An upcoming Animal Crossing-like game has officially been confirmed for release on the Nintendo Switch 2, with Petit Planet revealing that it will arrive on the Nintendo platform in 2027. Petit Planet will be the newest game from Genshin Impact developer HoYoverse and has drawn positive comparisons to Nintendo’s Animal Crossing series.
The Animal Crossing franchise has become one of Nintendo’s biggest properties since the debut of the original game on the Nintendo GameCube. Each new console from Nintendo has typically received a new entry in the series, including handheld games like Wild World on the Nintendo DS and New Leaf on the 3DS. Animal Crossing has also seen a plethora of developers debut their own takes on laid-back life simulation games, helping to inspire games like Disney Dreamlight Valley and Pokemon Pokopia. Now, HoYoverse is getting ready to launch its own spin on the genre, while also offering a brand-new platform for the game.
Petit Planet Confirms Switch 2 Release in 2027
Petit Planet officially confirmed that the game will be receiving a Switch 2 version following its release on PC and mobile devices. The life simulation game puts players in the role of a Planet Tender for the interplanetary Loomi Co., tasked with revitalizing a small planet. Players traverse and explore their world to gather resources, invite a variety of animal Neighbors to live there, and build new facilities to improve their villagers’ lives. Petit Planet includes a variety of activities for players to engage with as well, ranging from fishing and cooking to catching bugs and decorating their homes and planets. Petit Planet is scheduled to launch on PC and mobile devices on December 4, 2026, with the Switch 2 version launching in 2027.
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HoYoverse has already given plenty of fans the chance to try out Petit Planet ahead of its official release. HoYoverse has run multiple playtests for the game since it was first announced in September 2025, with the final beta test for the game running from late September to early October 2026. The new life simulation game offers players a range of rewards for pre-registering for Petit Planet as well, with everything from free furniture to a special outfit available for signing up early for the game.
The launch of Petit Planet will face stiff competition from other life simulation games on the Switch 2, with plenty to choose from. Several popular life sims and farming sims, including Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Stardew Valley, have received Switch 2 version upgrades on the console, providing more incentive for playing older games on the console. Omega Force’s Pokemon Pokopia was also one of the biggest new releases on the Nintendo Switch 2, taking the classic Animal Crossing formula and putting a Pokemon-themed spin on the genre.
Life simulation fans have also had plenty to enjoy from the original Nintendo Switch library on the Switch 2. April 2026 welcomed the long-awaited return of the Tomodachi Life franchise, with Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream launching more than a decade after the original 3DS game. Nintendo recently offered Switch Online subscribers a chance to try out another Animal Crossing-like game for free for a limited time, running a Game Trial for Hello Kitty Island Adventure in early October. Life simulation games are abundant on Nintendo Switch consoles, and Petit Planet looks to add another exciting entry to the genre.
- Released
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2026
- Multiplayer
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Online Multiplayer
- Number of Players
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Single-player
