Nintendo has announced a new paid subscription system for Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, following the successful release of Mario Kart Tour, which offers players a monthly membership plan, called the Gold Pass, that allows them to access more features. The Pocket Camp news came from an in-game news update, which explained the two plans Nintendo will offer. In one of the plans, players can “appoint one lucky animal” to be the caretaker for their camp by helping out around the campsite. In the other plan, players can receive fortune cookies and store their various clothing and furniture items in warehouses.
Prices haven’t been specified yet, but the service will be called “Pocket Camp Club” and is due to roll out on this upcoming Thursday, November 21. Before then, Nintendo has stated it will reveal more information about Pocket Camp Club in a series of videos that the company will release this Wednesday, November 20.
Nintendo’s decision isn’t surprising given the success of Mario Kart Tour since its release. The app raced past 90 million downloads in its first week, easily becoming Nintendo’s fastest mobile launch. President Shuntaro Furakawa told investors that the game’s earnings were “off to a good start,” attributing their success to the implementation of the Gold Pass subscription plan, which he believed “[met] the various needs of customers, allowing them to enjoy the game.” Nintendo set out to make Mario Kart Tour a game that can be “enjoyed by consumers in the long-term,” though time will tell if Mario Kart Tour can accomplish that goal.
If Pocket Camp Club proves to be just as profitable for the company, it’s realistic to expect Nintendo to consider implementing this system into any future mobile titles they release.
Fans of the traditional Animal Crossing games can continue looking forward to the release of Animal Crossing: New Horizons for the Nintendo Switch, which is currently set for March 2020.