Animal Crossing: New Horizons has been having a tough couple of weeks. It was recently revealed that the title won’t feature cloud saves or save transfers, and that only one island would be allowed per Switch console — regardless of how many players were using the system. Now, thanks to an ESRB rating on the official Nintendo website, we’ve learned that Animal Crossing: New Horizons will also include in-game purchases.
Nintendo has yet to make a statement as to what is included in these in-game purchases, but it seems reasonable that it will follow in the footsteps of Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp. This mobile version of Animal Crossing featured microtransactions in the form of Leaf Tickets — a type of currency that could either be purchased with real cash or earned in game by completing specific challenges.
While the use of Leaf Tickets wasn’t necessary to enjoy the mobile Animal Crossing experience, they did provide certain benefits to players. For example, Fertilizer — an item that allowed fruit to grow instantly on a tree — could be purchased using Leaf Tickets, shortening an otherwise lengthy process. Leaf Tickets were typically used as a way to speed up the sometimes-slow gameplay, allowing players to quickly accumulate Bells.
If the listing on Nintendo’s website is correct, then a system similar to Leaf Tickets could be making an appearance in New Horizons. According to the ESRB’s website, games that feature “In-Game Purchases” can include “…offers to purchase digital goods or premiums with real world currency, including but not limited to bonus levels, skins, surprise items, music, virtual coins and other forms of in-game currency, subscriptions, season passes and upgrades.”
It seems unlikely that Animal Crossing: New Horizons will have a season pass, so the use of “virtual coins” — or Leaf Tickets — seems like a real possibility. While players of Pocket Camp didn’t seem to mind the inclusion of a premium currency, that likely won’t be the case with New Horizons. For one, Pocket Camp was a free title, while New Horizons will cost $59.99. Plus, nobody likes seeing microtransactions crossover from mobile to console, especially in such a high-profile release.
Another possibility is that these words are referencing some form of DLC expansion that the game will see in the future. In fact, we have evidence that points us in this direction — the official pages for Fire Emblem: Three Houses and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate both include the same “in-game purchases” verbiage, and they are free from any type of premium currency.
Source: VGC
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