The Interlude

Animal Crossing: New Horizons has done it again, pleasing their fans and leaving almost no stone unturned. Starting Nov. 19, several new features like sitting down and adding more storage to your home will be available in a free winter update. Several parts of the update are features catered to longtime fans of the Animal Crossing series.

One feature that’s gained lots of attention is the new inclusive hairstyles, something players have pleaded for since the ability to change hair was introduced in Animal Crossing: City Folk. A lack of curly and Afro-textured hairstyles has left many fans feeling excluded from the franchise for years. Now, the new styles include an Afro, dreadlocks, a bald head and a cute Afro bun look that is sure to make Black and brown players look their very best.

Screenshot courtesy of Nintendo.

“I love the new hairstyles,” said Katie Robinson, a 26-year-old Twitch partner and gamer with the screen name @PikaChulita. As a fan of the series since the first game came out on the GameCube console, Robinson said that she sees the update as a sign of progress, and is excited for what the future holds for Black and brown Animal Crossing players.

“It’s a step in the right direction,” she told The Interlude via Twitter. She says now is the perfect time for game developers to “start learning and listening” to their gamers that identify as BIPOC.

For Black fans of other video games, it’s been much harder to get even a sense of acknowledgement from developers. Ari Tyson, a 21-year-old Computer Engineering student at Georgia State University who’s played video games almost all her life, is part of an online community known as the Black Simmers. They are a part of The Sims franchise fan base that has been pushing for more inclusive looks to Sims avatars for years. Animal Crossing is setting “a great example of how you honor Black players and our beauty,” Tyson said to The Interlude via Instagram. “The Afros follow the art style of the game, but don’t take away from the detail that’s naturally in the real hair.” Tyson changed her hair to the Afro bun style as soon as the update downloaded, and loves that the buns bounce every time her character moves.

Tyson’s character taking a stroll on the beach in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Screenshot courtesy of Ari Tyson.

The industry should be taking notes at Nintendo’s growth towards diversity and inclusion, according to Tyson. Growing up, she wasn’t able to play the Animal Crossing series because her parents didn’t like that there was no way to make the characters Black or brown. There were several instances while playing other games where she had to settle for white avatars and caucasian features because there was simply no other option. “As we continue to push forward, I feel great knowing that Black and brown kids today have the tools to make their true selves in a game,” she said.

Tori Lopez — a 28-year-old gamer and fan of the Animal Crossing series since 2014 — is also excited about the new feature. “I didn’t think Nintendo would listen [to the players] on this one,” they told The Interlude via Instagram. “While I think it would have been more appropriate to include these styles in the beginning, I’m super happy with the upcoming addition.”

According to Lopez, it’s important to continue critiquing the lack of diversity in the video game world. “The biggest thing is to keep speaking up about it,” they said. “If we [collectively] had said nothing, then the hair update never would have happened.”

Players will also (finally!) be able to have more storage space in their homes, something which the fanbase has been asking for since the release of the game. They’ll also be able to conduct new and more interactive reactions with their villagers, such as sitting alongside them and exercising with them. Abby Hofstetter, a 21-year-old student at New York University who first started playing Animal Crossing back in March, can’t wait to be able to sit with her villagers. “They always look so content and relaxed when they’re sitting,” she told The Interlude via Twitter. “I want that for myself. I think I deserve it.”

Hofstetter’s character happily sitting on her island. Screenshot courtesy of Abby Hofstetter.

The much anticipated winter update will include classic Turkey Day festivities next week with Franklin the Turkey, a renowned chef who’ll ask for your help in cooking delicious recipes for your villagers. In previous games, players would have to collect special items to cook certain dishes, all while reassuring Franklin that he is not in fact expected to be the main course. The announcement also teased the Toy Day event on Dec. 24, in which players will get to help Jingle the reindeer (and Santa, of course) deliver presents to all their villagers. You’ll have to wait to celebrate the holiday events until the actual day of, so time travelers won’t be able to participate in them ahead of time.

The change in the season also comes with a change in the weather. Islands in the Northern Hemisphere will be covered in blankets of snow starting in mid-December. Players will also get the chance to decorate their islands with special winter-themed DIY recipes, such as ornament-filled trees and reindeer-shaped lights.

Finally, the ability to safely transfer data from your island on one Nintendo Switch to another will also be available. Fans have long begged Nintendo for an easier way to transfer data without the fear of losing all their progress, so it’s safe to say many fans are rather pleased. Nintendo finally listening and cooperating with their fanbase feels long overdue. As someone who’s been playing this series for the past 14 years (and who nearly cried when the ability to change skin tone was introduced a few years ago), it feels more than satisfying to see these changes come about. And while we’re still waiting for the fan favorite character Brewster to come back, I think these new features will keep us more than occupied during the holidays.

Nintendo also teased that the next free update will be coming in late January, most likely with an event celebrating Carnaval in Latin America. In the meantime, I hope everyone has a holly jolly Animal Crossing season!