The Biden-Harris 2020 campaign for U.S. president has introduced official QR designs for Animal Crossing: New Horizons as part of a larger digital strategy to engage voters this November.
Beginning today, September 1st, Animal Crossing: New Horizons players can scan four different custom patterns to use as yard signs — or clothing, face paint, wallpaper, island flag, and whatever else they desire.
These patterns include the official “Biden-Harris” campaign logo, a Joe LGBTQ Pride logo, a “Team Joe” logo, and a design depicting a set of red, white, and blue aviator sunglasses.
Players can easily scan the designs and put them into their game by using the Nintendo Switch Online mobile app, opening the Animal Crossing: New Horizons service, and tapping “Designs” within the NookLink menu.
After scanning the designs via their phone or tablet, players can import them into their game by opening the “Custom Designs” app on their in-game NookPhone; tapping the “+” button will allow players to download whatever they’ve scanned via the Nintendo Switch Online app.
Since the onset of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, political campaigns have needed to rethink how they approach voter engagement; instead of hosting in-person rallies, the Biden campaign has opted for virtual fundraisers, live-streamed events, and holding interviews over web conferencing software.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons has been a huge success across the globe, selling over 22.4 million units worldwide. The Biden-Harris campaign hopes to use the game’s popularity to engage with potential voters.
According to The Verge, in-game events during the coronavirus pandemic have proven successful; an April concert held by rap artist Travis Scott in Fortnite was attended by over 10 million players.
In a statement to The Verge, Christian Tom (director of digital partnerships for the Biden campaign), said: “Animal Crossing is a dynamic, diverse, and powerful platform that brings communities together from across the world. It is an exciting new opportunity for our campaign to engage and connect Biden-Harris supporters as they build and decorate their islands. As we enter the final campaign stretch towards November, this is one way we are finding new creative and innovative ways to meet voters where they are and bring our supporters together.”
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Written by Daniel Dell-Cornejo
Daniel is an editor at Nintendo Wire. Always with his head in the clouds, he is never apart from his creative thoughts – a blessing for an aspiring fiction writer. As a journalist and lifelong gamer, he aims to provide readers with the very best in Nintendo coverage.
