In what is by far one of the genuinely funniest and most bizarre stunts ever pulled by an NFL team, the Detroit Lions have announced their 2020 season schedule from entirely within Animal Crossing: New Horizons. It's honestly a brilliant move on the franchise's part when considering the long gap in sports entertainment caused by this year's COVID-19 pandemic and the incredible mass appeal of the island life simulator.
Letting it loose upon a suddenly housebound world populace, the floodgates of everything that developer Nintendo couldn't ever have expected their game to be used for opened, resulting in some truly ambitious fan creations and player-devised events. That wealth of Animal Crossing: New Horizons content is largely defined by breathtakingly designed islands and faithfully recreated references from other popular media, but some players have really pushed the boundaries of what was thought to be possible with creations like entire mini-game obstacle courses and a bevvy of fan tools. The title's huge popularity has also brought many famous people and organizations into the gaming fold, encouraging celebrities to devise functional in-game talk shows and even giving politicians a new way to reach out to constituents.
The Detroit Lions tweeted a thank-you to Nintendo reading, "Big shout out to @animalcrossing for holding it down while we wait for football season." Accompanying it is the below video, in which the wildly creative Detroit Lions social media team staged an exceptionally well-done presentation made entirely using Animal Crossing: New Horizons gameplay, as well as a few clever edits of dialogue from Tom Nook, Blathers, and Hamlet (who are all a little more biting than many players will remember). Introducing each team the Lions will play throughout the theoretical 2020 football season with in-game skits, the video takes irreverent digs at the New Orleans Saints' "Who Dat?" motto, the Green Bay Packers' Lambeau Field green-and-gold uniform, and even the quarterback of the Tennessee Titans, Ryan Tannehill.
Having obviously brushed up on their Animal Crossing: New Horizons know-how to procure all of the items needed, as well as outfitting their characters in custom clothing designs bearing the Detroits Lions' signature blue and white, the employees behind this schedule announcement deserve a raise. If the Michigan team is wise, they'll at the very least keep those responsible for this virtual presentation on the payroll throughout the quickly worsening economic crisis. That's because it may be a little optimistic to assume that any football team that cares about its players or fans will be hitting the gridiron in September, and they'll want marketing teams capable of engaging fans in as many creative ways as possible while the world finally ramps up testing and other measures needed to wipe out COVID-19.
Professional sports fans and players have been without a decent source of televised entertainment for months now, so it's doubtless that those who can't wait for the NFL to safely return were elated to see a bit of the athletic pride and playful trash-talking that they've been missing in the adorable Animal Crossing: New Horizons format. If other teams and leagues follow in their lead, they can bet that the gaming world will be more than happy to lock arms with the sporting world for a good laugh in this time of crisis and uncertainty.
Source: Detroit Lions
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