Nintendo has announced plans to shut down Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, seven years after the mobile game’s launch.
Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp was released in 2017 as a mobile version of Nintendo’s wildly popular farming and living simulation. IGN’s Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp review gave it an 8/10. We said, “Pocket Camp is a faithful adaptation of Animal Crossing that provides plenty of reasons to go on that camping trip.”
The game will be shutting down on November 29, 2024, one week after its seventh birthday. Since the launch of the service on November 21, 2017, we have had the privilege of watching everyone’s lovely, diverse campgrounds grow and flourish for about seven years.” Nintendo said in a statement.
“We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the many users who have enjoyed Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp.”
Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp will no longer be playable once the online service ends, Nintendo has warned. There is one silver lining, though. Nintendo has said it is developing a paid version of the app that players will be able to transfer their save data to. That offline version will be released around the same time as the Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp service ends, Nintendo said.
The paid version will have the same basic gameplay and controls as Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp. However, the app will allow players to apply the included features with a one-time purchase, Nintendo said. There will be no in-app purchases or subscription services (like Pocket Camp Club).
It’s worth noting that since this app won’t require a constant online connection, some features that do require one, like Market Boxes, Gifts, and visiting other players’ campsites, won’t be available. Likewise, Leaf Tickets won’t be usable and won’t be transferable to the modern app. Expect pricing and a release date in October.
Fans have mixed reactions, with some expressing sadness over the end of Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, while others see positive aspects to the paid app.
Literally the same thing! This game has been the one constant in my life for the past 7 years, it got me through the end of my teens, my degrees, my undergrads, and all the crazy stuff in between. I actually cried when I saw the popup 😔 (and also! we’re so close to game days!) photo:twitter.com/sQoBTDR1zx
— Ana 🌘 (@Go_Away_Ana) August 22, 2024
Honestly, it’s great that you’re releasing an offline version instead of just removing everything. That way long-time players can still play. Most mobile games will die eventually, it’s just the best case scenario for something like this to happen.
— Gay Bowser (@SoL0ngGayBowser) August 22, 2024
Nintendo has seen mixed results for its mobile games, including Super Mario Run, Mario Kart Tour, and Pikmin Bloom. In 2020, it was reported that Nintendo was pulling out of the mobile gaming market. This apparent decision came amid the explosive, pandemic-fueled popularity of Switch-exclusive Animal Crossing: New Horizons. However, there are a number of successful mobile Pokémon games, such as Pokémon Go, with more in the works.
Animal Crossing fans are already wondering what’s next for the series, following the demise of Pocket Camp and the seemingly distant memory of Nintendo’s New Horizons. Perhaps a brand modern Animal Crossing for Switch 2 is in the works? Given the immense popularity of New Horizons, it seems inevitable.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter @wyp100. You can contact Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
