Nintendo Shuts Down an Animal Crossing Adult Island
The Animal Crossing world is cute, funny, and sometimes a little too real.
A Quiet Ban During a Big Update
On January 15, Animal Crossing: New Horizons got a big New Year update. There was a fresh package for the NS2, new content, and a bump in chatter. On the same day, Nintendo quietly closed access to a dream island known as “Adult Island.”
Despite the name, it was not explicit. New Horizons lets players upload custom patterns, but anything truly adult is off-limits. Still, players are inventive, and this island pushed the joke to its edge.
The entrance greeted visitors with a “free guide” booth, a wink at Japan’s entertainment industry. Walk in and you see character promo photos, with islanders working shows or odd jobs.
The island’s most famous courtesan still had to be a DIY build. That is the kind of joke that made it work.
A Carefully Crafted Mood
Most of the island leaned into a Japanese Showa-era vibe. Dim purple and pink lights, worn buildings, alleys full of trash and weeds. There was a smoking corner, a pachinko shop, and even a museum turned cult hideout. It looked grimy on purpose.
In the red-light district, shops sold strange foods and adult goods, and there was a “performance” area.
The cheekiest hint was the love hotel. Even the beach scenery was arranged to be suggestive. You could sit on a moon on the sand, pull the camera back, and the rest was left unsaid.
I will admit, I laughed.
The Other Side of the Joke
The creator, Churip, also built a “poverty” side of the island. There was a bargain supermarket and cheap goods.
Islanders without money slept in cardboard boxes. New hires in the adult industry squeezed into tiny roachy rooms.
Even the NPCs had dark little stories: Isabelle sneaking off to gamble, Redd with a room full of shoes and handbags like a sketchy middleman.
Blathers had the most unsettling gag: a normal room until you notice the shrine of photos and the pile of tissues.
Five Years on a Tightrope
The island started back in 2020 and grew every year. Dream addresses made it easy to visit, and the island’s reputation spread. Given Nintendo’s sensitivity to adult content, it is honestly surprising it lasted five years.
When the dream address was shut down, Churip did not lash out. He apologized and thanked Nintendo for looking the other way.
He knew he was skating on thin ice.
The Part That Stings
After the ban, the community discussion drifted in a darker direction. The island’s residents were mostly the less popular villagers, the ones players leave behind. The idea that they were “sent” here felt like the real adult joke, and it is a little brutal when you say it out loud.
It was always a parody, but it also held up a mirror. That is probably why people could not stop talking about it.