Nintendo’s 2020 hit Animal Crossing: New Horizons, yesterday announced the first part of its free Summer update. In a video tweeted by the official Animal Crossing account, the villager can be seen swimming, dunking and diving for sea creatures. This long-awaited addition to the villager’s abilities was discovered by data miners earlier in the year, and it’s great to see it added into the game. Additional updates include the return of Pascal who offers new DIY recipes and some kind of new encounter featuring Gulliver in a piratical outfit. This update will be available from 3rd July with even more content promised to appear in August.

Haven’t taken the plunge onto New Horizons? Why not see what all the fuss is about in our review!

What are you looking forward to most? Let us know in the comments.

Check out the full press release after the break!

DIVE INTO SUMMER FUN WITH NEW UPDATES TO ANIMAL CROSSING: NEW HORIZONS

Exploring on and offshore brings new items and familiar (?) encounters

25th June 2020 – Players can soon make a splash in their own island paradise. A series of new, free updates* to Animal Crossing: New Horizons, available for Nintendo Switch, will deliver new features, including the ability to swim and dive for sea creatures, fresh faces, and a variety of new items such as mermaid-themed furniture. These free updates are among some of the new experiences coming to your island life over the course of the summer and beyond.

The new Summer update coming July 3rd to Animal Crossing: New Horizons! (Nintendo Switch) trailer provides an overview of the new items and features coming 3rd July.

The update will add the following features and characters to the game:

Swimming and Diving – Grabbing a wet suit, players can get aquatically acquainted with island marine life when swimming and diving arrive to Animal Crossing: New Horizons. When swimming in the inviting waters off the coast of their island, players can dive to discover and scoop up sea creatures that inhabit their island’s ecosystem. It’s worth looking out for any prospective additions to the museum and hear fun facts from Blathers when donating discoveries.
Pascal Brings Rewarding Recipes – While swimming, players might meet someone new! The friendly visitor Pascal seems to love scallops, and if players discover one while diving, he’ll ask if he can have it. As a thank you, he’ll share some of his mermaid-themed DIY recipes.
Gulliver? – After downloading the free update, someone looking familiar, but with slightly different, pirate-like clothing, occasionally washes up on the shore. Once players offer him a hand, he will send a special reward to show his gratitude for the help.
Another summer update is planned to be released in early August.

The first free summer update for Animal Crossing: New Horizons adds swimming and diving, as well as new and returning characters. Another summer update is planned to be released in early August.

Nintendo UK PR