This Project Lets You Visit Singapore's Island of Sentosa in Animal Crossing

As everyone stays home in the fight against Covid-19, Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) has teamed with BBH Singapore to launch Sentosa on Animal Crossing, a digital reimagination of Singapore’s very own Sentosa island in the popular Nintendo Switch game, Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

The launch also marks the first Animal Crossing: New Horizons island getaway to be developed by a Singapore brand.

Released in March 2020, Animal Crossing: New Horizons has quickly gained a following globally with players escaping to their own virtual paradise while at home, transforming “uninhabited islands” into perfect getaways that their families and friends can also “visit”.

Located at the southern tip of Singapore and minutes from the city, Sentosa is known to many as The State of Fun, offering a diverse array of unique leisure experiences, all on one island. Sentosa on Animal Crossing thus unlocks further possibilities by leveraging on Sentosa’s iconic attractions and offerings to bring its island charm into players’ homes. Players visiting Sentosa on Animal Crossing will be able to explore a recreation of Sentosa – from beach bars to nature trails and even a spot for some yoga by the beach (refer to annex for visuals of the offerings on the virtual Sentosa).

To #maketime for a virtual break and escape to Sentosa, players can register for one of the 36 free slots available each day to visit Sentosa on Animal Crossing (refer to “Getting to Sentosa on Animal Crossing” for details on registration).

Rebecca Ash, head of strategy, BBH Singapore said: “Necessity is the mother of invention - the pandemic has seen people find creative ways to carry on with parts of their pre-Covid lives, and the whimsical world of Animal Crossing has provided a timely escape from the depths of confinement. Amazingly, how people were spending their time in the game mirrored how they chose to spend their time on the island - from exploring to eating, dancing to dating. The opportunity just presented itself”.

Omar Sotomayor, creative director at BBH Singapore said: "While cooped up at home, the creative team had this brilliant idea of creating a getaway island that allows everyone to get away while staying safe at home. That idea gave birth to Sentosa Crossing. Everything on the virtual island has been painstakingly designed so that it reflects the attractions on the real island. But it goes beyond that and moves Sentosa into the Animal Crossing world. So in the coming weeks, Sentosa's social media channels will broadcast the life and experience on this new island, and we’ll also be hosting tours and events."