Does 'Animal Crossing' Feature Nintendo's First Openly Gay Characters?

Nintendo's latest Switch game Animal Crossing: New Horizons has been breaking all sorts of sales records all over the world, and rightfully so. The latest installment of the hugely popular Animal Crossing franchise is the perfect lighthearted and fun antidote for the uncertain times we currently live in. But besides offering players a quick break from our harsh realities, did you know that the game could also possibly be offering up some much-needed LGBTQ+ representation to the Nintendo lineup as well?!?

According to Video Games Chronicle, there are many queer moments in the new Animal Crossing game, like a character named CJ referring to his male partner named Flick in the cutest (yet the most normal, casual) way ever!

But the LGBTQ+ rep doesn't stop there! As Twitter user @taecrossing points out, another Animal Crossing character named Merry loves talking about her favorite romantic comedy comic which features two princesses in love. 

When it comes to actual gameplay, Video Game Chronicle also reports that players can wear any type of clothing they want (regardless of gender identity) and that binary gender markers like "boy" and "girl" have been totally removed.

So basically, there's a boatload of fun, happy, inclusive queer stuff going on in New Horizons! And the gaymers of the world aren't afraid to let everyone know how exciting it all is! 

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is available now on Nintendo Switch.