New mermaid theme DIY recipes will also be available. Photo Credit: Nintendo.
New mermaid theme DIY recipes will also be available. Photo Credit: Nintendo.

A New “Animal Crossing” Update is Coming

And yes, you can swim now.

June 25, 2020

Nintendo announced today that a new update for Animal Crossing: New Horizons will be available on July 3, including new furniture, new fish, and new friends.

Players will — finally! — be able to swim into the ocean to discover new creatures. The updated feature is similar to the diving ability introduced back in Animal Crossing: New Leaf, where players were able to dive for sea animals when wearing a wetsuit. This time around, starfish, eels, scallops and more will be available to find and donate to Blathers at the museum.

A familiar face will also be swimming alongside players from time to time, with Pascal the sea otter returning to villagers’ screens. The special character will be offering players recipes for a new set of mermaid furniture in exchange for scallops. Pascal, known for his tidbits of sea-related wisdom, was introduced to the series in Animal Crossing: Wild World, and has since appeared in most versions of the game.

Pascal sharing some wise words in Nintendo’s official trailer for the update. Photo credit: Nintendo.

Pascal sharing some wise words in Nintendo’s official trailer for the update. Photo credit: Nintendo.


Island visitor Gulliver will also be getting a summer look, so watch out for the pelican’s new pirate gear the next time he washes up ashore. Nintendo included in their announcement that another summer update is planned for early August, hinting that fireworks may be involved. Both updates will be free, and you can watch the full announcement
here. Happy diving!

More from The Interlude:

On top of stacks of books sit a bench, bed, and subway. These places represent where recent college graduates rediscovered reading for leisure.

The Renewed Pleasure of Reading as a College Graduate

Academia can distract from a love for reading. Here’s how new graduates got it back.
Spongebob, a cartoon, stands up from his chair with a dazed look on his face. He's about to head out.

Songs for Resting, Reflecting, and Reimagining the World

Find peace with these smooth serenades, wistful warbles, and catchy choruses.
A grave inscribed "Here Lies That Girl" over a ground littered with a green smoothie, gold hoop earrings, a plant, a face mask, and more.

Being “That Girl” is Antithetical to Rest

No matter how hard you try, life is not a Pinterest board.
1 2 3 20