January is here, which means that players can expectan amazing lineup of games coming this 2020. While there are tons of exciting titles such asResident Evil 3 Remake, Cyberpunk 2077, and more releasing this year, many are excited for the relaxing gameplay ofAnimal Crossing. Luckily, Nintendo is set to release a new entry in the franchise in a few, short months calledAnimal Crossing: New Horizons, which will launch exclusively on the Nintendo Switch.
It has been seven years since the lastAnimal Crossinggame was released to the Nintendo 3DS, which is why fans were ecstatic whenNintendo finally revealedAnimal Crossing: New Horizonsat E3 2019, which is the upcoming installment in the long-running social simulation series. Now that we only have to wait for a few more months to get hands on the new game, here are the things we know so far about the upcoming game, which includes what the game is about, new features and gameplay mechanics, release date, where to pre-order, and more.
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What is Animal Crossing: New Horizons?
So to players unfamiliar with the franchise,Animal Crossingis a social simulation game that was first introduced by Nintendo in 2001. The player takes the role of a human who lives in a village surrounded by anthropomorphic animals. Throughout the open-ended game, players can explore the surroundings, and carry out various activities such as fishing, fossil hunting, bug catching, and introducing improvements to the village. The lastAnimal Crossinggame to hit consoles wasNew Leaffor the Nintendo 3DS, and Pocket Camp for mobile phones.
New Gameplay Features
AlthoughAnimal Crossing: New Horizonswill retain much of the basic premise of the series, the upcoming game is set to include tons of new features and activities that will make the game a fresh new experience even for veteran players ofAnimal Crossing.The upcoming Switch game will be set on a new deserted island, which gives players a brand new world to turn into a bustling village. Just like with previous entries in the franchise,Animal Crossing: New Horizonswill present players with a random map when creating a new town. However, the upcoming game will provide players with more customization options where they can dig paths, move trees, and place their homes wherever they want, even on the beach.
A New Crafting System
The main feature that Nintendo is bringing toNew Horizonswill be crafting, which is a new gameplay mechanic that was first introduced inAnimal Crossing: Pocket Camp. Players will be able to collect various materials and turn them into furniture and tools, which they can then use to decorate both interior and exterior areas in the game. Resources and materials can be obtained by simply exploring the island and gathering just about anything from weeds, rocks, wood, and many more.
Of course, players can still purchase items from Timmy Nook’s shop, so there are many options for players to obtain new items. The game also provides recipes for crafting which can be found in an app via the brand new Nook phone. Players can then obtain new recipes from other villagers, by discovering new items, or by simply purchasing them from the store. A new in-game currency called Nook Miles will allow the player to purchase premium items and can be obtained by completing various tasks.
The NookPhone
As previously mentioned, players will now have a new phone which they can use to obtain recipes for crafting and will serve as the player’s connection to almost everything. The map of the village can be viewed from the phone, as well as a camera that allows players to snap a photo in-game. The Nook Miles that players obtain from completing various activities can also be viewed from the phone, and whenever the player feels lonely, the game’s multiplayer feature called Call and Islander can also be accessed here.
Play With Friends
Just like withAnimal Crossing: New Leaf,New Horizonswill allow players to play in co-op mode. Nintendo confirmed that up to eight players can live together on the same island, and up to four can play at the same time by using two pairs of Joy-Cons.New Horizonssupports both online and local multiplayer modes, which gives players plenty of options to play with friends,
During co-op mode, players can assign one person to serve as the group’s leader. The leader can be identified via a yellow flag marker shown above the head, which makes it easier to identify the leader of the group. Of course, at any time during the game, players can switch between leaders by moving the flag marker from person to person. It is also worth noting that in multiplayer mode, players must always stay close to one another, and if at some point someone strays too far from the leader, the game will teleport them close to the leader.
Customizations Galore
Apart from all the aforementioned features,Animal Crossing: New Horizonswill give players more customization options to make each playthrough unique to the player’s style.The game’s character customizationwill allow players to change their appearance at any point in the game, and every hairstyle and facial features will be available to both genders. Just like in the spin-off titleAnimal Crossing: Happy Home Designer,New Horizonswill allow players to choose their character’s skin color. As for decorating the environment, items are no longer confined in the player’s house, which means that players can set up furniture such as a hammock, a workbench, or many others right outside their house.
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Animal Crossing Release Date and Pre-Order Details
After reading all these amazing features, players who can’t wait to get their hands onAnimal Crossing: New Horizonswould be happy to know that the game is not that far from release. Originally, the latest installment was supposed to come out in 2019 but was delayed becauseNintendo wanted its employees to have a good work-life balance. In a statement, the company said that it wanted to “ensure the game is the best it can be.” The new release date is July 22, 2025, and will launch exclusively on the Nintendo Switch.
The game is already available for pre-order at most video game retailers and is currently priced at $59.99. As of this writing,Animal Crossing: New Horizonswill only be released in a standard edition, which means that the game will not have a special or deluxe editions. So far, there are no pre-order bonuses included for those that will pre-purchase the game, but we will update this section if ever Nintendo decides to announce anything in the months leading up to the game’s release.
Animal Crossing: New Horizonsis set to release on May 19, 2025, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.
