It was the news Animal Crossing fans had been waiting for, and it was glorious... mostly. We finally got a release date and trailer for the new Animal Crossing game, New Horizons. Unfortunately, the wait to get our hands on it is longer than expected, with the game set to be released on March 20, 2020. It’s not all bad, however, as the trailer showed us what to expect, including Tom Nook in a fetching Hawaiian shirt.
A new Animal Crossing game has been a long time coming. The last console release was back in 2012, when New Leaf came out. Since then, we’ve had only spin-offs and a mobile version to keep us happy, and even those are a couple of years old now. This new trailer has fans hyped to explore a whole new world, while still being exploited by Tom Nook.
The trailer showed us a new island, upon which the game takes place. Starting with a tent, you can build up a life in this new paradise, before you get billed for the privilege by Tom Nook in his fashionable garb.
In addition to the trailer, Nintendo also showed a demo from the E3 show floor. In it, we can see that New Horizons appears to play mostly like other classic Animal Crossing titles, with collecting and crafting integral to the game. You can still place furniture both in and outside of your tiny tent, but this extends further than just the surrounding area. Players appear to be able to place, move, and craft objects all around the island.
There’s also a fully developed co-op mode. Up to eight players can chill out together on the island. They can help collect, craft, and generally be an active part of the game.
There is also a new way to earn items. Almost everything you do on the island earns you “Nook Miles,” which can be exchanged for different items or activities. This is said to allow players to progress in different ways.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons will be available for Nintendo Switch on March 20, 2020.