How Nintendo’s Animal Crossing became home to Hong Kong protesters, with pro-democracy content going viral
- At home because of the coronavirus, Hong Kong protesters can be found in the online game, creating their own content, slogans and photos
- Some of the pro-democracy content has gone viral on Twitter and other social media
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.
In one video posted to Twitter, a group of players use bug-catching nets to hit pictures of the city’s leader Carrie Lam on a beach in the game. A nearby poster states “Free Hong Kong. Revolution Now”.
The latest Animal Crossing title, New Horizons has helped Nintendo with a 27 per cent gain in share price as copies sold surpassed 2.6 million as of March 29, according to Japanese game market researcher Famitsu.
