Nintendo Is Shutting Down Its Animal Crossing Mobile Game — but It’s Working on a Paid Offline Version to Replace It [IGN]

Nintendo has announced plans to shut down Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, seven years after the mobile game launched.

Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp released in 2017 as a mobile-only version of Nintendo’s incredibly popular farming and life sim. IGN’s Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp review returned an 8/10. We said: “Pocket Camp is a true-to-series Animal Crossing adaptation that delivers plenty of reasons to take this camping trip.”

The game goes dark on November 29, 2024, a week after its seventh birthday. Since service began on November 21, 2017, for approximately seven years we have been honored to see everyone’s lovely, diverse campsites grow and flourish,” Nintendo said in a statement.

“We extend our heartfelt thanks to the many users who have loved Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp.”

After the online service ends, Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp will no longer be playable, Nintendo warned. There is a silver lining, however. Nintendo said it’s developing a paid version of the app to which players will be able to transfer their save data. This offline version will be released during the same period as the end of service for Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, Nintendo said.

The paid version will have the same basic gameplay and controls as Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp. However, this app will allow the player to use 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 will not require a continuous online connection, some features that require that connection, e.g. Market Boxes, gifts, and visiting other players’ campsites will not be available. Similarly, Leaf Tickets will not be usable, and you will not be able to transfer them to the new app. Expect pricing and a release date in October.

Reaction from fans is mixed, with some expressing sadness that Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp is coming to an end, others seeing the positives in the paid app.

Literally same! this game has been like the sole constant in my life these past 7 years, its gotten me through the end my teen years, my associates and bachelors degrees, and every crazy thing in between. I actually cried when I saw the pop up 😔 (also! we’re close in game days!) pic.twitter.com/sQoBTDR1zx

— Ana 🌘 (@Go_Away_Ana) August 22, 2024

Honestly it’s fantastic that you are releasing an offline version instead of just deleting everything. This way long time players can keep playing. Most mobile games will come to an end eventually, this is just the best case scenario for such an event.

— Gay Bowser (@SoL0ngGayBowser) August 22, 2024

Nintendo has had mixed results from its mobile game efforts, which include Super Mario Run, Mario Kart Tour, and Pikmin Bloom. In 2020, Nintendo was reported to be retreating from the mobile gaming market. That apparent decision came amid the explosive, pandemic-fueled popularity of Switch exclusive Animal Crossing: New Horizons. However, there are a number of successful Pokémon mobile games, such as Pokémon Go, with more in the works.

Animal Crossing fans are already wondering what’s next in the franchise, following Pocket Camp’s demise and New Horizons seemingly a distant memory at Nintendo. Perhaps a brand new Animal Crossing for the Switch 2 is in the works? given the enormous popularity of New Horizons, it feels like an inevitability.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.