What do you expect for Animal Crossing's 25th anniversary?

[Ossiran]

April 2026 marks the 25th Anniversary of Animal Crossing in Japan, with the US not technically hitting 25 years until 2027. 25 years tends to be one of those events that Nintendo usually celebrates. So, the question is, what do you expect to happen?

Personally, I want to believe we'll at the very least get a new game announcement, though a release in Fall 2026 would be believable too. If not that, then an NSO release of the first game would be expected. I'd fully expect new merchandise at the very least!

 

[Feunard]

They could announce a new game, but I don't expect it earlier than 2027 honestly. As you said, the 25th anniversary is not the same worldwide, given that Animal Crossing first released in Japan only, so they may also not say anything at all and celebrate the anniversary in 2027 or in another year. However, I have found a post from Animal Crossing's Japanese official account which celebrated the series' 20th anniversary on April 14th 2021, which implies the 25th anniversary will in fact be in 2026.

In my opinion, the anniversary is a great occasion to announce a new game but I don't expect Nintendo to release a game in that year. If they do announce a new game, I will be very happy if we get to see some of it instead of a generic announcement, but I think that is not very likely.

 

[S.J.]

I hope that given the success of New Horizons the 25th anniversary will be a decently-sized celebration! I feel like the 25th anniversaries are the first of the really big Nintendo milestones/celebrations, so I'm hoping to see a game announcement and also some merchandise, but ideally more than that (Population Growing re-released for GameCube NSO?). It would be really neat for there to be a new AC game release late 2026, but I won't hold my breath on that one.

 

[StarlitGlitch]

This is a great question! I do think that they’ll do something to celebrate it next year. I was also expecting them to release the new game next year anyways.

I could picture new merch as well as the GC version coming to NSO.
I’m also hoping for a limited time concept cafe here in Tokyo, but I don’t want to get my hopes up too high!

 

[Fridaynightcatlady]

I’m expecting the announcement (teaser) of the new game (releasing in 2027) and new merch!

I absolutely doubt Nintendo will ever bring Animal Crossing GCN (or any other entry for that matter) to the NSO. I don’t think it’s in their « business » best interest to do so — especially with a new game in the horizon (no pun intended, lol).

I hope I’m wrong, though! But even if I’m not, Nintendo takes their sweet time releasing NSO games. Pokémon Collosseum/XD were announced early this year and they still haven’t been released/nor do we have a release date. Chibi Robo was also just randomly announced one day, lol.

 

[azurill]

I would love to see them announce a new game. Then give more specifics later in 2026. With maybe a summer or late release in 2027.

 

[Mimikyu's Shadow]

Considering that this has been a little longer than normal between mainline animal crossing games I think the animal crossing game for switch 2 is at the top of the list currently, it just hasn't been announced yet. Calling it now we will likely have a new ac game release in mid-late November either 2026 or 2027 almost every ac game both mainline and side has been released in november or early december in some country with NH and plaza(which failed horribly) being the only exceptions. Considering that it is one ac mainline game per console I seriously doubt it will be later than that especially after NH's massive success. Wouldn't be surprised if they finally remake/remaster the original though. (no new leaf doesnt count it just got upgraded to match the upgraded ds to make more money)

Also wait Pokemon colleoseum/XD got WHAT?! ABOUT TIME