Buzz
Piracy is unethical, and stealing is wrong—no question. However, it’s equally frustrating when companies release limited-edition items that significantly enhance your gaming experience but make them so rare that your only option is to purchase from opportunistic resellers.
It’s 2021, and it’s disappointing that I can’t simply visit the Nintendo eShop to purchase all the Hello Kitty characters and items I desire for my Animal Crossing island. Exclusives, especially those tied to specific retailers like Target or physical goods like Amiibo cards, are a letdown, particularly when resellers exploit them on eBay for outrageous prices.
When you’re forced to choose between paying eight times the retail price for a $6 Amiibo pack or creating your own, the decision is yours to make. I won’t judge your choice, nor will I guide you to the special .BIN files needed for DIY Sanrio Amiibos. That said, once you have those files, crafting your own NFC tags to bring these characters into your game is a straightforward process.
To begin, ensure you have a device capable of writing to NFC tags. If your smartphone includes an NFC chip, you’re all set. If not, you’ll need to acquire specific hardware. I suggest opting for the first option, even if it means borrowing a friend’s phone. Avoid spending $40 on an NFC writer for a task you’ll likely only do once or twice.
Next, download a suitable app. For Android, I used the free TagMo app. (While I haven’t tested iOS options, many recommend the $4 AmiiBot. If you can locate a free alternative, even better.)
You’ll also need NFC tags. I purchased these from Amazon during my Animal Crossing phase: 11 stickers for $7. Since I didn’t plan extensive importing, this quantity was sufficient to customize my island with the villagers I desired. Look for bulk deals to save money, but check reviews to ensure reliability. The tags I chose boast a 4.8 out of 5 rating with 3,086 reviews (as of writing), making them a trustworthy choice.
While waiting for the tags to arrive, I transferred all the Amiibo .BIN files to my Android device. Store them anywhere in your file system—I placed mine in the Downloads folder for easy deletion once the NFC tags were created.
Once set up, crafting your personalized NFC Amiibo tags is straightforward. Open your app and upload the .BIN file corresponding to the Amiibo you wish to replicate.
Writing the tag is as simple as pressing a button and placing a blank NFC tag near your device. The process completes in just a second, allowing you to use the newly created tag with your Nintendo Switch’s NFC reader to add the character to your Animal Crossing game. May this satisfy your Sanrio cravings until the physical cards are back in stock—helping you restore your Animal Crossing karma if you eventually buy them.
