Thanks to the April Nintendo Direct, there has been a flood of new details regarding theNintendo Switch 2and everything fans can expect from it. Nintendo unveiled details about its new functions, such as the Game Chat feature and the mouse-like functionality of the joy-cons, as well as a handful of major first-party titles that blew fans away. For fans ofDonkey Kong,Mario Kart, or really anything that Nintendo does, the Direct was a smash hit and well worth tuning in for.
However, another group of Nintendo fans was also treated to a nice surprise. One of thebiggest reveals during the Directwas the announcement that several GameCube games are being added to the Nintendo Switch Online service - exclusively on the Switch 2 - including some of the classics, likeWind Waker,Pokémon Colosseum, andLuigi’s Mansion. Unfortunately,as great as this announcement was, it was somewhat undercut by a missing title, one that would have been an amazing reveal for the Switch 2 and the perfect addition to the NSO.
Animal Crossing Isn’t In NSO’s Confirmed GameCube Games
It Was Absent During The Switch 2 Presentation
It is important to stress that theSwitch 2 GameCube gamesthat Nintendo revealed during the Direct are absolutely incredible.Wind Wakerremains one of thebestZeldagamesof all time,Soulcaliber 2offers a robust fighting experience unlike any other, andChibi-Robois a famously difficult-to-buy GameCube game that’s now becoming more readily accessible. This is a phenomenal selection and something that shouldn’t be scoffed at. However, as great as it is,it’s hard to deny that the absence ofAnimal Crossingis sorely felt.
The originalAnimal Crossingon GameCube - excludingDōbutsu no Mori,which was released exclusively in Japan for the N64 - remains one of the very best in the series, if not the best. It truly captures theoriginal goal ofAnimal Crossing, something that has been lost in newer entries.It is a defining GameCube title and a piece ofAnimal Crossinghistorythat those without a GameCube can’t access. Putting it onto the Switch 2 would give players the opportunity to experience where it all started as well as fix one of the Switch 2’s biggest flaws at launch.
No Animal Crossing On Switch 2 Is A Huge Missed Opportunity
There’s Not A New One Confirmed For The Switch 2
One of theSwitch 2’s biggest problemsis its lack of anAnimal Crossinggame. Of course,the currently confirmed first-party Switch 2 launch titles are great, but they don’t offer a cozy experience with the longevity of something likeAnimal Crossing. TheACseries gives players a reason to keep coming back to their Switch in a way that no other Nintendo game really does. Having something like that launch keeps players engaged with their shiny new console while newer releases trickle in over the launch period.
Considering that a large portion of theAnimal Crossingfanbase - many of whom will have started withNew Horizons- won’t have played the GameCube version, it would be a new experience for them to try, and thus worth investing in both a Switch and NSO.
Naturally,the Switch 2 will still sell well without anAnimal Crossingtitle, but it would sell better with one.Animal Crossing: New Horizonsremains theSwitch’s second-best-selling game, so it makes sense that a new one - or, in this case, an old one - would draw players in and get even more sales. Considering that a large portion of theAnimal Crossingfanbase - many of whom will have started withNew Horizons- won’t have played the GameCube version, it would be a new experience for them to try, and thus worth investing in both a Switch and NSO.
A New Animal Crossing Is Probably In Development
It Has Been Five Years Since The Last One
One possible reason for Nintendo skippingAnimal Crossingon the GameCube component of the NSO service is because it’s currently developing anewAnimal Crossinggame. While this hasn’t been confirmed by Nintendo themselves,it’s hard to imagine that it doesn’t have some form of Switch 2Animal Crossingproject in the works. As a result, it could have postponed putting the GameCube version ofAnimal Crossingon the Switch 2 until after it releases its brand-new one. A practically freeAnimal Crossing- outside the base NSO cost - could detract from a full-priced version.
Animal Crossing’s Biggest Flaw Could Become Its Greatest Strength
Animal Crossing’s greatest flaw may annoy a lot of players, but it could be turned into its greatest asset if Nintendo pivoted to a different style.
Regardless,Animal Crossingfans will get a new game eventually, whether it’s with a new mainline entry or when the GameCube version is inevitably added to the service. Nintendo typically releases new games for each console on the NSO service in chunks - one can only assume to avoid players having too much fun. So, there’s a very good chance that it will eventually add the GameCubeAnimal Crossinggame, much to the delight of fans. In the meantime, there will be plenty of iconic and worthwhile GameCube games available on theNintendo Switch 2.
