One feature that gamers have been hoping to see in the Animal Crossing series for quite sometime, however, is the possibility of having iconic Nintendo characters like Mario move into their town in lieu of one of the hundreds of existing AC townsfolk. While that request has been a pipe dream for gamers thus far, we’ve learned that it’s something that Nintendo would be willing to consider – although it wouldn’t be an immediate priority.
I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to speak with current Animal Crossing lead Aya Kyogoku (via a translator) following the reveal of amiibo Festival at E3 2015, where I brought up the possibility of the long-desired, Nintendo mascot-centric iteration of the series ever coming to fruition. To my surprise, it’s definitely something that Kyogoku and her team would consider if fan demand is strong enough.
Not wanting to get gamers too excited over this prospect, Kyogoku made it clear that the focus of a new entry in the Animal Crossing franchise would be on innovating rather than doing what fans expect of another core entry.
Pushing the series forward to ensure that it’s always evolving and relevant is a smart move on Nintendo’s part, as it ensures that longtime fans of the series have something new to look forward to with every iteration. Of course, it’s interesting to hear that the team is still taking into account what fans want to see whenever it comes time to get down to business with the next core Animal Crossing entry.
Given Nintendo’s newfound dedication to establishing partnerships with other companies (i.e. Donkey Kong and Bowser in Skylanders) and even sharing IP amongst internal studios (i.e. Link in Mario Kart 8), it wouldn’t be all that surprising to see Mario move into your Animal Crossing town in the not too distant future.
Do you want an Animal Crossing game where famous Nintendo characters can move into your town? What innovations would you like to see in the next iteration? Get at us in the comments.
