Speculation: the next AC game will be village/town design.

[Fridaynightcatlady]

This is might be a bit off topic to AC NH but also based on what we've seen in the HHP DLC, I was thinking that the next AC game is probably going to feature the mechanic shown where you can move the villagers house, place paths easily, place trees, etc. I also feel like the next AC game will include more item interaction. I think both Pocket Camp and NH have leaned more towards that, but I can see Nintendo pushing it a bit further. Like, say, villagers using their baths, cooking, etc.

 

[pinkfawn]

I mean I think they can only go up and improve from here and each installation is better with certain things than the last, but the 2.0 update and DLC haven't even released yet so all these threads talking about the next game are too early for me to even think about when I'm not even done with NH xD

 

[Etown20]

I agree the island theme is most likely a one and done idea. I do wonder if they will just go back to a town like the old games or if they will try another different spin on it. I think it could be interesting if there was a greater emphasis on a city or developed area. Maybe the map is 1.5x or 2x as big as NH and half of it is a city and half of it is a natural area.

 

[nightglow]

I think the next one may be NH just expanded upon. I feel like that the direction they may be going is more for decorating rather than villager interaction. I hope I am wrong. I do think they will have villagers interact more with items, but lack with player interacting. I also think they are going to go a step further and make it a farm rather than an island or town like they have already done. Maybe something like a farm with a store you run? like those tourist farms. (if you don't know what I am talking about, google Stucky Farm that is the only farm I know by name that is a tourist farm they are famous for apple cider production tours, and self picking fruit) have a little market you run, keep it supplied with editable products an crafts and villager approval is increased.

So you grow fruits and veggies, have a farmer's market, trading, bee keeping with honey production, jam production, cooking, large odd looking things you place outside similar to what you see as art attractions. Maybe trading resources between player and villager. (be nice to get eggs only from bird villagers if that isn't seen as dark) maybe make shipments of produce to the far away big city over yonder. maybe last update/DLC or one of the last unlockables is finally seeing this big city over yonder and be able to buy things there you wouldn't otherwise get.
Perhaps getting produce to a local restaurant ran by a NPC, so they can cook meals to increase villager approval.

I think this because of the farm mechanic being added, which makes me think they are going to want to expand on that. Also the cooking was added and there is alot you could do with that. Decor, happiness, gifting, restaurants... actually what if you cook dishes and give them to the restaurant and they will be able to serve that dish because you gave it to them like how the museum is? I think I like that better than dumping produce at a resturant.

 

[Boccages]

I think the Animal Crossing series will need a complete overhaul next time - just like the Zelda team did with Breath of the Wild.

New Horizons is basically the pinnacle of the concept that started with Doboutsu no Mori on the N64 23 years ago.

I don't see how this concept can be refined any further by throwing in more furniture, more villagers, and more of the same. If you think about it, there is no need to go back to previous AC games, because contrary to iterative series (like Zelda), it is basically the same game that's remade with new features, better UI, more furniture, and better graphics. Animal Crossing is like Microsoft Excel : why would you go back to a previous version if the new one does the exact same thing, but better?

The next Animal Crossing game needs a shakedown : scrap the rolling log view, let the player control the camera, make it an expansive world, rethink the core concepts, make interactions with the villagers more meaningful. More of the same is not the way to go. Reinvention served the 3D Zelda series great, and I think Animal Crossing will need to go down that road.

 

[Mutti]

How are people thinking about the next instalment in the franchise already?
if i were to guess i would hope it would be more focused on interaction with villagers and quality of life rather than them focusing on designing which is what there currently deciding to go with.

 

[Fridaynightcatlady]

I think the Animal Crossing series will need a complete overhaul next time - just like the Zelda team did with Breath of the Wild.

New Horizons is basically the pinnacle of the concept that started with Doboutsu no Mori that started on the N64 23 years ago.

I don't see how this concept can be refined any further by throwing in more furniture, more villagers, and more of the same. If you think about it, there is no need to go back to previous AC games, because contrary to iterative series (like Zelda), it is basically the same game that's remade with new features, better UI, more furniture, and better graphics. Animal Crossing is like Microsoft Excel : why would you go back to a previous version if the new one does the exact same thing, but better?

The next Animal Crossing game needs a shakedown : scrap the rolling log view, let the player control the camera, make it an expansive world, rethink the core concepts, make interactions with the villagers more meaningful. More of the same is not the way to go. Reinvention served the 3D Zelda series a lot, and I think Animal Crossing will need to go down that road.

I honestly feel like NH was as revolutionary as BOTW with crafting/cooking/terraforming/paths/etc features. I don't see how they'll expand from that, tbh! Hahah

Post automatically merged: Oct 20, 2021

How are people thinking about the next instalment in the franchise already?
if i were to guess i would hope it would be more focused on interaction with villagers and quality of life rather than them focusing on designing which is what there currently deciding to go with.

I love your profile pic!

 

[Marshmallows]

Seeing the villagers actually live in their houses would be awesome. Not control them like the Sims, but just seeing them go about daily activities and using their furniture. It'd also be nice for villagers to form stronger bonds with other villagers... or form rivalries... and allow us some part in helping mend friendships and form bonds (beyond the current delivery requests.)

I'm a bit surprised and disappointed that NH didn't incorporate at least the Pocket Camp amenities. I thought for certain things like the swimming pool or hot air balloon would make their appearance since we can place decorations outside. Hopefully the next installment places more emphasis on amenities and usable objects to make the town feel alive than just allowing us to place a hundred chairs and potted plants outdoors. Basically usable public works.

I love NH and it improved upon NL in a lot of ways. I'm sure the next installment will keep getting better. An open world game may be fun (actually being able to turn down streets and place buildings in other directions) but I hope it doesn't lose the spirit of running a town with quirky villagers and forming bonds.

 

[nocctea]

i feel like since new horizons is so popular, i think animal crossing might be focusing more on designing/creating cute towns rather than previous games being more random and dialogue heavy. which in my opinion is a bit sad, cause i originally got into animal crossing for the life sim features, but it makes sense if more people enjoy it being a decorating game than a life sim. but i do hope the next game is more interactive with the furniture! would make it seem much more realistic than just having all these decorations that you can't use. other than that i'm not sure what they'll do, i saw someone say they might go farther with the farming aspect, which would be cool, but i hope it doesn't just turn into stardew valley with animals ><

i'm secretly hoping they go back to their roots and do more life sim since animal crossing is such a unique series and so different from other sim games like the sims, harvest moon, and stardew, but at the end of the day nintendo is still a company, and new horizons is the most profitable game yet, so i guess all we can do is wait and see!

 

[DarkSlayer1331]

Me: I'm so excited for this update! Man it's all I can think about! So much to do, it'll be awesome!
Other People: Cool, now about the next game...

 

[Fridaynightcatlady]

Me: I'm so excited for this update! Man it's all I can think about! So much to do, it'll be awesome!
Other People: Cool, now about the next game...

Haha honestly it’s not that I’m too anxious about the next game but looking at some of the mechanics shown in the direct and HHP, that got me thinking about the next installment!

 

[Etown20]

People can simultaenously be both excited for the update and curious about the future! Especially since Nintendo has basically said they are closing the book on NH after this update. I know it's going to be a long time, but I think it's interesting to discuss.

 

[Pig-Pen]

I think a new game is a few years down the road, hard for me to speculate. I'm sure it'll be amazing however it's designed!

 

[DarkSlayer1331]

People can simultaenously be both excited for the update and curious about the future! Especially since Nintendo has basically said they are closing the book on NH after this update. I know it's going to be a long time, but I think it's interesting to discuss.

Oh yeah, I don't think there's anything wrong with it. I just find it funny that I'm literally all about NH and the update and didn't even stop to think what it could mean for a future title.

 

[Luca]

It’s hard to see how they could improve on the customization features in any meaningful way without turning it into the Sims where you just have complete control of everything.

IMO, the smart move for distinguishing the next entry in the series would actually be to pull back a little from the customization and put full focus on the villagers, interactions, and relationships. Add more species and personalities, make the differences between the A and B variations of each personality more distinct, flesh out the mechanics for building friendships with each villager, and allow them mechanics to develop a variety of relationships with the other villagers in the town.

Maybe you can only move a villager’s house to the spot you want it if you have a certain level of friendship with them, varying based on personality—lazies will let you do it almost immediately, but snooties need a high level of trust. Maybe you can’t move a villager’s house too close to the house of a villager they dislike, so you have to either work around it or try to mediate their relationship with each other. Maybe villagers could even request you to move their house somewhere new, to be near the beach or near their best friend, or use the HHP roommates feature to move in with another villager. There’s a lot that could be done to make the villagers feel less like dolls without wills of their own, while still allowing a way for the diehard perfectionist planners to regain the control they have in NH.

 

[nocctea]

It’s hard to see how they could improve on the customization features in any meaningful way without turning it into the Sims where you just have complete control of everything.

IMO, the smart move for distinguishing the next entry in the series would actually be to pull back a little from the customization and put full focus on the villagers, interactions, and relationships. Add more species and personalities, make the differences between the A and B variations of each personality more distinct, flesh out the mechanics for building friendships with each villager, and allow them mechanics to develop a variety of relationships with the other villagers in the town.

Maybe you can only move a villager’s house to the spot you want it if you have a certain level of friendship with them, varying based on personality—lazies will let you do it almost immediately, but snooties need a high level of trust. Maybe you can’t move a villager’s house too close to the house of a villager they dislike, so you have to either work around it or try to mediate their relationship with each other. Maybe villagers could even request you to move their house somewhere new, to be near the beach or near their best friend, or use the HHP roommates feature to move in with another villager. There’s a lot that could be done to make the villagers feel less like dolls without wills of their own, while still allowing a way for the diehard perfectionist planners to regain the control they have in NH.

I really like those ideas! And I agree, I think the best way to go is to expand upon the villagers so they feel more complex and real! I'm sure Nintendo could implement villagers with more agency without reducing customization.