‘Animal Crossing: New Leaf’ Gets June Release Date

Nintendo has announced that Animal Crossing: New Leaf will be released for the Nintendo 3DS this summer.

The latest installment in the beloved franchise has been available in Japan since late last year. According to Joystiq, the company finally dropped dates for the game’s release in the United States and the UK.

Animal Crossing: New Leaf was unveiled during the North American Nintendo Direct on Thursday. In addition to giving anxious fans exact release dates, the company also showed off the game in action. Video of the announcement has been embedded below.

Siliconera explains that the presentation is essentially the same on released in Japan back in October of 2012. To promote the game’s upcoming release in North America, Nintendo subtitled the original video and presented it to the masses.

Although the release of Animal Crossing: New Leaf is certainly good news for Nintendo 3DS fans, it wasn’t the only announcement made during the Nintendo Direct presentation. Nintendo president Satoru Iwata also unveiled Mario Golf: World Tour while wearing a Luigi hat.

Iwata said of the upcoming title:

“We are developing a new Mario Golf game for Nintendo 3DS. It includes deep golf gameplay that those familiar with the sport will appreciate but also straightforward controls that anyone can enjoy. The game features a wide range of golf courses from traditional designs to those inspired by Mario’s world as well as many familiar faces and game mechanics.”

Nintendo 3DS owners should have plenty to keep them busy over the summer. Mario Golf: World Tour will be available on the handheld system later this year as well. Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon is also on the docket; the game is set for release in the States on March 24.

You can watch the entire Nintendo Direct presentation below.

As for Animal Crossing: New Leaf, gamers living in the United States can pick up their copy on June 9. European fans can find the title on retail shelves beginning June 14.