingdom, the earlier launch ofBreath of the Wildin 2017 would suggest thatAC: New Horizons' age wouldn’t hold it back. Moreover, an enhanced edition might even giveAC: New Horizonsa second chance on the Switch 2while players wait for the nextAnimal Crossinggame.
