Animal Crossing: New Horizons continues its reign as one of the best-selling Switch games, and it looks like Nintendo is extremely aware of that.  They aren’t going to let the hype train slow down any time soon.  On March 20th, New Horizons will celebrate it’s one year anniversary and there are tons of new editions just over the “horizon” to check out.  We’ve got new updates, controllers, and villagers (to either shower with gifts or bonk on the head with our nets) to look forward to, so let’s take a look.

Hello Kitty Sanrio Collaboration Pack

The Animal Crossing Sanrio Collaboration Pack comes to the US for the first time on 3/26, exclusively at @Target! You’ll be able to use these vibrantly designed amiibo cards in compatible games. @Sanrio #ACNH pic.twitter.com/SVqQSekQTj

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) January 26, 2021

The crossover of the century is here.  Yes, we will be getting Hello Kitty themed items… as long as you can purchase the pack of Amiibo cards they come from.  Each pack of cards from the ‘Sanrio Collaboration Pack’ comes with new items and cute little villagers that aren’t currently available in New Horizons.  You can’t pre-order them yet, but they’re going to be available on March 26th, 2021 and will be a Target exclusive.  Personally, I’m more excited for the Mario-themed items coming in the March update, but my wife has already threatened me that if I don’t get at least one of these new Amiibo, she will sell my PS5.

Isabelle & Tom Nook Controllers

These new Isabelle and Tom Nook controllers that are officially licensed by Nintendo look awesome.  The colors pop and they’d be a great addition to anyone’s Switch set-up.  They’re available for pre-order right now on Amazon and have a release date of February 14th, 2021.  This Valentine’s Day, forget about buying flowers and make the right choice.  This will win your loved ones over forever.

You can pre-order the Isabelle Controller here and the Tom Nook Controller here for $25.

Free Updates

Nintendo will also continue to pump out free updates for Animal Crossing: New Horizons.  They’re nothing fancy (except Halloween, I loved that one) but it is always nice to see new things to do coming out on a regular basis.  Nintendo has even mentioned that they plan on supporting the game with free updates for the next three years.  You can check out the next update in the trailer down below which arrives on January 28th.  This will bring Pave, the Festivale and some sick new dance moves to your repertoire of emotes.

Are you still in love with Animal Crossing: New Horizons?  It was one of my family’s favorite games last year and my wife and I still try to play every day.  I’m almost finished donating all the critters to my museum.  I don’t think I’ll ever finish my art exhibit though.  That seems like a lost cause since Redd never wants to show up.

Just a heads up, if you buy stuff using the provided links, The Dad may collect a small commission.

Human or animal, surgery is no fun. After a stressful hospital stay, all anyone recovering from an operation wants is to relax and heal in the comfort of their own home. Chris Evans, dog dad extraordinaire, has proven time and time again that he’ll do just about anything for his rescue dog, Dodger. The pair plays together, naps together, and are there for each other through thick and thin.

Without a doubt, Dodger is one lucky dog. He had a tough start, as an adult dog living in a shelter – puppies go quickly, but some adult dogs wait years before finding their forever home. In his first major stroke of luck, Dodger was discovered by Evans while the Captain America actor was filming a movie nearby. Ever since, the pair have been inseparable.

Even after finding his best friend, Dodger hit additional roadblocks. In July, Evans posted a photo on his Dodger-filled Instagram, a picture of his beloved pup recovering from surgery.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Chris Evans (@chrisevans)

Dodger recovered well after his first surgery, but according to Evans, the resilient boxer-mix needed a second hip replacement. Like any doting dad, Chris was by Dodger’s side as soon as he was out of the animal hospital. This time though, Chris had an adorable surprise for the groggy pup.

“Hip replacement #2 completed! Such a trooper. He’ll be back in action in no time,” Chris shared on Instagram.

After the photo of Dodger’s stitched-up leg, Chris shared a photo featuring some slightly less professional, but extremely important stitches. The doctor was none other than the actor himself, and the patient? Well, Dodger’s other best friend.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Chris Evans (@chrisevans)

“Yesterday while he was in surgery, so was his favorite lion (which had been on IR since November after a nasty tear). I’ve never sewn anything before but I’m pretty proud of my hack job,” Chris said. “They’re both happily recovering in each other’s company.”

There’s no such thing as a perfect parent, dog, or human. But doing little things to show you care, even if they’re out of your comfort zone, truly makes you one of the greats.

“The Silence of the Lambs” was partly about a man named Buffalo Bill who entertained a guest in his home. OK, he may have been a serial killer and the guest may have been kidnapped, but the new owner of the home featured in the film is hoping that will give it just enough charm for people to want to pay money to stay the night. Buffalo Bill’s house is becoming a Bed and Breakfast.

The new owner of the house, who bought it earlier this year for nearly $300k, plans to do some small renovations to make it more accommodating but will be keeping all of the creepy old-wallpaper, pocket doors, wood trim, and other furnishings that will remind fans of the movie.

The basement does NOT, however, have a well to torture victims in. The owner WILL, however, be adding said well. Though he claims it’s mostly for photo ops.

The three-story, four-bedroom house just outside Pittsburgh looks just as creepy as you remember it from the movie. And the timing is good, in a sense, as the film nears its 30th anniversary and the franchise receives a revival of sorts with the new “Clarice” show.

One of the previous owners of the home was an FBI agent, which is a fun little fact for such a creepy home. And soon you will be able to (try to) sleep in that creepy home.

‘Silence of the Lambs’ house in Pennsylvania becoming bed and breakfast https://t.co/FfA5GQvYv4 pic.twitter.com/f9eJnAiCpm

— WKBN 27 First News (@WKBN) February 19, 2021

Guests will be sure to receive only the finest lotion to put on their skin, and a sleepless night full of nightmares.

Tomorrow, Pokemon celebrates it’s 25th anniversary… which is kind of insane to think about since that means I was 10 when the very first Pokemon game released.

Anyway, now that I’ve just realized how old I actually am, Nintendo dropped a couple of new announcements for fans today during a ‘Pokemon Presents’ livestream.

The first announcement was for Nintendo Switch remakes of Pokemon Diamond & Pearl.  Originally released on the Nintendo DS back in 2006, these new versions will both be releasing later this year and feature updated graphics on top of the classic Pokemon gameplay.

The other announcement is actually a pretty big deal since we’ve never seen this kind of gameplay before in the franchise.  A Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild style game called Pokemon Legends: Arceus will be releasing early 2022 and will break new ground for the beloved series.  It takes place in the Sinnoh region (the same one as Diamond & Pearl) but features a vast open-world for you to explore.  Check out the trailer down below.

Well Nintendo, ya got me.  It looks like my kids and I are going to be catching them all… again.

Every job has different metrics for measuring success. Maybe you have regular performance reviews, sales goals to hit, or maybe being successful at your job means landing a freaking rover on Mars. Father and engineer Alejandro Miguel San Martin has worked for NASA for 35 years, and in that time, he’s made history time and time again. This time, however, San Martin’s daughter was able to capture the incredible moment on camera.

Because of COVID, NASA’s work on their most recent rover, Perseverance, has looked a bit different. Rather than working alongside his team in person, San Martin turned his daughter’s childhood bedroom into a makeshift mission control room.

“Touchdown! Never thought my childhood bedroom would become my dads covid mission control – but could not be more proud of the Jet Propulsion Lab EDL team!!!” Madeleine San Martín shared on Instagram. “5/5 for Mars Rover Landings, let’s celebrate!!”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Madeleine San Martín (@maddievsm)

In the heartwarming video captured by the NASA engineer’s daughter, San Martin quite literally jumps out of his chair with excitement upon learning that the Perseverance mission was a success.

“YES!!!” San Martin exclaims, throwing his hands in the air after receiving confirmation that Perseverance safely touched down. He kisses his daughter and puts his head in his hands, watching with tears in his eyes as his peers celebrate on screen. “Unbelievable” he marvels, both laughing and crying.

After 35 years with NASA, San Martin has helped land five rovers safely on Mars. Even after experiencing such massive success four times previously, the thrill of making a monumental mark in history clearly doesn’t get old. This NASA dad’s work is out of this world, and San Martin is over the moon about it.

Sony held a ‘State of Play’ livestream today to show off some of the new games coming to PS4 and PS5 in 2021.  We didn’t hear any news on highly anticipated releases like God of War: Ragnarok or Horizon 2: Forbidden West, but that’s okay because we’ve got all these to tide us over until then.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake gets a PS5 upgrade

Final Fantasy 7 is one of the greatest RPG’s of all time, and I don’t think anyone thought the remake was going to turn out just as good as it did.  I was blown away and this updated PS5 version will contain a new playable episode featuring the lovable thief Yuffie.  If you already own the PS4 version, it’ll be a free upgrade to PS5.  You can transfer your saved data too, which is always awesome.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade will release for PS5 on June 10th, 2021

New Trailer for Kena: Bridge of Spirits

Kena: Bridge of Spirits is going to be a gorgeous, story-driven action-adventure with fast-paced combat, and it’s nice to see an actual release date attached to it.  Kena was originally supposed to release in the first quarter of 2021, but now we know for sure we’ll be playing it this August.

Kena: Bridge of Spirits releases for PS4 & PS5 on August 24th, 2021

Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time coming to Playstation 5

It looks like we’re getting an enhanced version of Crash Bandicoot 4!  This PS5 version will feature faster loading times, save transfers, 3D Audio Support, Adaptive Triggers and other DualSense features, and the game will run at 4K/60 FPS.  Oh, and it’ll be a free upgrade as well if you already own the PS4 version.

Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time PS5 upgrade releases on March 12th, 2021

New Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach Trailer

My eight-year-old son can’t get enough of these Fight Nights at Freddy’s (or FNAF as he calls them) games.  I’ve tried playing them with him, but man the jump scares get me every time.  This next installment allows you to venture around an open mall instead of just being stuck inside one area.  Just like the other FNAF games, you’ll use an assortment of gadgets to try and protect yourself as you’re hunted down by killer animatronics.  Can’t wait to get suckered into playing this one too!

Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach will release for PS4 & PS5 in 2021

Oddworld: Soulstorm will launch in April

Oddworld has been around since the PS1 days, and it’s great to see it making a return on next-gen consoles.  Oddworld is a unique side-scroller where you take on the role of reluctant hero Abe.  You’ll have to solve various puzzles to rescue your fellow mudokons from certain doom, and what’s cool is if you have an active Playstation Plus subscription, this will be free for you to download when it releases!

Oddworld: Soulstorm releases for PS4 & PS5 on April 6th, 2021

Knockout City Gameplay Spotlight

This team-based, dodgeball battle royale looks like a blast.  It’s coming to both Playstation 4 and Nintendo Switch with cross-platform functionality, so if you and your kids have different systems, you’ll still be able to play together.  If you want to check out the game early, you can sign up for the Cross-Platform beta at the official Knockout City website.

Knockout City releases for PS4 & Nintendo Switch on May 21st, 2021

Time to get your Martial Arts moves on in SIFU

SIFU looks badass.  No details were announced regarding the story, but the gameplay looks like hand-to-hand combat mixed with what seems to be some kind of aging mechanic.  When you lose, your character gets older.  Not sure how that will tie into gameplay, but I’m intrigued.  Give us more info please Sony.

SIFU will release on PS5 in 2021

“My dad was literally my biggest fan, anything I did he gained an interest in.

I got my Paramedic license in 2018 and gave him my first patch. It’s still on his desk where he propped it up to be seen every day. He then joined the local CERT team and told anyone who dared come within earshot that his son was a medic.

If I absolutely needed money, food, or gas as a budding adult making my way, he would take care of it – despite not really having the money to do so. He was always at my games growing up despite working the overnight shift and having a part time job in the mornings. I don’t know how he did it.

He got to meet my two boys that made him a grandpa and I could see the joy in his eyes when he was around them. Unfortunately, he was taken from us suddenly in January of 2020.

When I was 20 I went through a breakup and had to move home and was pretty beat up about it. My dad repainted the bathroom in our basement and put up a dartboard in my room trying to do whatever he could to ease my fall back in the nest.

I was home for his services in NH and opened the door to the bathroom he painted and saw him standing there encouraging me like the day I moved home, then walked back to my old room and walked across the throw line he spray painted on the floor and cried my face off.

We will miss him forever and we are all in a better place in life, directly related to his sacrifices, and I strive to do the same to honor him. Call your dad if you still can boys…. you never know when he will be gone.”

– Patrick Kelley

Want to share a story about fatherhood? Email [email protected]

The Irwin family is constantly coming up with new and touching ways to keep Steve Irwin’s memory alive. The Crocodile Hunter made waves both in conservation and in his personal life, quickly becoming a shining example of what it means to be both an activist and a loving father. Steve’s two children were both extremely young when they tragically lost him, but over the years they’ve made a point to follow in his courageous footsteps, picking up where he left off and bringing him along for the journey.

When Steve and Terri’s oldest child Bindi announced that she was expecting her first child, keeping her dad’s memory alive seemed to take on a whole new meaning. Not only was she keeping Steve’s memory alive for herself and everyone who loved him, but also for her unborn daughter – Steve’s first grandchild.

Bindi and her husband Chandler are quickly approaching the birth of their first baby, a daughter who is already surrounded by love. The young couple has taken to calling their quickly-growing daughter “Baby Wildlife Warrior,” a fitting title with a heartwarming origin.

In an interview with The Bump, Bindi explained, “My dad was the first person to create the term ‘Wildlife Warrior’. Being a Wildlife Warrior means to stand up and speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. We’ve been referring to our daughter as our Baby Wildlife Warrior.”

Bindi continued, “I know in my heart that she will forge her own path to make our planet a better place through her connections with the gorgeous animals that we protect here at Australia Zoo and the conservation work we do with animal species around the globe.”

Today, Wildlife Warriors is a foundation focused on conservation. Formerly known as the Steve Irwin Conservation Foundation, the organization educates the public and protects all forms of threatened and endangered wildlife. Bindi learned to love nature and wildlife from her beloved dad, and as her baby’s nickname suggests, she hopes to continue the tradition with the next generation.

The Mighty Ducks was one of the greatest trilogies in sports movie history (because honestly, how many were there really) and the beloved franchise is just weeks away from making its return. “Mighty Ducks: Game Changers” hits Disney+ on March 26 and we have our first full trailer for the series.

It starts by establishing one team in the area as a dominating powerhouse of hockey. One kid who is cut from the team, and a mom who just wants youth sports to BE FUN, tries to start their own team, but they need a coach. Enter a greatly reluctant Gordon Bombay (sound familiar?).

Only this time, The Mighty Ducks are the powerhouse, fun-draining youth hockey program. And Emilio Estevez gets dragged onto the ice this time by a mom, not by a judge.

Still, there’s a lot to like from the first trailer. If it sounds like the first movie, well, that formula rocked, and it was great. Plus, youth sports has only gotten vastly more ridiculous since the early 1990s, meaning there is a lot more to lampoon and play with. One of the parents in the trailer brought a trainer AND a sports psychologist to her kid’s hockey practice, which seems over the top but also not by that much.

Youth sports ARE supposed to be fun, a point Lauren Graham’s titular mom character makes repeatedly in the trailer. And seeing Gordon Bombay step back onto the ice is like seeing Luke Skywalker pick up a lightsaber again. The nostalgia alone is going to make it a must-watch.

Happy Gilmore is one of Adam Sandler’s most memorable films. And now the two stars of the movie are talking sequel, only a short 25 years after the original. Add in the fact that anything that could possibly make any money is being rebooted, and we’ve never been closer to the reality of a Happy Gilmore 2.

Adam Sandler kicked off the hype for a revival after he recreated the iconic Happy swing on the golf course in honor of the film’s 25^th anniversary. “That’s for your, Shooter!” he yelled. Shooter McGavin himself (in character) didn’t take too kindly to it and responded with his own social media post.

Happy loves you all! Thanks for everything! pic.twitter.com/p1aY9JcFWh

— Adam Sandler (@AdamSandler) February 16, 2021

My response @AdamSandler pic.twitter.com/Wa4Y8lh6rJ

— Shooter McGavin (@ShooterMcGavin_) February 16, 2021

The original clip from Sandler was viewed more than 17 million times, and the two stars were on Dan Patrick’s show talking about the movie and were asked point-blank if they’d make another. Both Sandler and Chris McDonald (Shooter) straight up said they’d love to do another.

Like for Happy Gilmore 2. RT for @ChampionsTour featuring Happy and Shooter.@AdamSandler and @ShooterMcGavin_ joined the @dpshow today. @Peacocktv pic.twitter.com/2OxL1RPIus

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) February 24, 2021

Sandler said there isn’t a current discussion about making another, but Netflix will let the guy do whatever he wants, so if both stars are on board, it’s an easy sell. Given the amount of social media buzz just off a few clips, it’s enough to make any studio salivate, and a sequel wouldn’t be hard to pull off.

In this era, everything that’s old becomes new again. Disney is pulling The Mighty Ducks playbook back verbatim, it seems. Netflix already rebooted Full House, a beloved (yet boring) sitcom from the 90s, and Peacock brought back Saved By The Bell (this reboot is actually funny).

Put Happy and Shooter on the senior tour, and go crazy with it. If you build it, they will come. It might be the only thing that could get people excited about Subway again.