What do you think the anniversary animal is going to be?

[DragonNTiger]

Still voting for Grey Crown Crane.

 

[YesIndeed]

If I had to put money on it, I’d say the American Black Bear, simply because I don’t really see any more North American packs coming our way but it is very iconic and we haven’t had a bear in a long time. Maybe if Frontier really wanted to smash it out of the park they could give us all three of our remaining bears - the sloth, the spectacled and the American Black. They’re easy reskins and would give Asian, North American and South American representation, this would be nice to finish off given we got the lemur (African) and the deer (predominately European) in the previous two anniversary’s - this could be our last anniversary after all!

Some of the suggestions here I just don’t see tbh, it has to be unique but also somewhat clone like. I can’t see the Perentie as I’d say it’s almost too clone like, especially as we recently got the, somewhat ill-received, Asian water monitor. I could’ve seen the AWM as the anniversary animal if we hadn’t already received it though.

Some other options I could see, rather unique but still somewhat clone like:

• African Spurred Tortoise (I actually think this could be quite likely)
• Grey-Crowned Crane (iconic and more terrestrial than the red-crowned, also visually very different)
• Ocelot (I’m not sure we’re going to get another neotropical pack but it’s a pretty big omission and would be easy to make).
• Greater Rhea (the last of the abc ratites and arguably the most common in zoos + more SA representation, was arguably edged out of the grasslands DLC by the emu but still deserves to be in the roster!)
• Lion-Tailed Macaque (very unique in design and fairly highly requested by the community, another primate and could look really good driven how well Frontier are making animals atm).
• Ring-Tailed Coati (I’m not sure how this would fit in any potential future DLCs and it’s highly requested and fairly unique).

Tbh that’s largely it. There’s others I’d see more likely in upcoming DLCs (Gelada, Pallas’ Cat, Tree Kangaroo, Aye-Aye, Sulawesi Crested Macaque, Tasmanian Devil, Wolverine etc.) and there’s others I’d like but think are ‘too’ cloney (South American Tapir, Nile Crocodile, Barbary Macaque, European Wisent etc.)

You obviously haven't seen areal perentie before because the differences between them and another monitor is way different than 2 black bears which just have a slightly different fur pattern.

 

[CharlieXGaming]

It can’t be a species we would get in one of the next two DLCs so that rules out things like the Spectacled Bear who probably would be in a Highlands Pack in the fall or winter.

Also can’t be a very popular Animal ruling out things like Secretary, Baboon or Mara. These would need to sell their own packs as celebrity animals, if we got Secretary Bird, it cant be in a possible Safari pack in 2024.

My bets would be on either the Grey Crowned Crane which is my personal hope. It can easily go off of the Red Crowned Crane. Though I have doubts because of the inflating throat balloon and the “crown” on top of its head. My other hopes would be either Perentie, Spurred Tortoise (since I doubt we’ll get another reptile this year in a DLC), North American River Otter (just a fun addition) or the Masai Giraffe. A lot of the animals in the base game seem to have “fresher” versions of themselves (Black and Blue Wildebeest, Nile and Asian monitor). I think the giraffe can follow this pattern and I would love to see one with the quality we have now.

 

[Fallax]

It can’t be a species we would get in one of the next two DLCs so that rules out things like the Spectacled Bear who probably would be in a Highlands Pack in the fall or winter.

Also can’t be a very popular Animal ruling out things like Secretary, Baboon or Mara. These would need to sell their own packs as celebrity animals, if we got Secretary Bird, it cant be in a possible Safari pack in 2024.

My bets would be on either the Grey Crowned Crane which is my personal hope. It can easily go off of the Red Crowned Crane. Though I have doubts because of the inflating throat balloon and the “crown” on top of its head. My other hopes would be either Perentie, Spurred Tortoise (since I doubt we’ll get another reptile this year in a DLC), North American River Otter (just a fun addition) or the Masai Giraffe. A lot of the animals in the base game seem to have “fresher” versions of themselves (Black and Blue Wildebeest, Nile and Asian monitor). I think the giraffe can follow this pattern and I would love to see one with the quality we have now.

Grey-Crowned Crane is more popular than Mara.... which is less popular than the Red Deer was...

 

[CharlieXGaming]

Grey-Crowned Crane is more popular than Mara.... which is less popular than the Red Deer was...

True, but the Crane wouldn’t be a headline animal for a pack. If we were to get a Safari Pack the Secretary bird would be the headliner, and we wouldn’t get two birds in the same pack. Only other option for it would be in an avian pack which is unlikely. I just really want the Crane too .

 

[Orkan]

Though I have doubts because of the inflating throat balloon and the “crown” on top of its head.

They could use the same system they did for the porcupine for the crown. The throat thing might be a new animation but that’s it

 

[PnGLINNyo]

That would be the best thing ever since It’s actually the only remaster mod I am currently using all the time

I'd say that plus a Brazilian Tapir to pair with it

 

[Spiderhawk]

I could see
Pallas cat: reskin of sand cat
Sandhill crane: red crowned crane
Perentie: Asian water monitor
Caribbean flamingo: Greater flamingo
Bighorn sheep: Dall sheep

 

[Chuditch]

I can’t see the Perentie as I’d say it’s almost too clone like, especially as we recently got the, somewhat ill-received, Asian water monitor. I could’ve seen the AWM as the anniversary animal if we hadn’t already received it though.

Not sure I understand this take, the perentie is quite different than the varanids we currently have in build (they're very lean for a monitor of their size, built for speed), biome, distribution and niche. The AWM was mainly criticised for how heavily it overlapped with the Nile monitor (same build, biome and niche) but the perentie doesn't have this issue at all.

 

[YesIndeed]

I'd say that plus a Brazilian Tapir to pair with it

Get the brazzlian tapir for Anniversary so that they have a reason to update the Malayan and add tapir deep diving while their at it. That actually dosent sound to bad.

 

[CharlieXGaming]

Pallas cat: reskin of sand cat

I doubt we’ll get Pallas Cat as an anniversary cause it’s a perfect addition in a Highlands Pack/Animal Pack.

 

[CharlieXGaming]

Get the brazzlian tapir for Anniversary so that they have a reason to update the Malayan and add tapir deep diving while they’re at it. That actually dosent sound to bad.

Watch them add Brazilian Tapir and not address the Malayan Tapir

 

[YesIndeed]

Not sure I understand this take, the perentie is quite different than the varanids we currently have in build (they're very lean for a monitor of their size, built for speed), biome, distribution and niche. The AWM was mainly criticised for how heavily it overlapped with the Nile monitor (same build, biome and niche) but the perentie doesn't have this issue at all.

It's crazy how their the 2nd longest but only like the 6th heaviest or something. They really are skinny Bois.

 

[CharlieXGaming]

Some of the suggestions here I just don’t see tbh, it has to be unique but also somewhat clone like. I can’t see the Perentie as I’d say it’s almost too clone like, especially as we recently got the, somewhat ill-received, Asian water monitor. I could’ve seen the AWM as the anniversary animal if we hadn’t already received it though.

So a Perentie isnt unique but the Black Bear is? Its barely distinguishable from the Formosan Bear

 

[Calleo]

You obviously haven't seen areal perentie before because the differences between them and another monitor is way different than 2 black bears which just have a slightly different fur pattern.

Not really. It’d just be a fourth varanid with a slightly lighter frame and lighter colouration, and the second in the space of like 6 months. I just don’t see it happening, not to mention people were generally underwhelmed at the AWM in Tropical. The point about overlap with the Nile Monitor is pretty mute too, given desert is one of the Nile Monitor’s biomes and most build I see for it are desert themed…
Nothing against the perentie but I would bet big money that the third, and potentially final, anniversary animal is not going to be a fourth species of monitor lizard…

On the other hand, we haven’t had a bear in the last 8 DLCs (since the sun bear) and American Black Bears look pretty damn distinct in coat texture, size and shapes to Moon Bears. Plus they’re going to be popular with the NA fanbase which is probably the largest. I’m a European player so probably wouldn’t even use it, but I think it’s got a good chance…

The DLC doesn’t have to be ‘unique’ per say, as obviously all the bears are somewhat cloney, but it has to be memorable and stand out - a species that is iconic or popular in some way. The BW Ruffed Lemur was a very obvious inclusion given we had two of the three common in zoos lemur trifecta already. The red deer was a quite gaping omission from the Europe pack given how commonly they’re paired with fallow deer in Europe, can rarely see one without the other. It’s just got to be an animal that is fairly easy to make, but is an obvious omission and should be in the game once content is finished. If the game finishes without an American Black Bear people will notice, I’m not sure anyone would pick the game up once the content cycle is over and say ‘wow where’s the perentie?’ - it’s only Aussie players that might notice that..

 

[Captain Callum]

a perfect addition in a Highlands Pack/Animal Pack

Insert ramble on why hamadryas baboon was a perfect addition for grasslands/arid packs

 

[CharlieXGaming]

On the other hand, we haven’t had a bear in the last 8 DLCs (since the sun bear) and American Black Bears look pretty damn distinct in coat texture, size and shapes to Moon Bears. Plus they’re going to be popular with the NA fanbase which is probably the largest. I’m a European player so probably wouldn’t even use it, but I think it’s got a good chance…

The anniversary animal is always a species that isn’t in the two packs around it. So if it is a bear, we can’t have another bear in the fall or winter pack. That’s why I doubt your idea because there’s a lot of want for a Highlands Pack which the Spectacled Bear, a bear that’s a lot more wanted, would be the perfect headliner. My bets are honestly going to the Masai Giraffe or one I haven’t seen a lot of suggestions for, the Ethiopian Wolf.

 

[Aramar]

The anniversary animal is always a species that isn’t in the two packs around it. So if it is a bear, we can’t have another bear in the fall or winter pack. That’s why I doubt your idea because there’s a lot of want for a Highlands Pack which the Spectacled Bear, a bear that’s a lot more wanted, would be the perfect headliner.

That's why I'm leaning more towards the American flamingo. Unfortunately, I don't think we'll get two bears in a row.

 

[Fallax]

If an ungulate is on the radar, I feel like lowland tapir is honestly a bit of a sleeper pick. It would mean we have 3 of each kind of odd-toed ungulate plus an actual nice looking tapir

 

[leehonglocal]

If an ungulate is on the radar, I feel like lowland tapir is honestly a bit of a sleeper pick. It would mean we have 3 of each kind of odd-toed ungulate plus an actual nice looking tapir

I think to me, that's enough tapir for that game. Malayan tapir and one of other tapir species were enough to me.