The anticipation surrounding this partnership has been building since August, with speculations about the potential appearance and pricing of Lego sets based on the Animal Crossing game. However, Nintendo and Lego have remained tight-lipped about the details.
Both Nintendo and Lego recently used social media platforms to provide a sneak peek into what appears to be a collaboration that will introduce a line of Lego sets featuring beloved characters from the immensely popular Animal Crossing video game.
“Welcome to … LEGO Animal Crossing!” was Nintendo’s announcement on X (formerly Twitter), echoed by Lego’s statement on Instagram. Both posts included a brief 11-second video.
Though the teaser offers only a glimpse, devoted Animal Crossing fans will spot Lego renditions of some of the game’s well-loved island inhabitants from the Nintendo Switch title. The video also includes the iconic characters Tom Nook, the raccoon who welcomes players to their deserted islands, and Isabelle, the cheerful helper at the resident services building.
As for specifics about the Nintendo and Lego collaboration, details have remained a closely guarded secret. Rumors have circulated since August, touching on potential designs and pricing for the Lego sets, but both Nintendo and Lego have refrained from disclosing any official information publicly. USA TODAY’s attempts to obtain further insights from both companies on this partnership yielded no immediate responses.
This venture wouldn’t mark the first time that Nintendo has partnered with another company to create products featuring characters from Animal Crossing: New Horizons, an exclusive title for the Switch console. In 2021, Build-A-Bear Workshop teamed up with Nintendo to offer stuffed animal versions of both Tom Nook and Isabelle at their stores, complete with clothing and accessories from the game. The game has also been adapted into a Monopoly board game.
Animal Crossing experienced immense popularity during the pandemic, providing players with a tranquil virtual world in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic began. As people found themselves confined indoors with limited social interactions, the game allowed them to virtually engage in activities like fishing, seashell gathering, and exploration of peaceful islands inhabited by friendly anthropomorphic creatures.
This wholesome game played a significant role in boosting the Nintendo Switch’s status as the top-selling video game console in 2021. In the same year, Animal Crossing was honored with induction into the World Video Game Hall of Fame.
