Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp was released by Nintendo in 2017, finding great success among Animal Crossing fans and hitting 15 million downloads less than a week after its release to mobile devices. Nintendo’s mobile division developed the game with optimization for smartphones and tablets in mind, making it an easy game to play on the go. Players manage their own virtual campsite in Pocket Camp and invite iconic villagers from Animal Crossing franchise to stay with them. The game emphasizes customization, encouraging players to design their character, campsite, camper, and even their villagers’ clothing.
Fans of the games were surprised when Nintendo suddenly announced its discontinuation. The game will end its service and be removed from the App Store and Google Play Store next month on November 28, rendering it entirely unplayable. This includes those who have already downloaded the app and purchased in-game currency. Nintendo does note in their official announcement that they are currently developing a paid version of the game, in which players will be able to transfer most of their save data over.
Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp commented on the situation via their official X (formerly Twitter) account on October 26, releasing a post that advertises the replacement game, Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Complete. The post links to a ten-minute informative video by Nintendo Mobile, claiming that by watching it, players will learn how to transfer their current Pocket Camp data and about the new game’s features. The account replied to their original post again on October 27, announcing that pre-orders and pre-registration for the game have begun, and encouraging players to take advantage of the opportunity.
The included video covers how Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Complete will differ from its predecessor. New features include being able to freely walk around the island with a favorite villager, new Camper Cards that players can customize and trade, and a new location called Whistle Pass, where friends can gift each other items. A notable change to the Pocket Camp lineage is the ability to play this new game without internet. This will allow players to play offline, without worrying about potential connection issues. Unfortunately, this change will also prohibit playing directly with friends online, barring players from the often-utilized Market Box.
Pocket Camp’s in-game currency and its monthly subscription will also be discontinued in Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Complete. This will involve switching Leaf Tickets to Leaf Tokens, a new in-game currency that can be redeemed by exchanging Bells or completing tasks. Players who purchased Leaf Tickets will not be able to transfer them to the new game, rendering them useless unless spent prior to Nintendo taking it down.
The upcoming game is priced at $10, but this will apparently increase to $20 after January 31, 2024. A $20 price tag is “very steep compared to other mobile games,” according to TechCrunch, who expresses disappointment with the idea that “Nintendo now charges for game that was once free.” Currently, Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Complete is listed with a December 3, 2024, release date on the App Store, and is available for purchase to anyone interested.