The potential for Animal Crossing: New Horizons microtransactions to ruin the franchise has made some fans nervous (and angry) about the game’s updated age rating. Now available to view on the official Nintendo page, the age rating of “E” for “Everyone” is followed by these descriptors: “Comic Mischief,” “Users Interact,” and “In-Game Purchases.” It’s this latter point that has gamers worried about the new Animal Crossing Switch game being potentially infested with premium currency, loot boxes, and all kinds of other nasties. Here’s what we know so far about Animal Crossing: New Horizons microtransactions.
Will Animal Crossing: New Horizons have microtransactions?
With Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp available on iOS and Android as a free-to-play AC experience, Nintendo already knows the benefits of putting microtransactions in an Animal Crossing game. If Pocket Camp has done well with this kind of monetization, then it’s not unreasonable to assume that Nintendo has considered utilizing some of the same tactics with the upcoming Nintendo Switch game.
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However, at the time of writing, Animal Crossing: New Horizons microtransactions are purely speculation. All that is known for a fact is that the official game page now details “In-Game Purchases” as one of the game’s features. It’s not clear what these purchases are going to be or how they will impact the experience. It’s also possible that the listing is inaccurate. We’ll need to wait for further details from Nintendo to fully understand the situation.
Will Animal Crossing: New Horizons have loot boxes?
Again, it’s not yet clear what Animal Crossing: New Horizons microtransactions will be implemented into the game. Sure, in the past “In-Game Purchases” has meant loot boxes, but that isn’t necessarily the case here. We’ll have to wait for further comment from Nintendo to know whether the “purchases” will be premium items, time-savers, cosmetic unlocks, or the dreaded loot boxes.
