Animal Crossing: New Horizons welcomes all ages of players from around the globe. Since its 2020 launch, countless fans have found escape in the soothing game through making friends with animal villagers, designing the perfect island, and putting together perfect ensembles. And now, the game has a new kind of island. In an effort to increase representation and visibility for people with diabetes, Insulet has launched Omnipod Bay. The Omnipod Bay activation in Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a diabetes-themed family-friendly island.
As for what that means, the island features, according to a release, “fun adventures, surprises, and experiences designed to bring representation and inclusivity to gaming and the diverse diabetes community.”
The island’s name of Omnipod Bay comes from Insulet’s company Omnipod. The company is the global leader in tubeless insulin pump technology. On Omnipod Bay, players can access custom outfits that show off their insulin pumps. They can also interact with booths from leading diabetes advocacy organizations. This Animal Crossing island places a lot of emphasis on learning. But it also comes with more playful aspects, like swimming in the A1 Sea and going on a scavenger hunt.
“Representation of people with diabetes is important to us, so we looked for an opportunity to make diabetes part of everyday culture,” said Lei Mercado, chief marketing officer of Insulet Corporation, in a release. “We worked closely with the diabetes community, leading advocacy groups, and gamers to see how we could educate others. Our hope is that the Animal Crossing integration will help people with diabetes feel more included, connected, and seen in a fun and engaging way.”
Learn more about Animal Crossing: New Horizon‘s Omnipod Bay at its site.
Amy Ratcliffe is the Managing Editor for Nerdist and the author of A Kid’s Guide to Fandom, available now. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.