Photo/Illutration A scene from Nintendo Co.'s "Animal Crossing: New Horizons" ((c) 2020 Nintendo)

A new Nintendo Co. video game is filling the void for gamers around the globe deprived of social interaction due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and turned it into a surprise smash hit.

Nintendo's "Animal Crossing: New Horizons" sold 11.77 million units between its March 20 release and the end of March, far exceeding expectations and breaking records for a title made for its Switch console, the company said.

Some industry analysts say the secret of the game's success is due to the anxiety and stress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has forced millions of people to stay at home.

But others cite social media as playing a major role in making it so popular, along with Nintendo's years of efforts to attract casual game players.

Players in the life simulation game control human-shaped avatars and move onto a nature-rich deserted island where they start a new life.

Events take place in real time on the island, where the weather and seasons also change. As players move through the game, the island becomes increasingly inhabited by anthropomorphic animals.

There are a wide variety of things to do on the island. Players can collect insects and fish, gather wood, stones and other materials to make furniture and tools by hand and buy items at stores to decorate the interior of their houses and all over the island.

As the story develops, players can customize the game by scraping cliffs and filling in rivers to "develop" the island.

The game's popularity has spawned a growing demand for the Switch console, whose production had fallen behind schedule due to the pandemic, leading to further shortages in supply.

"We had expected it to do well in the first place because it is the latest installment of a popular series, but it's selling far better than expected," a Nintendo publicist said.

Anxiety stemming from the pandemic and stress of stay-at-home requests have been credited by some for making "Animal Crossing" so popular.

"The largest factor is that the game happened to be a functioning substitute of real-life interactions when people can't go out and play with their friends or run around as they please amid stay-at-home requests," said writer and critic Sayawaka, considered an expert on video games.

"It's not set in a dog-eat-dog environment like fighting games, and its relaxed and peaceful-looking characters and designs have won the hearts and minds of those who are seeking comfort," said Akinori Nakamura, a professor of content industry studies at Ritsumeikan University, who is well-versed in gaming culture.

The game's wide use by casual video gamers and people sharing images from it on social media are also big factors behind the success of "Animal Crossing."

Players can take photos and videos of scenes from the island shot with a camera function installed on the Switch console and post them on social media.

Celebrities and regular people are flocking to social networking websites to share photos showing the island they have developed with time and care, and their everyday lives there.

TV personality Rino Sashihara used the camera function to "visit" an island of one of her fans, posting a photo on Twitter of their avatars hanging out together.

Singer Kyary Pamyu Pamyu caused a stir by sharing a photo of herself and other islands' residents gathering around cherry trees for an "online" blossom-viewing party.

"They casually shared a paradise of their own making on social media, and it also served as a form of entertainment even in a situation where they avoided the 3Cs (confined and crowded spaces and close contact with others)," Nakamura said.

For Sayawaka, another attraction of "Animal Crossing" is that it's easy to operate, so casual gamers who just play video games occasionally can enjoy it. 

"For the past 15 years or so, Nintendo has been exploring how to get new customers with Nintendo DS, Wii and other consoles," Sayawaka said. "And when people were deprived of entertainment due to the coronavirus, they found it within their reach and it met their needs perfectly."

Related News