Nintendo has unveiled a new version of the “Close to You” short film, revealing that the recently released teaser was about Pikmin all along. Pikmin fans were already speculating that the teaser could be related to the franchise due to the use of musical cues from the series in the animated movie, but now it’s official.
The Pikmin franchise started in 2001, and it has seen four mainline entries in the years since. Pikmin 4 was released in 2023, obtaining positive reviews from critics and achieving commercial success. Reports indicate that Pikmin 4 has sold over three million units, with more than a third of those sales occurring in Japan, making it the best-selling title in the series. Despite its success, the game did not receive any official DLC.
Nintendo Confirms ‘Close to You’ Was All About Pikmin
An updated version of “Close to You” has appeared on the Nintendo Today app, and the rumors that the short film was a Pikmin teaser have been confirmed. In the updated version of the animated movie, all Pikmin are visible and can be seen wreaking havoc in the house. The original version of the teaser depicted a toddler whose pacifier is picked up by an invisible force while their mother is not around, puzzling fans who could not understand how it related to any of Nintendo’s franchises.
It remains to be seen what the teaser is actually for, but there are some major theories about it. Many speculate that it could either mean that Pikmin 5 will be unveiled soon or that Pikmin 4 will finally receive DLC. Considering the setting of the short film, it’s possible that this rumored DLC would take place inside a house, which could be fairly interesting, considering how the franchise is typically focused on home gardens. Pikmin 4 added nighttime exploration to the franchise for the first time, so it would not be surprising to see more of this fresh element appearing in new DLC. While Pikmin 4 allowed players to venture inside a human house, it was far from the game’s main focus.
Alternatively, the teaser could also be related to a Pikmin movie, or even a Switch 2 port. Earlier this year, some rumors indicated that Pikmin 4 could receive a Switch 2 upgrade, but this has not happened just yet. Hopefully, Nintendo will confirm what the teaser meant soon, as this reveal certainly marks an exciting time for fans of the franchise, which has seen renewed interest since the release of Pikmin 4.
- Released
-
July 21, 2023
- ESRB
-
e
- Developer(s)
-
Nintendo
- Publisher(s)
-
Nintendo
