Animal Crossing: New Horizons Direct 02/20/2020 — Sponsored by Nook Inc.
Nintendo hasn’t been consistent about which games they provide exclusive Nintendo Directs for in the age of the Nintendo Switch, but there was always a good chance that Animal Crossing: New Horizons would be one of the lucky examples. The games that tend to receive them are titles that could use further exposure or those that will be feature packed (or both), and New Horizons fit the latter to a tee. Animal Crossing has historically been a big series, and this game is bound to do big numbers on Switch. There was a feeling that Nintendo had yet to reveal several features for it, so we were due for this.
The Direct was hosted by greedy supervillain ultra-capitalist Tom Nook, the owner of the titular Nook Island, with a presentation coming in the form of a narrated extended advertisement. As implied, the island will be a gigantic location he owns, so just imagine the pecuniary possibilities that await.
New Horizons’ early choice will involve creating a character (with more customization options this time around, thankfully), and choosing an island in either the Northern or Southern Hemispheres of the planet. Islands will have different seasons regardless of the location chosen, but they’ll occur at alternate points over the game’s progression, and different activities will be available with those times. Following this decision, your player avatar will attend perhaps the friendliest orientation around, which will serve as a tutorial to get accustomed to the island. This will be an early opportunity to help friends find their places too, like in previous AC titles.
The island won’t be heavily populated early on, and the orientation will be only one aspect to get players started. The other will be the locations already present. One will be Resident Services, a place open 24/7 where items can be purchased and sold. The other will be the Airport, where other residents (friends or family, specifically) can be invited, or where you can travel to visit them. Up to eight can be on one island at a time, which could get crowded as more NPC inhabitants arrive. But the overall island is likely larger than I’m imagining right now.
Other services can be accessed through — of course — the NookPhone. The player will be able to use basic services, and play with other functions like the in-game camera and map. The phone will also be useful for observing the Nook Mileage, which records the miles the player has walked in exchange for paying off the cost of the getaway package to the island or to receive in-game rewards. You didn’t think you were staying on Nook Island for free for a second, right? Nook himself, megalomaniac that he is, will even address the island folk every day.
The Direct provided tips for players who will either be new to AC, or haven’t played it in a while. Insects will roam around certain locations on the island, with the more violent variants being capable of stinging the player before they’re caught in a net or trap. It’s always good to have medicine handy. Ghosts will also wander around during the night, though this sounds like less of a warning and more of an encouragement to explore during nighttime. Other island inhabitants can get lost, but so can the player, which is where the helpful Rescue Services will come in. I doubt this will be available for free — remember who owns this island.
The so-called optional extras were also highlighted, though the features shown are some of the most enjoyable aspects of playing an AC game or any other life simulation title. Eventually, the player will obtain the resources to build a house, though some materials will have to be purchased, and the player will have to pay a mortgage. Again: This is Nook Island. Eight fellow players can reside on one island in their own places through Party Play, and four can simultaneously go exploring for resources, insect hunting, or the sheer thrill of it. Other services will be available through NookLink, an app within the Nintendo Switch Online mobile app. Extras can be unlocked through it using QR codes, while the option to talk with other AC players will be available. NookLink will launch sometime in March 2020, which implies that it won’t be available with the game’s launch.
Like previous titles, more residents will come to the island over time, while others can be invited by the player to make it a bustling location. The arrival of other establishments won’t hurt either, like museums, shops that serve various functions, a tailor in which to purchase new clothes, and a campsite for inhabitants to hang out. Of these, the museum has players particularly excited, given the possibilities of what can be discovered in them, and whether they can create their own displays. Eventually, Nook Inc. will provide an expanded housing business, and though the intentions here sound nefarious, it will help when friendly face Isabelle provides remodeling services. Other seasonal services will be available through free upgrades, and guests will be included in free patches.
Other options that every player should probably partake in involve building obstacles and infrastructure across the island, including rivers, bridges, and cliffs. Though some of these were available in previous games, the functions look to be taking inspiration from other building games like Minecraft this time, which could be beneficial.
The Direct’s end was reserved for questions watchers might have. Up to eight people in a family can live on a shared island, but there won’t be an option for multiple islands. Knowledge of this started a minor controversy well before this Direct began, from players who wanted to have separate adventures within one game. But Nintendo, being a business, wants all of you to buy your own copies. That’s tired now; the wired controversy now concerns game saves. The game won’t support cloud saving, but will have a separate service for players to retrieve a lost save file that’s yet to be fully detailed. But the current fine print suggests that you’ll need a Nintendo Switch Online subscription to use it, and it can only be used once. There’s always something with Nintendo, huh?
Additionally, the game will have Amiibo support to invite familiar characters to events, like photo shoots. The first in-game event for New Horizons will be Bunny Day, clearly this universe’s iteration of Easter, while a separate soon-to-be-detailed event will be included in mobile title Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp.
This Direct only marked the beginning of the serious promotional cycle for New Horizons, which will also be featured on the AC Twitter account. The game will release on March 20th, and a special AC-themed Nintendo Switch (non-Lite) hardware option will launch alongside it. The game won’t be included with the American console, but will be included via a download code with the Japanese and European variants. Quantities of this might be limited, considering the coronavirus making its way around the manufacturing districts in China.
If you want to watch the Direct, feel free to do so. It was a good time:
About The Author
Geoff
News Editor | Geoff is some nerd who writes for a blog and thinks he's knowledgeable. He write a lot about video games, but is capable of writing about other subjects, too. Twitter
