Nintendo Deletes Infamous Animal Crossing Adult Island

leading-relaxed mb-4">Nintendo has officially removed a long-running, fan-created island from Animal Crossing: New Horizons, ending a five-year chapter of creative subversion. The island, known as Adults' Island (otonatachi no shima), was a meticulously crafted parody of a Japanese red-light district that captivated streamers and players alike.

For years, this digital space existed within the family-friendly game, offering a distorted yet humorous take on the familiar world of Animal Crossing. Its deletion marks the end of an era for a community that had embraced its unique, adult-oriented charm.

Created by a dedicated player using the handle @churip_ccc on X (formerly Twitter), Adults' Island first appeared in 2020, almost as old as the game itself. The island was not an explicit space but a clever, suggestive parody that turned the game's wholesome image on its head.

It mimicked the atmosphere of a nostalgic entertainment district, reminiscent of Japan's mid-to-late Showa period (1926-1989). The visual style drew comparisons to the Wall Market from Final Fantasy 7 and the parody of Leisure Suit Larry's Lost Wages.

The level of detail was immense, featuring:

• Colorful Japanese signboards and vending machines
• Arcade cabinets and pachinko parlors
• A 24-hour sauna named 'Love Attack'
• A beach-front love hotel with classical statues

Upon arriving at the island via plane, visitors were immediately greeted by a Free Information Center. While seemingly innocent, this location parodied real-life establishments in Japanese nightlife districts that advertise adult services. Inside, walls were plastered with glamorous posters of Animal Crossing characters advertising shops, including a Hong Kong 'massage' parlor.

The island's humor extended to its residents and locations. A smoking area featured a villager revealing that the beloved character Isabelle smokes Seven Stars cigarettes. Popular characters' homes were given a 'naughty twist,' such as Blathers' room, which contained pictures of Isabelle surrounding his bed and used tissues on the floor.

Other notable locations included:

• A cabaret club
• A theme park parody of 'It's a Small World' that had gone bust because 'there are no children here'
• A dark employee hut with futons crammed on a dirt floor
• A 'Gorilla Magazine' parodying publications that encourage young women into nighttime work

The island gained significant traction among Japanese streamers, who featured it prominently in their content since its debut. Its removal has sparked an outpouring of nostalgia and appreciation from the community.

The island's creator, @churip_ccc, addressed the deletion on X, posting a tweet that garnered over 3.1 million views. The message was one of gratitude rather than resentment.

Nintendo, I apologize from the bottom of my heart. Rather, thank you for turning a blind eye these past five years. To everyone who visited Adults' Island and all the streamers who featured it, thank you.

Fans echoed this sentiment, mourning the loss of a unique creative space. One user reminisced about the initial shock of discovery: 'The shock of ‘you can do something like THIS?!’, the points of interest that made me think ‘you’re recreating THAT?!’, the sense of style, the black humor... I really liked all of it.' Another simply stated, 'It’s such a miracle that it lasted that long.'

Despite the island's suggestive nature and popularity since 2020, Nintendo allowed it to exist for five years. The timing of the deletion has raised questions about the company's enforcement policies.

It is possible that Nintendo was aware of the island's existence for some time, given its prominence in the Japanese streaming community. However, the specific reason for the 2026 removal remains unclear.

Speculation points to the recent release of the Animal Crossing: New Horizons Switch 2 update as a potential trigger. Major game updates often prompt developers to review and clean up existing game data, which may have led to the discovery and subsequent deletion of the Adults' Island Dream Address.

The deletion of Adults' Island represents more than just the removal of a fan project; it signifies the loss of a culturally rich, community-driven artifact within a mainstream game. For five years, it existed as a testament to the creativity and humor of the Animal Crossing player base.

While the digital island is gone, its memory persists through screenshots and the stories shared by those who visited. As one fan noted, 'From now on, I’ll enjoy it through the screenshots.' The island's legacy lives on in the community's collective memory, a reminder of the unexpected worlds players can build within even the most wholesome of games.