‘Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ director Aya Kyogoku has explained the game’s relaxed stance on gender.

Image Source/ Bang Showbiz

The hugely popular life simulation title has been praised for its flexible view on gender identity, with players – who are never asked to confirm a gender – allowed to use any hair, makeup and clothing on any body.

Aya told the Washington Post:

“Society is shifting to valuing a lot of people’s different identities.

“We basically wanted to create a game where users didn’t really have to think about gender or if they wanted to think about gender, they’re also able to.”

Meanwhile, the game’s producer Hisashi Nogami addressed ‘time travelling’ in the game – which sees users jump into the past or future by changing the system clock – and insisted while it isn’t cheating, the team wouldn’t encouraged it.

Nogami said:

“We think that in order for the players to play for a very long time, and also for players to share the experience with their friends or family, we do think that playing without travelling would probably be the ideal way.”

The team’s comments come after the title has proven hugely popular, breaking the UK record for physical Nintendo Switch sales.