Today marked the premiere of the highly anticipated Animal Crossing: New Horizons Direct. The roughly 20-minute showcase revealed what the free update to Version 2.0 has in store for New Horizons players. While the update is loaded with new features, it also includes the addition of some familiar faces from previous Animal Crossing games. Version 2.0 will be available on November 5, 2021 and will be the last free update for Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
New Horizons Version 2.0 Update Highlights
Today’s Animal Crossing: New Horizons Direct showcase was filled to the brim with new features and reveals. We’ve rounded up all of the highlights below, where you can also watch the full Direct showcase. There’s a lot to cover here, so let’s get to it.
Brewster & The Roost Café
Although Nintendo had already revealed the pending arrival of Brewster and The Roost back in September, today’s Animal Crossing Direct revealed what the café will actually look like inside. The café will arrive as an indoor add-on to the museum. Players will be able to sip a nice up of joe alongside friends and compatible amiibo characters.
Kapp’n Boat Tours
Kapp’n will be returning to the series as the local island ferryman in New Horizons. Players can find Kapp’n hanging out at the island dock, where he will take players on boat tours to mysterious islands that only he can get to. He will even sing a sea shanty along the way.
Harv’s Island Open Market Plaza
Harv’s Island will be getting a makeover in New Horizons Version 2.0. The island will now feature an open market plaza that will host shops from familiar visitors including Redd, Kicks, and Saharah. Reese and Cyrus will be setting up shop as well, offering furniture customization that can’t be done using a standard workbench. You can even get your daily fortune reading by Katrina. The more bells you contribute, the more shops will open up in Harv’s open market.
Stretching in the Plaza
The town plaza will offer a new group stretching minigame activity. Players can participate using either button controls or motion controls.
Island Ordinances
Players will be able to visit Isabelle to enact new ordinances as part of the update. Ordinances allow players to control certain aspects of the island, such as when villagers wake up in the morning or the rate at which weeds grow.
Cooking
The update to Version 2.0 will add cooking to New Horizons by way of DIY recipes. New vegetables including tomatoes, wheat, and sugarcane will be available to grow and harvest. These ingredients can then be used to cook a variety of delicious dishes.
Storage Expansion & Exterior Options
Simply put, the maximum storage will be increased from 2,400 to 5,000 across three new home expansions. The new Storage Shed will also allow players to access their home storage from outside their house.
Bridge & Incline Quantity Increase
The maximum number of bridges and inclines allowed on an island is being increased by two each, making the new maximum 10 bridges and 10 inclines.
First-person Camera & New Options
The Camera App on the Nook Phone is getting an update that will allow players to essentially switch to first-person perspective when taking a photo. Use the new tripod feature to set up a shot that you can be in, too.
Gyroids
At last, Gyroids are returning to the series as quirky, sound-making little figures that will sing and bop to nearby tunes. Replanting Gyroid fragments will cause them to grow into new ones, and Gyroids can be customized to fit a specific color or style.
New Furniture and Interior Design Options
Various new furniture items are on their way to New Horizons next month (including the long-awaited return of the Froggy Chair) along with new ways to decorate the inside of your house. This includes all-new ceiling décor and the ability to place wallpaper on single accent walls.
Permanent Ladder Placement Kit
The update brings the addition of new Ladder Placement Kits that allow players to permanently place ladders along the side of cliffs. This should alleviate the need for additional inclines or spare ladders and will make island traversal significantly easier. The DIY recipe for the kit will be available in Nook’s Cranny.
Resident Invitations
Players will be able to get to know their neighbors even more thanks to the update. Island residents will now be able to invite players to their homes and can invite themselves to the player’s home as well. Get ready for some of your neighbors to drop in unannounced.
The Version 2.0 update for New Horizons will also include tons of new items, including new hairstyles, new K.K. Slider tracks, more fencing, and lots of new stuff to be sold in the shop. Be sure to check out the video above for the full Animal Crossing: New Horizons Direct presentation.
The showcase ended with the reveal of the Happy Home Paradise DLC, which releases on November 5, the same day as the free update. Stay tuned for more Animal Crossing: New Horizons news.