Picture this: You're going to a meet your game friends for the umpteenth time, you're chill, some Nintendo magic in your pocket, and then...BAM! Nintendo, with a sadistic twinkle in its button eyes, gives you a reality check - no more online functionality for 3DS and Wii U next year (the horror!). Yes, folks, the end of an era for Nintendo is near and it seems our favorite gaming giant is on a spring cleaning adventure, bidding adieu to its old consoles.
Nintendo broke the news in a Twitter post earlier this month, thanking everyone for their support (even as our gaming hearts sank!). This followed an announcement last year about shutting down the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U eShops. Dear old Nintendo, always reminding us that it is eager to move on from its past and leave just that - in the past.
However obviously, some wounds run deeper than others and fans of Animal Crossing: New Leaf are in quite a pickle. The mainline game prior to Animal Crossing: New Horizons is about to lose one of its key features - the ability to visit other players' towns. We can already hear the collective gasp of dismay from all corners of the globe.
And it's Twitter, to no one's surprise, that became a hotbed for the public's raw, honest reactions. No longer being able to visit friends' dioramas in-game feels like being banished from our virtual haven. Some fans expressed deep-love for the game that introduced them to countless people, while others couldn't hide their disappointment at not being able to play New Leaf.
Furthermore, the game losing its online features means a slap in the face for completionists with New Leaf permitting players to earn achievements (aka Badges) for in-game task completion. The 'Host' and 'Dreamer' Badges, for instance, require players to have a minimum number of visitors or visit a certain number of dreams. Online features' removal would make it impossible for players to achieve these badges.
But worry not, all hope is not lost! As some wise gamers suggested, fan-made servers could serve as the torchbearer for New Leaf players. Still, knowing that the blood and sweat poured into their Dream Addresses could go in vain is a bitter pill to swallow.
As per the announcement, online servers for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U titles will stay alive and kicking until April 2024. So, if you were aiming to get the bronze, silver, and gold Badges in Animal Crossing: New Leaf, better get your gaming gears rolling...and fast!
Finally, if you feel the need to hop onto a new bandwagon, there are games similar to Animal Crossing waiting for your attention. We know it's a bittersweet feeling, but hey, change is the only constant right? So, let's dust off our gaming consoles and set forth on a new gaming adventure. Game on, everyone!
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