Could the game have been delayed even more?

[Bambath]

They have the things that the game needs to function and keep people happy for awhile, and they're actively updating for events (plus perhaps some new items). I've seen people speculating that maybe Kapp'n and Tortimer will be around for a summer update and make use of the dock we have, which would be amazing.

I love the artwork section of the museum, and I'm frustrated I can't collect yet, but there is that area of the museum that's empty. I feel like there's plenty of features that are in the works. It doesn't feel incomplete to me without the extra features that were special to New Leaf. I also don't expect it to have everything that New Leaf did because animal crossing games often have their own special features to make them unique from the other games. I don't TT and I'm spending a ton of time in this game (I would regardless of a pandemic), I think it's great as it is and will only get better from here.

 

[Aubrey895]

No I am fine with it releasing when it did. I love the game so much. The stuff missing I am sure they will add with future updates.

 

[rezberri]

i dont think it should have. while it would have been cool to get an ac game on the wii u, it wouldnt have been any good. the switch was definitely going to be when they introduced a new game into the series, and i dont think we'll be getting a new console any time soon. we've already waited like 7 or so years for this game; any longer and i would have given up hope. i feel like what took the longest was the graphics update; i don't know if this is true or not but people have said that even for acnl they didn't really update all of the graphics. even though amiibo festival stunk, the fact that they added amiibo cards with it has affected the ac series positively (even though they could have released another mainline game).

i dont think i could ever consider this game incomplete or missing things like some people think. sure there's no gyroids, but that was a decision they made to not add it. gyroids would be missing if they were added and in the game files, but we could never access them. i also think that things like holiday updates have already been finished and they're now just waiting to release them at the correct dates. my opinion may be unpopular, but it's stuck with me through seeing countless people saying the exact same criticisms over and over. while this game may not be everyone's cup of tea, it's definitely mine and i'll take anyone's cup who isn't enjoying it.

 

[ForbiddenSecrets]

No, I think the game came out largely as it was intended to. I guess I'm so used to the living game / game service model now this didn't seem weird to me. We had like 2 weeks to set up our town and then bunny day(s) started (and cherry blossom depending on where you are). Then later in the same month we have some earth day thing coming with some "newly added features" as well. Seems a busy enough schedule to me for a game that's most a 'little bit every day' kind of model in the long run.

Also while I do think they will add in things over time (like an upstairs to the museum because why else do we even have those stairs) I won't be surprised if not everything people think is missing comes back. It's a new game and things change.

 

[Romaki]

I really don't think they didn't have a schedule after the delay announcement and the release date announcement. Maybe something got pushed back to make the game more stable first, but I do think they gave themselves leeway since they already planned seasonal updates.

 

[Krissi2197]

I think it could have been delayed more but I'm thankful it wasnt. We really needed a game like this during this time.

 

[Bugs]

I agree with the people saying it's good that it came out when it did. I work in a supermarket and work is so stressful now with the covid-19 panic. It's nice to unwind with animal crossing at the end of a long day.

That said, I am a bit disappointed that the iconic furniture sets are gone. That's what I'm most upset about. I'm not really that upset about the NPCs as frankly I kinda thought there were getting to be too many (although I miss Redd!) And I didn't care much about diving although I'm gonna miss some of those creatures you could catch (RIP mantis shrimp)

 

[aibo]

Yes, it could have been delayed further. The timing ended up working out in the game's favor, but had we not been in the middle of a global pandemic, I think the community would be a little bit more critical toward the game in general.

New Horizons isn't a bad game by any means whatsoever, but there's no way around the fact that it is missing loads of content that was established in New Leaf and is unfortunately riddled with bugs. Between the initial delay and the decision to add holidays in a 12 month roll-out, I find myself wondering how much time the developers really had for developing the game.

I think it's something we're going to have to get used to, given how the games industry is functioning today, but Nintendo's decision to treat the updates the way they are still rubs me very slightly the wrong way. I might be wrong in saying this- and please correct me if I'm wrong- but I'm pretty sure the only big thing we've been promised as far as updates go is the holidays. Everything else has been left totally up in the air, so while it's great to have hope that Nintendo will add missing features and items back into the game, they haven't made any kind of statement verifying this. Regardless of whether or not they add these features, isn't that vaguely anti-consumer? Shouldn't someone purchasing a game know exactly what they're buying and not be left in the dark as to what exactly their 60$ is getting them? Again, it's not surprising given how the industry's found how to make a profit, so it's a pipe dream- but I personally wish we'd have waited longer for a game that features more content than New Leaf at launch, not less.

I don't TT, so if a 'living game' is really their intent, that's great, but I don't exactly love the uncertainty either.

Still having fun regardless.

 

[ayesquiggle]

I don't want to sound ungrateful, because I truly love the game and see myself playing it for a long time.

However, the game comes off as very lazy to me with so many features missing, regardless of if they come in a future update. I don't think they ever planned to have features like Dream Suite, Crazy Redd etc. in the game especially since they thought the game was coming out in 2019 originally. So no, I don't think the game would have been delayed more. I think Nintendo knows that Animal Crossing fans are diehard and will play the games regardless, so putting a huge amount of effort into this one wasn't necessary.

 

[kurisu]

i think there are definitely things i wish were in the game now, but nintendo recently has been getting better about increasing the longevity of new content in their games. splatoon 2 had updates for i think about 2 years including the entire octobexpansion; smash is now entering it’s second round of dlc characters; pokemon swsh has the raid updates and is getting an expansion in a few months that’s adding post-game content and older pokemon... acnh will definitely be going in that direction as well, so i’m not worried about older npcs or items never returning.

 

[Spooky.]

I do feel like they could have added more, especially in the way of furniture (like why are there so few tables? Why are so many of the nook items accessories and not actual furniture?) and it just feels like there is a lot missing. After two weeks of playing daily, I still feel like I have almost nothing.

I haven't even bothered extending my house past upgrading the main room size because there's just nothing to put in it.

 

[Biancasbotique]

I like it to the extent that unlike New Leaf, possibilities of adding more and more stuff could go on for years...and they could incorporate new events and DLC packs.. I dont like DLCs but if its animal crossing and its a major DLC with super cute packs...get my money !!!

 

[kyrynbunni]

I think the game was always designed to be like this. In recent years, Nintendo has favored periodic updates to increase the lifespan of the game. Take Splatoon and Pokemon Sword/Shield for example. Splatoon got two years of periodic updates to increase its lifespan, and Pokemon appears to be doing the same. It's just a trend in recent online games for Nintendo and I don't really mind it. I think this can be seen in how they're delivering the holidays as "events" in free updates now, when they've always been part of the core game in the past.

Honestly, I think people have disappointed themselves. There was so much hype and expectations surrounding this game before its release - much of the time over things we were never guaranteed. People had an idea of what this game would be in their minds and ultimately disappointed themselves. Personally, I'm having fun with the game. But I never had an expectations on it except cute animal sim. The only disappointment I have is there isn't a Dream Suite, that is what had me playing New Leaf for so long. Now there really isn't much of a way to visit islands if you don't personally know someone.

The start of New Horizons is definitely much slower paced than previous games if you aren't time traveling and that probably has a lot to do with how people are viewing the game.

 

[meggiewes]

I have a feeling that they meant to release it like this and to try to do a more living game with frequent updates. Is that something that has been done before? Not really. The closest thing I've seen is the frequent Stardew Valley updates and Splatoon. Now, they probably did not intend for the bugs, but considering we have three patches out for them already, it isn't like they are dropping the ball with fixing them.

 

[Soigne]

I do think that it perhaps is lacking in features that should’ve been included in the “full” release, but that aside, even if they don’t add new features like the art exhibit, I think the game is fine in and of itself. Sure, it doesn’t have as much as New Leaf had, but it is still good when not compared.

 

[Ganucci]

I do feel like they could have added more, especially in the way of furniture (like why are there so few tables? Why are so many of the nook items accessories and not actual furniture?) and it just feels like there is a lot missing. After two weeks of playing daily, I still feel like I have almost nothing.

I haven't even bothered extending my house past upgrading the main room size because there's just nothing to put in it.

I feel the exact same way. I got a north and west room and then I was like...wait...I don't have any furniture to fill these rooms, so I finally stopped upgrading and am spending my bells elsewhere. It's kind of crazy how little furniture it feels like there is. I'm sure eventually I will be over-encumbered with furniture, but for now I'm desperately looking.

 

[Reaper_Flower]

I am enjoying the game but I don't find myself loving it like I did new leaf, I'm not sure if its because I'm older or due to the lack of features.
Do I think it was worth the 92 dollars I paid? ( yay canada) no, not by any means, I'm a bit sour that it is so bare bones, it's great they are giving us updates but it's too little too late for me, more should of been included from the get go. not locked behind a time wall/updates.

 

[Imbri]

I'm very happy with the game, and I really like the slow pace to be able to enjoy things. I understand how some might be champing at the bit to get more content and things to do.

The idea of a "living game" is interesting. And yes, there are features not included right now, but it doesn't mean that they will never appear. All the previous games have had us moving into established towns, even if they were not complete. This time, we started from scratch on a deserted island. It only stands to reason that it will take time to access/convince characters and goods to come to us. I have no doubt that as the island thrives, more of the familiar, and maybe some new, faces, places, and things will show up.

 

[nintendofan85]

Yes.

Aside from already being delayed, the world has been hit by the COVID-19 pandemic known to common folk as coronavirus. This has severely impacted business all over the world. And given Japan's geological location, they've probably been impacted greatly.

As far of whether or not the game is lacking content. We should all keep in mind Nintendo didn't just drop the game on us and move on to better things. They will continue bringing us content over the next 12 months, if now next few years.

Holding back certain content from the game allows Nintendo to further work on and polish it before we get it, while keeping their March 20, 2020 promise they made us at E3 in 2019. The Nintendo Switch, unlike any of Nintendo's past consoles is on a more modernized OS and hardware, which makes pushing software updates very easy to do. We've already seen examples as the game has receive 1 update and 2 patches in the last 2 weeks. We just need to be more patient and understanding, and we'll get our content as soon as it's ready.

Japan actually hasn't been hit quite as bad by the coronavirus as some other countries (in Asia, it's been China, where it started, as well as South Korea, which have been hit the worst, and the situation has also gotten pretty bad in the United States, Germany, Italy, and Spain). Of course, unfortunately, there could be more cases in Japan than there appear to be, because Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has refused to declare an emergency and not as many Japanese have been tested as there should be...