Nintendo is Setting the Standard for future Live Service games

The gaming industry is ever-evolving in its path toward a digital future, and while some may embrace it, a few massive downsides are showing. For one, the lack of a physical medium destroys the secondhand market, which is full of budget players. The main issue I would like to highlight though is the lack of ownership, and I don’t mean the ability to sell your purchases but the option to even play your library when you want and without an internet connection. In today’s digital utopia, almost all new releases are heavily tied together with online services. When those servers are shut down, quite a few games, especially games with microtransactions, will become unplayable. That’s where Nintendo comes into play with their latest announcement.

Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Online Services Ending

Last month, Nintendo announced that the online services for the mobile Animal Crossing game would be ending on November 28, 2024. After seeing this revelation in news headlines, it only gave me negative vibes about how every game will eventually be cut off, at least until I read more into it. Nintendo has come up with the genius idea of producing a paid version of the title without microtransactions. Not only will this save the game, but even game saves will transfer right on over upon release.

What’s different in the new paid version of the app?

We know you will be able to move game saves as long as you have a Nintendo Account linked, but not all the features are coming along. This new app will not contain any online services built in, which results in online elements such as Market Boxes, gifts, and visiting player campsites no longer being available. Of course, this also means buying the paid in-game currency called Leaf Tickets will not be possible, and Nintendo has stated even your currently owned Leaf Tickets will not transfer over either as the currency doesn’t exist in the new app. So if you're still sitting on some Leaf Tickets, I would use them sooner rather than later. You have until November 26th, 2024 to purchase them and November 28th, 2024 to spend them.

What’s next for Pocket Camp Club subscriptions?

Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp has an optional paid subscription service called Pocket Camp Club that has three plans: Merry Memories Plan ($0.99), Happy Helper Plan ($2.99), and Furniture & Fashion Plan ($7.99). Each plan includes various rewards such as Leaf Tickets, Fortune Cookies, and other bonuses. Nintendo has decided that starting October 28, 2024, you will no longer be able to join the service and if your subscription goes past that date you will receive a badge through the in-game mailbox that allows you to continue using your benefits until the service's final day even if your plans end date was before November 28, 2024.

Final Thoughts

Nintendo, in my view, is setting a new standard in developer responsibility as far as I’m concerned when it comes to how to end an online-only game service. This won’t be easy for every game, as some are heavily reliant on online features such as PVP, but it certainly can work for many others. I imagine that for games focused on player-versus-player action, some type of network tool, similar to a Minecraft Server, should be released once the developer no longer plans to keep the paid servers online. I would prefer it if Nintendo didn’t charge people who have already made in-game purchases, but at least it’s a start. What are your thoughts? Should more game developers create plans for their game's eventual end-of-life dates, or are you fine with developers throwing your digital purchases into the recycle bin at any moment?