One of the most anticipated Nintendo games heading into E3 2019 was Animal Crossing for Nintendo Switch, and now we've finally gotten our first look at it during Nintendo's E3 Direct presentation. Now officially dubbed Animal Crossing: New Horizons, the upcoming installment now has a confirmed release date of March 20, 2020, and it will take the life sim series to uncharted territory--literally.
New Horizons begins with players boarding the Nook Inc. charter, which will ferry them to a deserted island where they'll set up a tent and establish their own town. As you settling into your new island home, you'll take part in traditional Animal Crossing activities, such as shaking trees and catching fish. This time, you'll also be able to craft tools and furniture using the materials you collect on the island at Tom Nook's workbench.
That wasn't the only look at the game we got, though. Nintendo showed off some early gameplay and features during a Treehouse livestream demo that followed the E3 Direct, where we learned that the game features couch co-op and that you get a smartphone, among other things.
Nintendo first officially announced Animal Crossing: New Horizons during a Direct broadcast last September, after revealing that Isabelle would be joining Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's roster as a playable fighter. At the time, the game was slated to launch in 2019, but as Nintendo explained, the delay was at least in part to ensure the development team maintains a healthy work-life balance.
That isn't all Nintendo announced during its E3 2019 Direct. The company also revealed two new Super Smash Bros. Ultimate DLC characters: the Hero from Dragon Quest, and Banjo-Kazooie. We also got a look at some Luigi's Mansion 3 gameplay details, as well as a sequel to Breath of the Wild.
