Two major games launching on the same day may seem like a problem for some people. AAA games are time consuming and expensive endeavors, so in such a situation, most gamers will likely have to choose which game to buy and, if they do purchase both, which one to play first. However, for the dark first-person shooter DOOM Eternal and the innocent life simulator Animal Crossing: New Horizons, a shared release date shouldn't leave too many fans wondering which one to buy.In fact, this singular shared trait has actually managed to join these two polar opposite fandoms in what might be the most wholesome interactions the internet has ever managed. Instead of arguing over which game people should buy on March 20, fans of both franchises have taken a different approach.Over the past few weeks, Twitter and Reddit have been flooded with excited comments and fanart featuring characters from both games in celebration of their up and coming releases. On r/AnimalCrossing and r/DOOM, fans of each game have expressed support for one another with images of the two franchises crossing over in a way that is only possible in fan imaginations.
Most of these images feature the Doom Slayer, a space Marine who shoots demons for a living, and Isabelle, a Shih Tzu secretary who's really good at paperwork, together in various situations. Some, including the Reddit post from u/Genkiz-_ that appears to have started this unlikely friendship, have depicted the two as fans of one another's games. Other works feature Isabelle and Doom Slayer smiling and killing together. Fans have even created and shared crossover videos that show Doom Slayer chatting with Animal Crossing characters or Isabelle plowing through demons using either DOOM guns or weapons she can pick up in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.In the sweetest way, these fanworks have showcased just how ridiculous an Animal Crossing/DOOM crossover would be, since Animal Crossing's home and garden simulation is hugely different from DOOM's first-person shooter, demon-slaying gameplay. Still, the image of Doom Slayer playing a neon red and blue Nintendo Switch on a purple couch or hanging with cute and colorful animals is fun, and it's nice to see that players want to pass on the joy.Even the DOOM Twitter account has joined in on the fun, responding to the announcement of the Animal Crossing Direct like this:
This wasn't the first time the account gave Animal Crossing a shout out, as several months ago, they responded to tweet from Noclip, a YouTube channel which makes crowdfunded documentaries on video games.
The Animal Crossing Twitter has not responded, likely since Nintendo has some obvious reservations about promoting an M-rated game with their family friendly IP. Still, it's cool to see at least one of them engaging in the fun, and that the DOOM Twitter was ahead of the fans on this one.
With so much cruelty and cynicism on the internet, especially within the gaming community, it's refreshing to see these two fandoms spreading positivity. The videos, fanart and posts are only increasing community-driven hype for both games without dragging anyone down in the process.
A shared release date could have easily sparked a rivalry, friendly or otherwise, between Animal Crossing and DOOM fan. Instead, these wildly different groups have come together to share their genuine excitement about these upcoming releases. And if they can do it, maybe there's hope for the rest of the internet after all.
Published by Bethesda Softworks and developed by id Software, DOOM: Eternal will be released on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC and Google Stadia on March 20. A Nintendo Switch version is expected sometime after the game's release on other platforms.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons releases March 20 on the Nintendo Switch.