Why I'm Not Mad that Nintendo Isn't Updating Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Animal Crossing: New Horizons was released over a year ago on March 20th, 2020 and was massively successful. Life on a tropical island, surrounded by animal friends, was a great distraction from all the chaos and isolation that Corona Virus brought last year. With everyone staying at home in isolation, the game was a huge hit. Nobody had anything better to do, and you could virtually hang out with your friends online in a chill, digital environment.

When the game was released, certain features weren't yet integrated into the game. For example, an early update to the game added the Bunny Day holiday. Other updates came seasonally to add events and holidays as the year progressed. The intention of this update release schedule was to prevent players who enjoy "time traveling" from spoiling in-game events for other players, or at least that's the only explanation I can think of for intentionally releasing an incomplete game.

Well, now a full calendar year has passed (plus some), so all seasonal events should be integrated into the game. There should be no further need for updates at this point. And honestly, though I think the game still lacks certain features, I personally don't want anymore updates. I played the game daily for 365 days. I'm honestly tired of it. I would like to think that playing a game every day for a year should allow me to experience everything the game had to offer. If that's not the case, then it's not a good game. Adding new content via updates is just a cop out.

Call me crazy, but I think when you spend $60 on a game, it should contain the full experience of that game. You should be purchasing a product, not making an investment in what could be. I know that there may be value in continuing to add to the game, to keep players returning year after year. But to me, if the game was good to begin with, players would do that anyway. I have owned the original Animal Crossing for the Gamecube for over 15 years at this point and I still boot that thing up and check in on my town from time to time. No updates needed.

I wish that AC:NH had Brewster's Coffee Shop, I wish we would get regular visits from Gracie, I wish we could see old Booker and Copper again, I wish we had more upgrades to the Nook's Crany store. But they didn't put that in the game from the start. If they added it now, I'd be glad, but also pissed. I'd be upset that I played the game to completion (or as close to completion as I'm willing to get), just for really good content to be added later. I'm done with the game. I may pop in from time to time if I get the urge to play, but otherwise I'm over New Horizons. It only makes sense after playing it daily for a year. It's selfish, but I don't really care if Nintendo never updates it again. If the game isn't complete by now, will it ever be?