Nintendo of America has revealed that the oversized multiplayer parties for Animal Crossing: New Horizons will return, especially for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. The communication that was conveyed through a post by the official Nintendo Twitter account also invites players to form groups of 12 and join island festivities starting from January 15. This announcement has generated a lot of excitement and controversy among the gamers, some of which have applauded the social aspects while others have pointed out the problems with the game’s support.
So, Nintendo just tweeted about the new parties of 12 on island and the replies are… one whole mood. A whole spectrum of reactions from “YAY COOKIES!” to “I owe Tom Nook my firstborn child, please.” It’s insanity, but rather fun insanity that is typical of Animal Crossing… um… Animal Crossing.
First of all, the exhilaration is real. Gamers like Krista (BEEP) have already shipped “Frosted Cookies” to their friends, which is nothing but cute. Others are even planning the themes for the parties – DrGuruMatt wants an island populated with angry Mr. Resettis, which is funny yet somewhat intimidating. Jonathan even suggests a combination of “Super Mario Party” and go-karts, which honestly, Nintendo, is a million-dollar idea. Generally, people are very eager to communicate, to beautify, and to simply relax in their online paradise. It’s just the good-natured stuff that we liked.
But then… you just keep scrolling. And the other side of the coin hits you like a net to the face. Most of the replies aren’t even about the party. They cover a lot of other things. The most common complaint? “I don’t have 12 friends!” A couple of users, for instance, lildrew and zane, make this point in a sarcastic but sincere way. They’re not really sad, but it’s still sad. Getting a dozen people who all have a copy of the game, to say nothing of the new Switch 2 edition, feels like trying to organize a real-world event. The struggle is real, indeed.
Frustration with the game is one of the causes for this feeling on the part of the users. A very direct statement from the user, poweroftheafro, reads: “Did you fix those stupid ass load times?” Ouch. Others, like Jadenfire, write a whole thesis. They express their dissatisfaction with the absence of mini-games, referring to the update as “Happy Home Designer lite & more dollhouse stuff.” They are wishing for a new Animal Crossing game that comes with fun multiplayer games built-in. And you know what? They are right. Socializing on an island is wonderful, but what else could you really do with 12 people there except just look at stuff? The request for real activities is crystal clear and not at all subtle.
There are also the odd, provoking comments that emerge out of nowhere. A user called NoTrickSpelling goes on an emotional outburst that he/she will never buy Nintendo again as playing requires an internet connection… which is confusing since Animal Crossing has always required it for island visits? Other users quickly respond, with rossb812 challenging them to “show your work to the rest of the class.” It’s like a small drama that is taking place in the replies. Very Twitter-like.
And the international audience is also in the picture! A user who speaks Portuguese and is named Luis Fernando expresses that it is a “pity” that Portuguese subtitles are not available. Another user, ckyuray, requests the content of the Switch 2 update in Arabic. This reminds us that this game has a global player base with specific needs that, at times, are overlooked.
It’s a sign that Animal Crossing: New Horizons still has a very loyal player base that has been there for years. They are so passionate that they complain about load times and demand mini-games. They are so creative that they come up with the weirdest cookie-giving parties. However, it also indicates a gap. The gamers want to meet, but for some, the ways to do so in a fun and meaningful way other than decoration seem to be quite limited. The introduction of the big 12-person party feature is great, but for many, it is just like putting a nice roof on a house that still has some cracks in the foundation. The love for the world is unbeatable, but the demand for deeper shared play is becoming louder through the replies. Ultimately, the community’s reaction proves that, despite its soft charm, Animal Crossing can still evoke some of the most passionate and honest debates within the gaming industry. Meanwhile, players on other platforms like PlayStation and Xbox are also voicing their desires for more content.
