Animal Crossing New Horizons: Multiplayer options open a world of possibilities


This article contains information about the 'release-date' of either a movie, game or product. Unless stated explicitly, release dates are speculative & subject to change. See something wrong? Contact us here

One of the main elements in Animal Crossing: New Horizons that greatly excites its fans is the multiplayer option available within the game.

This opens a whole new world of opportunities to explore and enjoy your desert island as well as with other players, adding further re-playability to a game that is already notorious for being addictively good.

With New Horizons set to hit the shelves on 20 March 2020, what can players expect when they take to the new island to start their life?

Past Animal Crossing games multiplayer experience

Multiplayer gaming in Animal Crossing: New Leaf
click to enlarge
+ 2

WELCOME ONE AND ALL: The multiplayer options in New Leaf revolutionised the gameplay in Animal Crossing

In past games, multiplayer has always been a prominent feature.

One of the main aspects of the multiplayer is termed ‘visiting’, where players are able to visit other villages or have people come to visit their village.

Starting from its introduction in Animal Crossing: Wild World, players also have the ability to visit other towns. In these towns they can then fish, catch bugs, chat with each other and shop in the stores.

READ MORE: Nintendo E3 2020: What to expect at the gaming expo

According to Nintendo during E3, this familiar way of experiencing multiplayer will also exist in Animal Crossing: New Horizons with players being able to visit other islands or play with friends both locally and online which allows up to eight people to play on one island.

New Horizons is set to break the multiplayer mold

Fans will be thrilled to know that Animal Crossing: New Horizons has really stepped up its game and differs from previous versions in how it tackles multiplayer mode.

Not only will it have all the multiplayer options that were available in the previous games, it will also have new features added that are set to tantalize even the casual Animal Crossing player.

One of the standout features of the new multiplayer mode will be the ability for the players to be able to play on a single screen rather than on a split-screen like past games. This will greatly enhance the gameplay and add to the excitement of the local multiplayer where each player can use a single joycon to control their character.

READ MORE: Everything there is to know about Animal Crossing: New Horizons

As seen in the gameplay Nintendo Treehouse has released, up to four players will be able to play on a single island together using the local multiplayer allowing for endless scenarios and interactions with both each other and the NPC’s that inhabit the islands.

In a similar way to the previous games but way more expansive and enhanced by the HD graphics.

New Horizons, new online experience

When it comes to multiplayer, Animal Crossing fans are always keen to know about the online features.

Well, in this case the best news has been left until last because New Horizons is set to be the best Animal Crossing game in terms of online multiplayer capability.

Beach life will be a big part of Animal Crossing: New Horizons
click to enlarge
+ 2

ONLINE MULTIPLAYER: Up to eight villagers can live and thrive together on one island.

New Horizons will have real-time online multiplayer where up to eight players can play as villagers on one island allowing for faster and more efficient island life, after all many hands are better than one.

Some fans of the Animal Crossing franchise are disappointed about the news that the limit of players is 8 and players will only play on one island rather than multiple islands.

READ MORE: Where to pre-order Animal Crossing: New Horizons

However, when you bear in mind that Animal Crossing: New Leaf for the 3DS only allowed up to 4 players, New Horizons is a big step forward with double the number of players now being allowed to play together.

Highlighting the journey Animal Crossing has come in terms of its online capabilities and how this looks set to really change the game in the upcoming release of Animal Crossing: New Horizons on March 20th 2020.

For more articles like this, take a look at our Nintendo and More page.