Coronavirus has already delayed certain video game releases and updates, and as much as Nintendo is pushing onwards with its own projects, there's a real chance some of its future releases and planned content may be postponed.
Speaking to The Washington Post recently (thanks for the heads up, GoNintendo), Animal Crossing: New Horizons director Aya Kyogoku reiterated how the team in Japan was dealing as best as it could with the current hurdles, and development on post-launch content was still going. In saying this, the team still has to be flexible:
We’re not sure if we have to shift anything, but I think we have to be flexible.
Producer Hisashi Nogami added how the wellbeing of the team was obviously the top priority right now:
In terms of the development team, I do have to think about their health and well-being as well.
The first free update for New Horizons (Version 1.1.0) has already been released. It allows players to celebrate Bunny Day with a special event in April.
Just last week, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate director Masahiro Sakurai said there was a "high probability" of DLC fighter development not proceeding as scheduled due to COVID-19. He was even scheduled to give a presentation to a publisher, but the key parties were unable to meetup.
How would you feel about the post-launch content for Animal Crossing: New Horizons potentially be delayed? Tell us below.
[source washingtonpost.com]
Comments 39
i wonder if this means they won't patch the duplication glitch any time soon
Should've just delayed games until all of this goes away.
I mean, they need to worry about their health. I've got enough stuff in game to do already. This museum ain't going to fill itself.
I would've preferred a preview of what's to come instead of a reminder that it may be delayed. Delays are the nature of the pandemic, which I think most people will understand.
How dare they I paid £50 for this game and they can't be bothered to keep updating it?
Only joking - I think there's plenty to be getting on with for the foreseeable future. This is my first animal crossing game and I think it's incredible!
The good news is....
You still able to duplicate item by Item Duplicate Glitch. 😛
Easy Tons of money so far. 😁
Do it ASAP before it got updated to higher version.
The only game I know of that did get delayed was the Switch version of Outer Worlds. What other games got official delays?
And with that, I’m vindicated in my opinion that patching in holidays is a bad idea 😂😂
we have Bunny Day, so I'm good for now. i think the toilet jokes from the other article will hold us over for a while.
2020 so far freaking sucks
@Wilforce when was the last pandemic during the time video games exist it? Sheesh.
It's a shame, but also not a disaster. I'd rather see the developers avoid any health risks after they have been working so hard on the base game.
Let's just be grateful that it came out just as we all needed to stay indoors
If it has to happen, it has to happen. But so far Japan has been spared much of the chaos the rest of the world is experiencing.
They aren't even saying the updates will be postponed, just warning that it's possible if there's a risk.
@Anti-Matter If that's what you want to do, do it. But personally, I don't like exploiting a glitch like this. This kind of thing usually ruins the fun for me.
It’s sucks, buts it’s understandable. Be safe!
@liljmoore It’s still going to suck even when the virus blows over since a lot of stuff has already been affected.
Can they at least push out an update to do stuff like crafting multiples of an item in a go instead of 1 at a time
Thankfully, the Easter update has already been given to us. We are a few months away from any big holiday, which gives the staff more time. I don't think the pandemic will be majorly hurting them in any capacity.
@Anti-Matter
I'd rather not cheat.
The game just came out. Are people really that impatient?
No stress honestly, the game seems fine right now and I am just happy to have it. I want everyone to stay healthy, so we can wait on patches. It's not like we desperately need one right now anyways.
The product is lovely as is. Take your time and stay safe.
@Byungsuk101 Just stating the facts. They didn't need to come out and acknowledge delays in planned future content. In fact they didn't even need to acknowledge future content. They could have let it coast on the pre-existing seasonal content for the indefinite future and we would be none the wiser. Sheesh.
2020’s become the year of disease and delays... hope everyone stays safe because that is the priority in the end. Maybe 2021 won’t have a whack outbreak of something and be a little better.
@JesWood13 There is still a real chance that the virus won't survive the summer. Otherwise it will take to at least 2022 for a vaccin to be distributed around the globe.
Also I hope they could still do smaller updates (like events) but keep the larger updates out.
My brother is an elementary school teacher in Kyoto. I skyped him a couple of days ago, and it was pretty eye opening how little regard people have for the disease there. Yes, they've been taking some measures, but the prevailing attitude seems to be that Japan's built in social distancing and habits will be enough to stop the spread, and that it really is just another flu.
At his school, every teacher gets their temperature checked at the start of the day. If it's 1 degree higher than normal, they are asked to voluntarily stay at home for 2 weeks, without pay. Hopefully everything works out OK in Japan, but they are not taking anywhere near the measures of most other first world countries, yet. I'm sure the Olympics are a large part of that, maybe things will chat when they are inevitably delayed.
Maybe they should have finished the game before releasing it?
Well turns out I’m off work now for 3 weeks. Luckily I picked up my new Switch lite and Animal Crossing yesterday, so now I can binge play that and not worry too much about going out or getting bored
Hopefully they can do some work from home, but I'd certainly hate for people to be rushed into work during a pandemic over something as non-essential as Animal Crossing. I hope there isn't too much pressure to work through it. We're really seeing the worst of many companies right now.
This games been a godsend during this time. Their have been layoffs at my job lately, so it’s nice to have a nice little game like this to get away with. The good thing about Nintendo is they release complete games usually, so not a lot of need for patchwork. In the future tho what I’d like to see is the return of hourly music change in the game with the chiming of bells, paintings return to the museum, and ive always wanted farming in animal crossing (just crops would be nice). Who knows tho, this game could have al these things at some point as we advance.
@Entrr_username Doom Eternal
I suspect they have the update it's whether or not they want to release it.
I honestly think one of the more daring employees should get into the Nintendo office, and snatch the hard drives with the data for Animal Crossing, and take it home and continue working on it.
@Bermanator
RIP Iwata-San.
If they had made a complete game in the first place, this wouldn’t be an issue, now would it?!
@PcTV I'm talking about because of the virus because the article said that games and updates were delayed because of such even though they don't provide any examples. Doom Eternal was delayed long before COVID.
@Kiyata Every game does this.
@Entrr_username Uhm, sure... But Amazon sent me an e-mail yesterday that they don't know anymore when Doom Eternal is coming out for Switch.
The game just released, what do we need content updates so soon? I have to spin my golden dung beetle a few times before the updates.
This is fine.
I mean human lifes are more important than a videogame. Especially when said human lifes created this wonderful game.
I'd rather have DLC that is substantial than timely. If we have to skip ther Carnivale this year to get a great Holloween that is just fine by me.
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