If you’ve seen the Animal Crossing: New Horizons hype train on any social media platform, then you’ve probably seen the undying fervor towards one villager in particular: Raymond. Raymond is a ‘smug cat villager’, who players can invite to live on their island either by spending a lot of time and effort looking for him in the game, or through the dark depths of a discord server. The enthusiasm for getting Raymond on the players’ island got to the point of something darker. PokéNinja felt that the fervor around the villager was wrong, so he hatched a plan to give Raymond to anyone who asks for him, as Polygon detailed:
“When you’re a father and you see certain things happening,” PokéNinja told Polygon in a private Twitter message, “It hits a little differently sometimes.”
While New Horizons has broken into the mainstream, it also holds a unique appeal to children, who love its cast of bright and quirky animal friends. And with a growing economy where virtual items are being sold for actual tender, the temptation to buy whatever you covet is a constant one — especially when the alternative is spending dozens of hours grinding Mystery Island visits for a tiny chance of getting the villager you want.
“I kind of envision these kids begging their parents for the most popular villager in the game, and I know there are many parents (especially now) that simply can’t afford to do that,” PokéNinja mused.
And so the content creator hatched a plan. Using a save editor running a hacked version of the game, PokéNinja decided to just ... materialize as many Raymonds as he could. While it’s not possible to import the feline via the use of amiibo, there are no such restrictions in a save editor, which allows you to generate anything that’s in the game. He then put out a call on social media, letting people know that if they wanted Raymond, they could have him.
No catch. No need to follow or share the message announcing the giveaway. No bells or Nook Miles Ticket required. If you expressed interest and had an empty lot for him, Raymond could be yours.
He’s a real hero! I wonder if he still gives away Raymond? I haven’t found Raymond in my mystery island visits in the game.
image via Polygon