The 2.0 update arrived early, having initially been announced for a November 5th release date. Fans of the game were surprised when Nintendo released the update with minimal fanfare - the official Nintendo and Animal Crossing Twitter accounts did not even indicate that it had dropped and was available. As revealed in the most recent Nintendo Direct online event, Nintendo confirmed that this will be the last major free update for the game, although paid DLC will release beginning later this month.
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New features added to Animal Crossing: New Horizons with its 2.0 update include upgrades to Harv’s Island, the addition of a cafe inside Blathers’ Museum, and the return of Gyroids, bizarre collectible artifacts which were popular in previous installments of the series. Players can also plant and grow crops on their island, a move which has been compared to farming simulators such as Stardew Valley. However, these major changes weren’t the only things added to Animal Crossing: New Horizons - the update contained several sneaky Easter eggs as well.
On Twitter, an Animal Crossing fan going by @fluffysmolcloud pointed out that an in-game item, a gaming computer complete with headphones, multiple monitors, and an RGB keyboard, contained a reference to both chat platform Discord and colorful ocean-themed ink-shooter Splatoon. Some Twitter users argued that the colorful, tropical game showed off in New Horizons was not specifically Splatoon, and could instead be a reference to titles such as Call of Duty or Genshin Impact. However, given that Nintendo recently announced Splatoon 3, which will release in 2022, it seems likely that this was an intentional nod to Splatoon.
Coming up next in this string of exciting new expansions to Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the paid Happy Home Paradise DLC, which will release on November 5th. It will cost $24.99 individually and will also be available as a freebie alongside the Nintendo Switch Expansion Pack, which charges $49.99 for a one-year membership.
This DLC will put the player in the role of a planner who will have to design and craft the ideal vacation homes for various islanders hoping to establish their permanent tropical getaway. Given that Happy Home Paradise will focus heavily on catering to the individual tastes and interests of the characters, it is definitely possible that more gaming-related Easter eggs might show up.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is currently available to purchase for the Nintendo Switch.
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