According to the game's director Ayu Kyogoku, Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival was created solely as a way to get Nintendo to make amiibo for the Animal Crossing series.

"Initially when the Amiibo was announced, there was nothing really said about Animal Crossing Amiibos or any plans for that matter. But as the Animal Crossing team, we were confident that if there was one, it would be really cute... honestly, we just wanted Animal Crossing Amiibo. We wanted the company to make Animal Crossing Amiibo, so that's why we made a game that works with them."