News Articles
Monday21st Nov 2016
Nintendo Download 24th November (Europe)
Pokemon Sun and Moon! Beat the Beat! Exile's End! More!
Another week begins, and brings with it the European Nintendo Download Update details for the goodies we can expect this week. The 3DS has huge retail arrivals, while there are some tempting download-only options to be found on the Wii U in particular. Let's get to the details. Wii U eShop:...
Tuesday8th Nov 2016
News Looks Like Nintendo Has A Sense Of Humour About The Wii U's Failure
"Great artists aren’t always appreciated in their own time”
Nintendo is used to success - it is responsible for some of the most popular video game franchises of all time, and has produced consoles and handhelds which have sold millions upon millions of units. However, like any firm with a history that stretches back more than 100 years, it...
Friday4th Nov 2016
News Isabelle Animal Crossing 3DS HOME Theme Added to My Nintendo in North America
Now she can organise your games for you, too
Animal Crossing: New Leaf may not be the freshest game in the world, but this week it's had a welcome revival courtesy of the extensive (and free) 'welcome amiibo' update. Keen to build on that momentum, Nintendo of America has released a small extra treat. It's an Isabelle 3DS HOME Theme, which can be...
Thursday3rd Nov 2016
News Monster Hunter Stories amiibo Are Compatible with English Copies of Animal Crossing: New Leaf
Hmm….
No doubt many of you are aware of Monster Hunter Stories, the kid-friendly RPG spin-off of Capcom's popular Monster Hunter series. The game's done pretty well in Japan, but there's still no word on whether or not there will be a Western localisation. Though Capcom has remained fairly tight lipped about this, the recent update to Animal...
Wednesday2nd Nov 2016
News Animal Crossing: New Leaf Update Is Available Now
amiibo support, here we come!
The long-awaited update for Animal Crossing: New Leaf is available for download as we speak. This welcome news was announced during today's Animal Crossing Direct. The update brings amiibo support to the game for those playing on the New Nintendo 3DS or using the NFC Reader. Fire up that 3DS and get playing. Once...
Tuesday1st Nov 2016
News Animal Crossing Nintendo Direct Airs Tomorrow
Japanese Direct will include a look at Miitopia, too
We already know that more content is coming to Animal Crossing: New Leaf, but tomorrow Nintendo will explain exactly what t
Wednesday5th Oct 2016
News The Big Animal Crossing: New Leaf Update Will Add an amiibo Camera
What a nice surprise
One of the rather surprising announcements in the last Nintendo Direct was that Animal Crossing: New Leaf would be getting a major update this fall. The game is rather long in the tooth by this point in time, but it's getting a shot in the arm with amiibo functionality, 50 new amiibo cards, and new animals. Now, it's been...
Monday12th Sep 2016
News Animal Crossing: New Leaf's Fall Update Will Handle The Weeding So You Don't Have To
Cleaning up
Animal Crossing: New Leaf may be getting on a bit these days but the game is set to get a new lease of life thanks to an update this November which adds amiibo functionality. As if being able to use your amiibo toys and cards with the game wasn't enough of a bonus, the free update will also rid your village of pesky weeds - something...
Monday5th Sep 2016
News Hello Kitty And Friends Are Linking Up With Animal Crossing: New Leaf
New amiibo+ cards will unlock themed furniture in the game
Animal Crossing: New Leaf is getting an amiibo-style facelift later this year, and Nintendo has just revealed that a collaboration with Sanrio will see some of its most beloved characters appear in the game. Scanning the new range of amiibo+ cards will grant access to items of furniture...
Thursday1st Sep 2016
News Animal Crossing Mini Nintendo Direct Confirmed for 2nd November in Japan
Details on New Leaf's free amiibo-centric update expected
As part of today's Nintendo Direct broadcast, we were shown a little more of the upcoming free update to Animal Crossing: New Leaf. The update will introduce amiibo support and also be accompanied by a new wave of amiibo cards and a new retail edition of the game; the goal is clearly to give...
News Animal Crossing: New Leaf's amiibo Update Coming Later This Year Along With Fresh amiibo Cards
Animal Crossing Direct also on the way this year
Nintendo has just confirmed that Animal Crossing: New Leaf will be getting a fresh lease of life this year thanks to a free update which will enable amiibo support in the million-selling 3DS title. While this isn't news in itself - we knew about this a while back - the game will also be getting a...
Tuesday9th Aug 2016
News Nintendo of America Expands Nintendo Selects Range and Unveils Small New 3DS Bundle
Wii U game + amiibo bundles are coming, too
Nintendo of America is jumping into the 'back to school' craze, but its latest announcements are good news for fans of all ages in North America. It's expanding the Nintendo Selects range, releasing a rather nice small New Nintendo 3DS bundle, and also planning some Wii U game + amiibo bundles. First of...
Wednesday3rd Aug 2016
Video Animal Crossing Noir Continues to Explore the Mysteries of New Leaf
"I boarded the train, but where does the rest of the line go?"
A while ago we shared the first couple of episodes of 'Animal Crossing Noir' with you - it's an entertaining and dark spin on New Leaf that has strong vibes of 1960s TV series The Prisoner. Six episodes have been released so far, deepening the mystery behind villager HMK's arrival
Wednesday20th Jul 2016
News Autumn Animal Crossing: New Leaf Update To Bring amiibo Figure And Card Support
Four years after release
Nintendo is bringing amiibo support to Animal Crossing: New Leaf almost four years after the game's original release in Japan. The update - which is due in the Autumn - will allow users with a New 3DS or NFC Reader to use their amiibo figures and amiibo cards in the game. Cards will make villagers arrive in your town but it...
Thursday14th Jul 2016
Video The Play Nintendo Show Focuses on Animal Crossing for Its Second Episode
Don't worry, President Regginator is back
This year one issue we've raised is the need for Nintendo to produce marketing and publicity content specifically targeting a young audience, which older players can also happily ignore. With credit to Nintendo of America, it's now backing up its Play Nintendo website with a regular YouTube show to keep...
Friday1st Jul 2016
Video New Fan-Made Video Series Uncovers Animal Crossing's Darker Side
I am not a number, I am a free tanuki!
Animal Crossing: New Leaf feels like a lifetime ago now and recent spin-offs Happy Home Designer and amiibo Festival didn't really scratch our itch, but this unofficial Animal Crossing animated series should keep us entertained while we wait for the next proper instalment. As you can see it uses the characters,...
Thursday14th Apr 2016
Poll The Utterly Charming Animal Crossing Series Is 15 Today, But Which Is Your Favourite?
Turning a new leaf or heading to the city? Let us know
The Animal Crossing series turns 15 today, and to celebrate this occasion Nintendo has released a special video. The first game in the franchise launched in Japan on the Nintendo 64 15 years ago, and since then we've seen entries on the GameCube, DS, Wii, 3DS and Wii U. The GameCube version was...
Thursday28th Jan 2016
News Nintendo's Official UK Store Gives a Free Animal Crossing: New Leaf Calendar to Customers
Well, that's nice
Companies sometimes behave in sociopathic ways, if we're to think of these enormous corporate entities as we would a person - Sony's a current example in trying and failing to trademark the "Let's Play" phrase - but occasionally they do something nice. Sure, it's often the case that it's all about securing loyalty, but let's not be...
Tuesday15th Dec 2015
News You'll Want To Get Your Paws On This Lavishly Illustrated Animal Crossing Guide
Unofficial, but in the best way possible
A Guide to Village Life isn't an official publication to accompany Animal Crossing: New Leaf - hence the fact that the game's name doesn't appear anywhere on the cover. However, that's not a bad thing at all - it's highly unlikely that any official guide would have the same degree of love and care lavished on...
Tuesday27th Oct 2015
News Spooky StreetPass Event Coming To North America In Time For Halloween
Stalking almost 30,000 locations
This weekend Nintendo of America is holding a special StreetPass event to mark the arrival of the scariest day of the year. No, we're not talking about New Year's Eve, but Halloween. Dropping by one of the 29.000 Nintendo Zone hotspots across North America between October 30th and November 1st could bag you up to...
Thursday8th Oct 2015
Random Isabelle Still Seems Upset At Negligent Animal Crossing: New Leaf Mayors
We apologise, Isabelle
Some 3DS owners are still diligently playing Animal Crossing: New Leaf - visiting their towns to exchange pleasantries with the locals, dig up some weeds and ensure that everything is tickety-boo. Those people will be held in high regard by the ever-lovable Isabelle. Then there are the rest of us, your humble writer included...
Thursday25th Jun 2015
Video Avert Your Eyes, This Japanese Animal Crossing Commercial Features Shameful Groping
Poor Tom Nook
Nintendo is pretty unique in the video game industry because unlike Sony and Microsoft, it actually spends money reminding people that some of its evergreen hits are still on sale. Take this latest Japanese commercial for Animal Crossing: New Leaf - a game that originally launched in that region in 2012 - featuring pop star Kyary...
Saturday30th May 2015
News Splatoon Producer Interview Sparks E3 Animal Crossing Wii U Speculation
Reading between the lines
Its E3 silly season, or close enough, and that means plenty of reading between the lines when Nintendo employees dodge and weave from questions. Such is the fate for Hisashi Nogami, producer on Splatoon but arguably best known as a co-Director on the Animal Crossing franchise. First of all, we recommend having a read of...
Thursday2nd Apr 2015
News Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer Launching With amiibo Cards And NFC Reader This Autumn
Lend your interior design talents to the animals
Not long ago, Nintendo revealed it was looking for alternate ways to make the new amiibo line more readily available to the masses and that it was even considering collectable cards which could be scanned into games as an option. The latest Direct has now revealed Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer...
Wednesday25th Mar 2015
News Animal Crossing Helped This Artist Get Through Her Chemotherapy Treatment
"The mundanity of it is really comforting"
Chicago artist Krystal DiFronzo was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma - a cancer of the blood - last August. Like all cancer suffers, she had to deal with a lot of worry and heartbreak, but found an unlikely aid in the Nintendo 3DS title Animal Crossing: New Leaf. DiFronzo has created a series - called...
Friday30th Jan 2015
Previously Japan-only items on the way
Animal Crossing: New Leaf was a major hit on 3DS when it arrived in the West in 2013, selling millions of copies and becoming a mainstay for light-hearted chatter on social networks. Its blend of repetition, daily chores and cute whimsy made is a mainstay on a number of systems for weeks, months and -...
Friday23rd Jan 2015
News Animal Crossing Announcement Community Launches On Miiverse
New Leaf director welcomes fans
Following the discontinuation of Animal Crossing Plaza and the Animal Crossing Series Community at the end of last year, New Leaf director, Aya Kyogoku, has today launched the Animal Crossing Announcement Community on Miiverse. This community will be used by Nintendo to deliver news and messages related to Animal...
Friday12th Dec 2014
Feature 12 Days of Nintendo Christmas - Day One
On the first day...
In this completely silly run of bite-sized features, we're going to write a new version of '12 Days of Christmas' with a Nintendo twist that will, hopefully, be good enough to sing. A big chair in a Pear Tree: When there's a line with 'tree' in it, Animal Crossing is the only way to go. In the bizarre AC economy your daily...
Monday8th Dec 2014
News Animal Crossing Plaza Service Stops At the End of This Month
More related news to arrive in 2015
With the Animal Crossing Plaza service ending this month, New Leaf Director, Aya Kyogoku, has issued a reminder and a message of thanks to loyal fans of the service. The plaza remains available on the Wii U eShop until 22nd December 2014, and when this year comes to a close, monthly surveys and the ability to...
Thursday16th Oct 2014
News Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire Lead the Way in New Nintendo 3DS Kisekae Faceplates
Animal Crossing! Plumber's moustaches! More!
The New Nintendo 3DS is now out in Japan and has enjoyed a strong start in the charts, shifting nearly 235,000 units in its launch weekend. The smaller model was actually outsold by the LL (XL), which surprises us for one reason — Kisekae faceplaces. We can't help but be charmed by these faceplates,...
