TheAnimal Crossingfranchise is close to many hearts, for both its nostalgia and wholesomeness, and has throughout the years brought hours of unforgettable gameplay. WithAnimal Crossing: New HorizonsandAnimal Crossing: Pocket Campbeing the most recent in the last few years, it comes as news to many players that the mobile game,Pocket Camp, will beshutting down in November and moving over to a new versionof the application.
Although the announcement states this, it is unclear when exactly the game will release. However, Nintendo hinted atitsrelease happening at the same time as the current application shuts down.Nintendo is expected to make another announcement sometime this month explaining the transfer and what to expect. In the meantime, it leaves players to ponder what the future could hold, and whatAnimal Crossingdreams Nintendo will make come true. Based on in-game experience and years of following the franchise,this list complies with the top 10 updates fans have been waiting forthe company to bring to its mobile version.
10No More Micro-Transactions
Players Should Be Able To Play For Free
One of the biggest hooks when playingAnimal Crossing: Pocket Campis its variety of microtransactions. Over the years, it has compiled so many that the game is no longer fun unless all its endless fees are paid for, such as the subscription plans. With the upcoming move,Nintendo promises to remove all its microtransactions, but with this swap, it will be switching the game from a free application to a paid one. This limits the accessibility to the game, as most of its audience is rooted in being unable to afford the switch game, whereas the mobile version allowed them to get a slice of its gameplay and experience.
That being said, as a paid application, they promise that it will be a flat fee,meaning there will be no more additional charges in the game.This will allow everyone who plays the mobile game to design and create to their heart’s content,without the limits of needing to save up and grind for fortune cookies or opening their wallet once again. And the move appears to be a strategic one. AsGame Rantnotes, it could be to align with the possible new release of a newAnimal Crossinggame on the switch, followingNew Horizons.
9Improve Interactions For Campers
Villagers Need More Personality
UnlikeNew Horizons,Animal Crossing: Pocket Camphas some of the blandest interactions between villagers and players. The game intends to give the same dialogue but slightly edited between each character, making tasks unrewarding.It would be nice to see more of the campers’ personalities shine, giving them more individualism while alsogiving players more motivation to engage with the game.
A good foundation for their dialogue would beNew Horizons, where the game has specialized lines for each character, allowing for Easter eggs to be scattered throughout them. In addition, the mobile version could also expand on it by making their personalities more unique in each theme. For instance, take a hip villager, Bob; he holds the potential to flesh out his foodie personality and his interest in comic books. This could be similar toThe Sims’personalities, featuring several traits that add to their uniqueness.
8More Crossovers For More Fun
Crossovers Bring A Wider Reach
ThroughoutAnimal Crossing: Pocket Camp, with all its additions to the mainline games, there have been only two collaborations: theSplatoon 3crossoverand thePokémonevent.The marketing for the crossovers could have been done better, but they contained additional, special items for players to collect, to combine both of their favorite games.
It would have been nice to seemoreAnimal Crossingcrossovers, within the Nintendo universe and overall simulation category, such asThe SimsorThe Legend of Zelda.By having more collaborations, it can appeal to more players,and different fans of various franchises to chip in, not to mention the collectibles to work towards. It gives more drive for players to engage, and also constantly play and keep up with updates.
7Expanded Campsite Customization
Let Players Reach Their Campsite Dreams
Animal Crossingattracts a variety of players, but one of their commonalities is the desire to personalize and create.New Horizonsgives players free rein over their islands, as seen through the variety of island aesthetics, from cottagecore to citycore. With campsites,some players attempt to achieve some kind of theme, but it can be hard with all the paywalls. Furthermore, it is only possible to customize a small piece of land, until the cabin is unlocked, which is itself a detached location.
WithPocket Camp’s customizable areas scattered, it’s hard to keep up a theme, and it still adds up to much less space thanNew Horizons' islands. It would be nice toexpand the customization of the environment for the campsites, choosing where trees go, and what kind of trees, flowers, etc. In addition, it would be neat to see more color customization for items such as furniture, especially for those sticking to a singular color for their themes. It would also be amazing to see wall décor and wallpaper options for vans.
6Engaging Mini Games For Everyone
Find Balance Between Tasks And Fun
With all the tasks and goals across the map, it can be overwhelming and hard to find fun in them.Providing more mini-games could add to the gameplay, like theYakuzaseries with the arcade, bowling alley, cabaret – the list goes on.
The way the game could implement this could be as simple as adding more to fishing, similar to how fishing works inStardew Valley. On the other side of the spectrum, the game could add mini-games as their own thing, and ratings on outfits to please villagers.Animal Crossing: Pocket Campattempted this, with the slot machine at OK Motors, and during the New Years event, butit would be nice to see them fleshed out more.
5More Multiplayer Interaction
Play With Friends and Show off Campsites
A lot of fun comes from playing with others, as seen with the online features inNew Horizons, creating mazes, puzzles, and just foolery. Currently,Animal Crossing: Pocket Campcan connect with others, but it’s very limited.Players can only visit other campsites or send gifts, without the ability to interact with the other player. Otherwise, it leaves them to shop in other marketplaces and ask them to join the quarry. With the transfer, Nintendo stated thatthenew version ofPocket Campwould not be online,cutting off what players had to begin with.
Understandably, Nintendo comes from a place of concern, as it likely wants to make it a safe environment for all ages to play, butcutting it off completely is not a solution. Like other online games, it can work with filters, both in language and age groups, to keep a positive space. With a multiplayer feature, players could complete tasks together, such as fishing, adding more competitiveness and fun. The game currently already has a good foundation, but it would be nice to introduce more co-op features.
4Upgraded Seasons And Weather
Increase The Game’s Immersion
Pocket Campalready incorporates the different seasons, following along with players' experience in real life, but it would be neat to grow it more. Seasons bring a variety of weather, and with a mobile connection,it could allow for the opportunity to link a player’s current weather based on their locationto the in-game experience.
The weather being represented could be a factor in certain goals, such as rain improving fishing rates for rarer fish but snowstorms killing fruit and flowers. It also could display a weekly forecast, forcing players to plan their tasks accordingly, for when it’s safe to be outside, and to plan to dress accordingly.Adding in-tune weather also adds more realism to the game,which would expand alongside the game’s graphical quality, leaving theNew Leafage.
3Offline Mode Makes Gaming Accessible
Play Pocket Camp Anywhere
If the game does move offline, it would also be nice for it to add offline gameplay.As of now,Pocket Campcan only be played with an internet connection, adding to the bills for microtransactions with the extra data plan charges. WithPocket Campbeing available only on mobile devices,it should be formed to fit with the on-the-go lifestyle.
With the transfer,players can only hope that the game is more accessible, allowing them not only to play the game but access all its features, except for online play likeNew Horizons. With online play, it would resemble what is envisioned for a multiplayer aspect of the game, otherwise leaving players working on their tasks and campsite.
2More Fortune Cookies But Fewer Price Tags
Gachapon Are Super Fun And Rewarding
Fortune cookies have always been a welcomed addition, and with the possibility of removing microtransactions or extreme grinding, players can unlock morecool items like furniture. Gacha mechanics continue to grow in prominence as a gaming monetization model, but the randomness makes for an interesting mechanic in itself.Fortune cookies bring the concept of gacha intoPocket Camp,adding more dimension and fun by getting super neat items, ranging in rarity.
If goals are completed each week, it can help with collecting Leaf Tickets for fortune cookies.
With the removal of Leaf Tickets,they could be redeemed through bells, similar to the daily featured fortune cookies currently. Based on what has been stated already about the transfer, there seems to be a possibility that there will no longer be fortune cookies. AsNintendonotes, “redeeming cookies in the furniture and fashion plan” will no longer be possible, which would be heartbreaking.
1Open Map And Open Customization
Let Pocket Camp Be Players’ Oyster
This could add more realism to the mobile version;Pocket Camp’s graphics appear heavily influenced byNew Leaf, and with the timing of the transfer, it would seem that the new mobile version will be heavily inspired byNew Horizons. If so, it may work onimproving the graphics, buthopefully, it will also take its open map feature.
10 Huge Differences Between Animal Crossing New Leaf And New Horizons
In 2020 ACNH took the world by storm. The new title retains the DNA that makes Animal Crossing so beloved, but veteran players noticed these changes.
Like the island,players should be able to roam around freely. When it comes toAnimal Crossing: Pocket Camp, it could simply take the locations on the map and make them more connected, allowing players to visualize the effort better with the trek. In addition, it adds to its realism while also creating a better sense of the environment of the world for players and the significance of their campsite. The open world also adds room for Nintendo to expand even more on the customization more literally; players could be allowed to add furniture and various items across the map.
Sources:liss the lass/YouTube,Game Rant,· ̊ʚ strawberry-crossing ɞ ̊·/YouTube,Nintendo Mobile/YouTube,Kittiegh0st/YouTube,Mayor Mori/YouTube,Nintendo
Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp
2017’s Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp is a free-to-play mobile version of the beloved series that allows players to create their own recreation sites and put together a camp with their chosen neighbors and designs.
