Animal Crossing: New Horizons Direct Lists A Ton Of Details
As promised, today Nintendo debuted a new Direct that was all about Animal Crossing: New Horizons. With the game's release now just a month out, this Direct offered a deep dive into deserted island living, and after watching it, we can safely say that this is indeed an Animal Crossing game. The Direct dished a ton of details, so let's dive in and see what's new.
We already knew that Animal Crossing: New Horizons would drop players on a deserted island and allow them to build their towns from the ground up, but today's Direct revealed that players will have their choice of island when they start the game.
More specifically, players will be able to choose between islands in the southern and northern hemispheres, and considering that this decision will determine when seasons occur in-game, it's probably best to pick the hemisphere you're currently living in (unless, of course, you like the idea of it being summer in-game while it's winter in the real world).
New Horizons will also introduce a DIY feature that allows players to craft their own tools and furniture using things they collect on their island. Players will also receive a NookPhone when they arrive on the island, allowing them to take photos whenever they may find a scenic spot. On top of that, we'll be able to go on island tours and explore smaller deserted islands to collect materials and creature before heading back home.
Land Development is one of the more interesting features that was revealed today, as it'll give players construction permits to add or remove cliffs, land, and water to their islands. With this, the idea is to give you a finer level of control over the look of your island, potentially making it stand out from the rest of them.
Nintendo also confirmed the multiplayer details for Animal Crossing: New Horizons today, saying that up to eight players can live on the same island and play on the single console. For online multiplayer, we have the Party Play system, which allow four people to play together at once with one person designated as the leader. There will also be a series of free updates for the game after launch, and it looks like this is how Nintendo will deliver the seasonal events many Animal Crossing players will be expecting.
Clocking in at nearly 30 minutes long today, this New Horizons Direct covers a ton of ground. If you missed it, you can watch the presentation in full with the video embedded above. Animal Crossing: New Horizons is out on Nintendo Switch on March 20th.