The recent update for Animal Crossing: New Horizons has introduced a frustrating but amusing challenge as players attempt to gather up to 12 friends on an island. While the Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade allows for more players, the online functionality remains cumbersome and buggy. Issues like prolonged loading times due to repetitive cutscenes and frequent session crashes made the experience more of a nightmare than a fun gathering. Despite these problems, once everyone finally landed on the island, they enjoyed exchanging gifts and sharing moments together. However, it raises questions about Nintendo’s infrastructure handling and whether such multi-player features were intended for practical use.

What are the challenges of playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons with 12 players?

The challenges include lengthy cutscenes that play each time a new player arrives, frequent crashes booting players out, and the need for strict coordination to prevent further issues. Many players found it more of a hassle than a fun experience, particularly the lengthy setup time that overshadowed the actual gameplay.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons, released in March 2020, became wildly popular during pandemic lockdowns, allowing players to escape into a charming virtual world. Its multiplayer features have significantly evolved, yet the infrastructure lags behind expectations. The game received its 3.0 update, enhancing various gameplay features, but it appears that practical multiplayer interaction still leaves much to be desired for players looking to explore this cozy life simulation with friends.