Animal Crossing achieves Nintendo record amid lockdown gaming boom

The title was praised by reviewers for enabling people to gather virtually at a time when meeting in person became impossible due to coronavirus lockdown restrictions

More than seven million copies of Animal Crossing: New Horizons have been sold since its release a year ago, Nintendo says (Nintendo/PA)

Animal Crossing has proven to be a lockdown hit for Nintendo, with the latest instalment becoming the firm’s fastest-selling game ever launched in Europe.

Since the release of New Horizons a year ago, more than seven million copies have been sold across the continent, the Japanese gaming giant said.