On March 20, Nintendo released the most recent installment of the Animal Crossing franchise, Animal Crossing: New Horizons. This game was released during the government-issued lock-down that was put into place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ultimately leading to the game’s success. 

Animal Crossing is a game where the player acts as the mayor of a town or island that they get to name. The player interacts with the animal inhabitants of their town and builds friendships with them; as well as going fishing, collecting fossils, and planting gardens.

From March 20 to September 30, Animal Crossing: New Horizons sold 14.3 million copies. As of right now, Nintendo has sold over 26 million copies in total. This sets it up as one of the most successful games on the Nintendo Switch. As for the Nintendo Switch itself, 6.86 million units of them have been sold between July and September. 

Animal Crossing was already a popular franchise, but since the newest game was released during the pandemic, it rapidly gained traction as people needed something to do while they were stuck at home. 

Given the slow-paced and calming nature of the game, New Horizons gave players something to entertain themselves with during such troubling times. The game also allows players to visit other people’s islands, adding a safe way to interact and play with friends while also following social distancing rules. 

Now that stores are open and more people are getting back to school and work, New Horizons most likely would not have been as successful if it were released now. The COVID-19 lockdown was, and still is, affecting every aspect of life, including the sales of certain products – like video games.