By Hannah K
Nintendo gave everybody an early Halloween present earlier this week! There will be an extra-spooky Animal Crossing New Horizons Halloween update coming September 30th, and judging by the video they've released it is going to be chock-full of exciting new content.
The first big addition is PUMPKINS! Before this update, you've only been able to grow flowers and trees on your island. This update promises to add pumpkin plants, which, when grown, you can use to craft new DIY recipes. In the video, we get a peek at a jack-o'-lantern scarecrow! Can you say adorable pumpkin patch alert?! They also teased a stack-o-lantern, pumpkin gate, hanging lanterns, a spooky crafting table, displayable jack-o'-lanterns, and candy displays!
Also being introduced are new costume-style outfits (dresses, tops and bottoms, and headwear) and new customization options that include unnatural skin and eye colors. Two previously-unseen emotions will also be available, allowing you to make some scary faces and spook your villagers.
On Halloween night, the czar of Animal Crossing Halloween himself, Jack the adorable pumpkin-headed spook, will be appearing on islands and will trade lollipops for limited edition furniture. Your island neighbors will also be stalking around in costume, and apparently will prank you if you don't have any candy to give them.
Nintendo also let us know about a planned early October update to the Nook Link app (which lets players use their real-life phone to connect to the game). The update will allow you to perform emotions using your phone, which will make scaring your villagers and fellow players with the new spooky reactions that much easier.
In past Animal Crossing games, there's been limited-edition wallpaper, furniture items, and costume pieces that weren't teased or shown ahead of time, so there's still plenty to wonder about with this update. Will the Spooky furniture items (that all look like jack-o'-lanterns) make a return, or will this furniture set be unique to New Horizons? With the brand-new addition of pumpkin growing and crafting, there's sure to be plenty to keep us creepy peeps occupied through October.
I know I'm already planning a space for my future pumpkin patch and readying a section of my island to be a haunted haven. I'm so excited to see what Nintendo and Jack have to offer this Halloween, and hope I'll see loads of spooky creepy islands popping up soon.