Animal Crossing: New Horizons is set for a major update on 15 January, introducing a new island location, new collectible furniture and a variety of improvements for those on Nintendo Switch 2. It arrives with perfect timing, to kick off the year in wholesome fashion – and I can’t wait for it to revive the New Horizons experience for a new and returning generation of players.
For those who weren’t part of the wave, it’s difficult to understand the magic of Animal Crossing: New Horizons‘ initial release in March 2020. Most of us will remember the dire state of the world. The Covid pandemic had begun and the first of the global lockdowns had begun, limiting everyone’s movement.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons update – quick links
Animal Crossing: New Horizons goes mainstream
Animal Crossing: New Horizons was already popular amongst the dedicated Animal Crossing player base. For those who’d waited patiently for a new mainline entry, it was a wonderful arrival, with a moreish and brain-tickling gameplay loop that stayed true to the franchise’s cosy roots. As lockdowns set in, it provided a daily ritual for players – collecting fish and insects, hitting rocks, shaking trees and shopping.
Pretty soon after launch, these good vibes spread by word of mouth. Players who’d never touched Animal Crossing were enthralled by its vibes. They were caught by the promise of something bright and colourful to distract themselves from the state of the world. The promise of virtual friendship, connection and activity inspired a global uptake.
Suddenly, Animal Crossing was mainstream.
For months after its sudden burst in popularity, Animal Crossing: New Horizons was inescapable. It was a glorious time. Every day, players would share turnip prices, or work together to trade items and build out their islands. They shared friend codes and patterns, and tips for catching the most elusive fish.
It was a time when the gaming community felt close-knit and aligned, when the need for connection was well-understood. With New Horizons set to receive its major update this month, there’s hope this positivity, and the cosy vibes that accompanied it, will return.
What’s in the Animal Crossing: New Horizons update?
As outlined by Nintendo, the Animal Crossing: New Horizons update set for 15 January is a fairly large one. There are two elements here: a paid expansion for Nintendo Switch 2 users, and a free update available for everyone.
The paid expansion for Nintendo Switch 2 users, priced at AUD$8, will introduce a new, smoother 4K resolution, mouse controls, the ability to create custom posts for the bulletin board, a megaphone item to corral your friends while playing online, and the option to play with up to 12 players online.
The free update, which will be available for all users, is the chunkiest part of this update. This will introduce new Nintendo crossover items, a Lego collaboration, new villagers, new features and a range of gameplay tweaks. Players will be able to collect item sets inspired by The Legend of Zelda, Splatoon, Lego, and Nintendo history. They’ll also be able to tap certain Zelda and Splatoon amiibo to meet villagers Tulin, Mineru, Cece and Viché.
Anyone looking to refresh their island will find new excuses here, with plenty of options to decorate or re-decorate your cosy living spaces.
As for new features, they’re part of why the new update is so exciting. Luna is set to return with this update, re-introducing Dream Islands. When villagers fall asleep, they’ll have the option to enter a dream world – an empty island – where they can decorate as they see fit. Notably, friends can also visit these spaces, to sit and reminisce, to chat, to belong.
In addition to Dream Islands, players will also get other opportunities to decorate with a new resort hotel, which will be placed on island piers, post-update. In this hotel, you can work on decorating special rooms, offer cool ‘rental outfits’ to guests, and treat yourself to new collectible items.
Update looks set to deliver cosy good vibes
In this mix, there are plenty of reasons to return to Animal Crossing: New Horizons – even if it’s just to check out all the new gameplay features and collectables.
After spending hundreds of hours in the game over lockdown, adding a spark of joy to each day with my progress, I’m more than ready to return to New Horizons, to start fresh. While the game launched into a difficult time, and there are certain feelings that can’t (and shouldn’t) be replicated, the incoming update should revive some of the wholesome joy that buoyed the game to success, and made every player feel like part of a greater whole.
