We're drawing even closer to the launch of Animal Crossing: New Horizons and there are so many new features still yet to uncover!
After initially being delayed, the Nintendo Switch exclusive and its 350+ villagers are in sight.
With a release date around the world set for the 20th March, fans are eager to start their own island adventure.
Pre-orders are still available and you can grab yourself some awesome goodies if you grab one of the collections soon.
The game has been in the news recently as it recently announced that players can only have one island per Switch and could support cloud saving.
Here's what you need to know about Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
Be sure to check out all of the information on the following topics:
- What Is Animal Crossing: New Horizons
- Release Date
- Consoles
- The Island
- Villagers
- Hemispheres
- New Crafting & Customisation Features!
- Co-Op And Multiplayer
- DLC
- New Horizons vs New Leaf
- Guides
- Amiibos
- Pre-Order
What Is Animal Crossing: New Horizons?
The premise of Animal Crossing: New Horizon and what you do is rather simple. Tom Nook is back at it again with another business venture and this time it’s The Nook Inc. Deserted Island Getaway Package.
Player characters will find themselves as one of the early inhabitants of a deserted island, a step away from players arriving at an already established settlement, and must use the local materials to create, build and construct furniture, tools and settlements by utilising the new crafting system.
The age rating is for those that are 3 years old and above.
When Does Animal Crossing: New Horizons Release?
The release date for Animal Crossing: New Horizon is on the 20th March 2020.
This is a global launch, meaning you will be able to pick it up on this date whether you're from the UK, US, Germany, Denmark or Japan.
The game was mentioned back in 2018 and was originally set for a 2019 release.
However, the President of Nintendo North America, Doug Bowser, explained why they had to push the release back (so employees can avoid the dreaded ‘crunch’).
Consoles
The game will release on Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite.
The game will not launch on the following systems:
The Island
The island is estimated to be 27% bigger than the one in New Leaf, according to a theory on Reddit.
One of the big differences is that we have a beach on all three sides of the map to explore, rather than just to the west and the south.
Villagers
There are over 350 villagers within Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
The usual suspects will be back, including Tom Nook, Isabelle, Resetti and many more!
Read More: Animal Crossing: New Horizons: All Villagers And Characters Confirmed
Hemispheres
For the first time in Animal Crossing: New Horizons history, Hemispheres will be introduced to bring the weather closer to your region.
As with our very own Earth, Animal Crossing's world of talking animals is also formed of both North and South hemispheres.
When the game launches on March 20, players that select the Northern Hemisphere will be beginning their island adventure in Spring, while those in the South Hemisphere will be beginning in Fall.
New Crafting & Customisation Features!
Much like in Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp (Sadly, there will be no interaction between the two games), you’ll be sourcing and harvesting the local resources on the island to build the necessary tools to develop your settlement. To create the tools needed, Nook’s crafting station will be available to use and any undesired materials can be sold for Bells (the island's currency).
Speaking of bells, you’ll need to pay Tom Nook a grand total of 49,800 bells on arrival for this wonderful excursion. Obviously it won’t be possible straight away so he’s willing to wait, interest-free.
Furniture can now be placed outside of your home, giving you the ability to place items all around the island, either for utility purposes or decoration.
The level of customisation is a key selling point for the game, everything from your character, your home and now the island will be customisable.
Co-Op And Expanding Your Settlement!
It was confirmed by the developers that players won’t be completely stranded and isolated on the island. Luckily they will check with you first before setting up shop so you won’t need to plan around them.
As your time on the island increases, people will begin visiting the settlement you’ve built and may even ask if they can be a part of it.
There will also be opportunities to play with friends both online and locally. In an interview on Nintendo News Channel, the game's director explained how the online would work.
"There are two main multiplayer modes," explains Kyogoku. "One is similar to the legacy titles where you’re able to visit other villages or have people come to visit your village.
You’re able to visit other islands or have your friends visit you locally or online. Up to eight people can play on one island."
"The second mode is a completely new form of local multiplayer.
For the first time in the series, up to four residents living on the same island can play together at the same time in local multiplayer on a single system by sharing Joy-Con controllers. Before, we've had a feature that let families or friends make their own houses and reside in the village on a single system, but they weren’t able to play simultaneously.
But this time, with one system, you're able to live and play in the same village simultaneously."
DLC And Microtransactions
Will DLC be coming to Animal Crossing: New Horizons?
It's been spotted on the Nintendo of America's official game page that Animal Crossing: New Horizons will support "in-game purchases".
On the 13th February, the reference to in-game purchases was removed from the ESRB rating section.
If we were to speculate, these are in-game purchases probably giving players new costumes and cosmetics.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons vs New Leaf
There's a lot that has changed since the last major title arrived in the Animal Crossing franchise - here's what's changed:
Similarities:
- Bells
- Villagers
- Creativity
- Tom Nook
- Time Travel
- You can only have one island
- The Museum returns
Differences:
- Auto-Save
- You are on an island
- You can make your own tools
- Improved graphics
- Full-on customization right from the start
- Multiplayer adventures
- Nook Miles
- Bigger Map
- Hemispheres
Read More: Animal Crossing: New Horizons vs New Leaf
Guides
There are a number of tips and tricks to take into consideration in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
Check out all of our guides right here:
- Tips And Tricks
- How To Get Lots Of Bells
- How To Get Perfect Fruit
- How To Customise Your Character
- How To Unlock Items For Your Character
- How to Unlock the Museum
- How To Time Travel
- How To Get Multiple Islands
- How To Get a Perfect Town
Amiibos
Aya Kyogoku and Higashi Nogami, the lead developers for Animal Crossing: New Horizons, confirmed last year that the newest game will support Amiibos.
Compatibility will be available for both the figures and cards - although the details are unknown.
If you already own a figure or card from Animal Crossing, they should work with the new Switch title.
Pre-Order Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Pre-orders (with bonuses) for Animal Crossing: New Horizons are already live across multiple retailers.
Nintendo usually avoids releasing special editions so we shouldn’t expect them to change anytime soon.
Be sure to check out the best deals in the US and UK.