Bummer! Nintendo's Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Goes Offline – What to Expect

Nintendo’s mobile game Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp is set to shut down its live service on November 28, but there’s a positive twist—developers plan to release an offline version of the game for fans to enjoy even after the servers go dark.

They’ve promised more details about this in October, and players are already praising Nintendo for taking steps to preserve the game, which is a refreshing change from the company’s usual stance on retiring old content. In the past, Nintendo has been known for pulling the plug on games and limiting access to older titles once they’re no longer commercially viable. One infamous example is Super Mario 3D All-Stars, where Nintendo created a false sense of scarcity to drive up sales.

So this announcement for Pocket Camp feels like a shift in how they’re responding to fans. Normally, getting an offline version would have required a lot of pushback from the community, but this time, it’s happening proactively. While some fans are sad to see the game shut down, most see this as a win, hoping it sets a new precedent for Nintendo’s approach to preserving games.

Archivists and preservation enthusiasts, like Lewtwo, are hoping this kind of care extends to other franchises, like Pokemon, in the future. However, it’s still unclear how long the offline version of Pocket Camp will be available for download and whether it will come with a price tag.

All in all, many players are hopeful that this could signal a more thoughtful approach from Nintendo regarding the longevity of their games.