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It has been months since Nintendo provided any updates about its life simulation franchise, Animal Crossing. The latest in the series simply involved the announcements and release of the free 2.0 update and paid DLC of Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Now, online sources show that Nintendo may have something Animal Crossing-themed up its sleeve. It seems the company has recently filed a patent, which is hinting that loot boxes may be coming to the series in the future.
Nintendo does not seem to be hyping up the 2nd anniversary of ACNH. Given that the 2.0 update and Happy Home Paradise were announced to be the last major updates for the title, it is understandable that the company does not have anything big prepared for the occasion. However, Nintendo still has not shared anything related to the franchise as a whole. Fans are likely hoping that this means Nintendo is working on another Animal Crossing video game and is only waiting for the perfect time to reveal the project.
According to online sources, Nintendo has filed a patent that involves a lottery system wherein players can win Animal Crossing furniture items. The details are still quite vague at this point, but the information shows that the patent was filed late last year. Only being published recently, the patent indicates that users may have to use virtual currency to be able to enter the lottery system. Doing so will put them in the running to obtain the furniture items, though it is not clear whether the items are for a current title or for one in the future.
The patent also does not indicate what kind of virtual currency will be used to enter the so-called lottery system. On one hand, it could mean that users can exchange the in-game Animal Crossing Bells for the lottery, or Nintendo may be coming up with a new kind of premium currency that players may have to shell out real-life money for. Nevertheless, all these can be considered speculation until Nintendo announces anything official about the patent.
The Animal Crossing series has been in the market for more than 20 years already. Given just how times have changed, and how money has moved onto a digital era via cryptocurrency, it would not be surprising for one of Nintendo's most long-standing franchises to take part in this modernization. When it comes to that, hopefully the game's community will still offer their support for the series.