Yesterday, Nintendo of America shared a possibly cryptic (but possibly completely innocent) tweet starring the one and only Tom Nook - Animal Crossing's greedy, yet lovable, real estate agent racoon.
The tweet is a little different to the generic marketing messages sometimes shared by the account, though, instead being slightly more playful in nature. It simply reads, "Tom Nook is here to help you file your tax returns… and he already has an idea for what to do with your refund!", providing readers with a link to the Nintendo Switch home page.
So, does this actually mean anything? Well, Animal Crossing fans definitely seem to think so. A large number of the replies (some of which we've included below) are now adamant that news surrounding the upcoming Switch game is on the way, and almost everyone is beyond excited. Animal Crossing fans seem to be an incredibly dedicated bunch who are hungry for news at the best of times, but this has truly sent the fanbase into overdrive.
And perhaps with good reason. The tweet mentions tax day which, in the US, is on 15th April. This date just so happens to be one day after the series' anniversary and is also the day on which current Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé is set to retire. Also, going back as far as 2012, every April has played host to a Nintendo Direct apart from in 2016; could Reggie be set to unveil the new game in a Direct on his final day? Ooh, don't you just love a good bit of speculation?
Anyway, here are some of those tweets we mentioned (although the whole thread is bubbling with chaos).
https://twitter.com/NGameTheCube/status/1107751760779632640
https://twitter.com/asti_spumante_/status/1107743095339315200
https://twitter.com/KantoPancakes/status/1107741819687895040
Do you think the tweet actually means anything? Are you desperate for news on the new game? Feel free to share your excitement, theories and more in the comments below.
Comments 67
At least Yoshi ain't here...lol.
It wouldn't really surprise me too much of it meant something. Reggie having a Direct on his last day would also be a nice gesture from Nintendo.
Reminds me of the January 2018 teasing before the Direct Mini. Can't say I was expecting Animal Crossing news before E3 though.
Just picked up a 2DS with Animal Crossing New Leaf which is quite endearing. It's the first title in the series I've played since the Gamecube one and I quite like it. Not sure if I'd buy a new one quite soon as I think New Leaf will last me quite some time, but happy there's a new one coming nonetheless.
Certainly would be nice to think they are planning something a lil bit special like this.
Can I just say, that this website has done a good job of making me jump thinking something is going to be announced with all the animal crossing images they have used for stories lately 😝
"Animal Crossing fans seem to be an incredibly dedicated bunch who are hungry for news at the best of times" Sounds to me like Nintendo fans in general. First it was Zelda, then Smash Bros, now it's Animal Crossing.
Hmm. I do wonder if these people are on to something or if they're just overhyping themselves. Either way I'd be glad with an April Direct. Could be the last Direct before E3. And it would be nice to see one last Reggie directed Direct.
It could be Reggie's farwell gift and a chance to introduce Bowser on camera. I suspect we'd have to wait until e3 for a full dedicated Direct on AC though.
Animal Crossing & Skyrim. 2 games I just play and play etc................ Then look at the look and realize 18hrs have gone by
Aw man my reply didn't get mentioned.
I kid though. When I scrolled past this tweet yesterday I had to do a double take. I thought it was quite funny.
Oh and yeah another Nintendo Direct would be cool. I'm not as hardcore into Animal Crossing as some people are, but even I have to admit a release date would be cool, but something tells me they might be saving it for E3.
Away you go internet...
@Medic_alert Also possible but tax day is a weird one for a Japanese videogame company to take note of.
@FragRed of course the animal crossing fans are hungry for news, nintendo starves us to a famine, we are left in the dark when it comes to animal crossing.
Give it to me....! PLEEEEEEEASE....! I've been waiting on the edge of my seat for news about this game ever since the tease.
@FragRed They may be different fans though, not everyone is into all those titles, but all those titles do have a pretty solid fanbase. I have a friend who buys a Nintendo console ONLY for a Zelda game, but will happily overlook every other title in the library.
@Indielink True, but not if NoA are giving the Direct and especially if Reggie is hosting, as the article suggests.
I would love for the NES games to reappear as winnable prizes.
But I feel they'll never go back to that.
I was on the "this is just an innocent joke" side of the fence when I started reading too deep on the "and he already has an idea for what to do with your refund!"
I truly believe they are talking about buying the new AC Switch, this is a teaser. Tom Nook never helped with taxes before
Nintendo please anounce this one
My interpretation of the tweet: "with you tax refund money go out and buy a Switch". That's why there's the link to the Switch page at the end of the tweet.
I'd like it to be teasing the game's reveal but sometimes a topical meme is... just a topical meme.
Oh no, its the new gimmick isnt it?
First we become the mayor.....now we force our neighbors to pay taxes to complete our corruption....
Tom nook just wants your money.
Refund. Looooool. Thanks to all deductions they've taken away, I ended up owing $1100. THANKS FOR REMINDING ME OF THAT PAIN, NINTENDO.
@tangram That's what I thought as well. Though I would love for it to be legit AC news.
But now that I think about it, maybe they're using this as an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. Advertise buying a Switch and teasing AC Switch at the same time
there's waaaay too many coincidences here for there not to be a Direct on this day... Seems a little early thought to start the hype train
@Xaessya not going to happen with their subscription service now, gamecube AC was awesome for that though.
@Angelic_Lapras_King Hey, I think I'm okay with taxing those little animals. It'll teach them to bother me about missing their birthday.
No one lives for free in Pineapple Town!
This made me lol when I saw it on Twitter. Nintendo is such a troll sometimes.
@Anti-Matter lol that be funny.
i've never played a n animal crossing game but i heard they are hours of fun but i dont think the game will drop on tax day but tax day will be a direct maybe even an animal crossing direct and release date Sep 13th.
Nintendo announces a partnership with HnR Block as tax season draws to a close LOL ....seems like a troll job. We just had a Direct a month ago.
Obviously this means Reggie is giving us Mother 3 as a parting gift.
@sevex If he did, I would call my supervisor and go home immediately.
It's probably a suggestion to purchase a Switch with your refund.
Oh please let it be so. I’m so so hyped for animal crossing !
"The tweet mentions tax day"
Where?
Animal crossing. Or Nintendo crack as I call it. When it's released I'm going to quit work, leave my wife and son, live in a cave and use a USB wood burner (Google it. It's a thing) to charge my switch and cook so I can play uninterrupted.
This is a game that would so benefit from yearly Dlc. Make it free and you got me. Have always thought the same about Mario kart as well. Just keep adding to perfection...
If Nintendo released Smash in December and Animal Crossing in April, that would be proof that they actively don't want me to graduate college.
It's probably a new Animal Crossing Warriors game...obviously.
I mean after Hyrule Warriors and Fire Emblem Warriors it all makes sense.
Can't wait for the next, proper Animal Crossing game. If anything, Pocket Camp has made me dislike the series so I've stopped playing it. Too many fetch quests and micro-transactions. Ugh. Definitely feels like it hurt the brand but a proper AC game on Switch that builds and expands on ACNL from 3DS would help fix everything!
Been waiting for the new AC since the Switch was announced!
Quite a few coincidences that coincide with this tweet! Let's hope something comes out of them!
I have high expectations for the next Animal Crossing! (And I will be ready to not be disappointed! Hopefully.)
I had always thought that Tom Nook was a tanooki, but eh, details. XD I won't try to get my hopes up too much for a Direct around then, but the evidence is certainly compelling.
It's just saying "Don't forget there's a new Animal Crossing coming soon!" Either way an April direct of some sort is definitely gonna happen given their track record.
@MarkieMAN64 I fully agree!
I kind of wonder if we will still see Reggie around Nintendo events from time to time, even if it is just as a fan. I think it would be pretty neat to see him in a slightly less professionally capacity, even though he always seemed like he was having a good time with Nintendo.
@Dpullam Not just a partial agreement but a FULL one! I'm honoured.
Guess Tom Nook is a tax agent in the next AC... Figures.
Animal Crossing fans are starting to see clues in everything. It reminds me of hardcore Smash fans leading up to release. Lol
@Anti-Matter Do not blaspheme.
Maybe they'll surprise us at the end of the indies showcase tomorrow.
Most likely just a reminder that the game exists and that we'll get some actual news at some point, in whatever form.
Anyone who follows Nintendo on Twitter has already seen this. CRINGE
It has nothing to do with animal crossing. At most its just going to be some mediocre e-shop sales.
I really hope that isn't the conclusion people are reaching. Then again, this is the internet, where wild conclusions are the norm.
...When will I be randomly featured in an article? >:c
Keep grasping at those straws, people.
His final smash would be Soul-Crushing Debt.
@StephenYap3
You beat me to it! 😂
I can wait - I still owe Tom Nook money on the 3DS.
I have actually been listening to K.K. Slider recently and I love those songs. I am so excited for a new Animal Crossing! (can anyone loan me a couple thousand bells to pay off Nook?)
I'm not a huge fan of the game - it feels too much like wasting time for the sake of it - but I really love the Animal Crossing community. They're so passionate and in my experience all nice people.
@Zimon Now that I would play!
The post doesn’t mention tax day...
I swear this website just gets me hyped up for everything.
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