- Players will have the option to transfer their save data to the new app once Pocket Camp ceases its services
- The announcement was made in the style of Animal Crossing on the game’s X account (formerly Twitter)
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On November 28th, 2024, Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp will be closing its doors, bringing an end to new content updates and services. This unexpected decision has been made in order to shift the monetization strategy rather than due to a lack of popularity.
Instead of continuing to produce new content for the live game, maintaining the game, and running in-app purchases, players will now have the opportunity to continue playing the game in a new version by paying a one-time fee to maintain their progress and items.
Transitioning to a New Model
Nintendo has announced that a new version of the game is currently in development and will be available for a one-time payment, transforming Pocket Camp into a premium title without in-app purchases or subscription services.
Players will be able to transfer their save data to the new app once Pocket Camp’s services end.
The announcement was made in the style of Animal Crossing on the game’s X account (formerly Twitter):
Important announcement regarding Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp. Please visit the following page for more details.https://t.co/JGacPgXFyo pic.com/RHZt5u7SPU
— Pocket_camp (@Pocket_Camp) August 22, 2024
The new premium version of Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp will not include the online features of the current version, meaning that a continuous online connection will not be necessary to play. This also means that features like Market Boxes, Leaf Tickets, gifts, and visiting other players’ campsites will not be available in the new premium title.
This shift to a one-time purchase model while ending new content updates is a unique step for Nintendo, a company known for the production and one-time sale of its games.
Nintendo no longer sees the value in investing resources in Pocket Camp beyond November 2024 and prefers to focus on one final wave of income, sacrificing potential ongoing in-app purchase revenue for one last payment from loyal players.
It is possible that this change may encourage long-time free-to-play fans to finally spend money on the game, as paying an undisclosed amount will be the only way to keep their save data and continue playing.
“Lovely, diverse campsites grow and flourish”
“Since its launch on November 21st, 2017, for approximately seven years, we have had the privilege to witness the growth and diversity of everyone’s beautiful campsites. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the numerous users who have cherished Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp,” as stated by Nintendo.
“We are planning to release a flat-fee paid app to which you can transfer your save data after the service for Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp concludes.”
Many of Nintendo’s mobile games were in development before the release of the Switch, and the company’s enthusiasm for the medium has waned since then. Super Mario Run had moderate success with a free-to-play model and a large fee to unlock the full game, Mario Kart Tour had its final content update in October, and now with Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp reaching its end, it is clear that even Nintendo’s biggest franchises are not guaranteed to last indefinitely on mobile platforms.
