How Nintendo’s Animal Crossing became home to Hong Kong protesters, with pro-democracy content going viral

Nintendo’s Animal Crossing has been an escape for many during the coronavirus lockdown, and now it’s become a place for Hong Kong protesters to congregate without flouting social distancing rules.

Animal Crossing is a simulation game where players live on an idyllic tropical island and befriend anthropomorphic animals.

Players can customise their islands with in-game illustrating tools and visit each other’s islands online.

Pro-democracy content created for the game has gone viral on social media, including Twitter.

In a tweet last week, one of Hong Kong’s most well-known democracy campaigners, Joshua Wong, said he was playing the game and that the movement had shifted online.