Animal Crossing: New Horizons have a few new features that show Nintendo are being more inclusive. Some of these new features are ones that fans of the franchise have been asking for for a while. However, there will also be some new inclusive features in New Horizons that will make it more enjoyable and relatable, that nobody really expected.

Choosing Your Hemisphere

New Horizons lets players choose their hemisphere. The real time clock in previous games was always set to the northern hemisphere. Now, players living in the southern hemisphere will be able to choose their hemisphere and experience appropriate seasons throughout the year. 

Customisation from the start

In previous mainline Animal Crossing games, the only way to have control of your character’s initial appearance was by answering the questions of Kapp’n or Rover with specific answers. Being able to customise your character from the start will allow players to create a character they truly identify with.

Different Skin Tones + New Hairstyles And Hair Colours

Initially introduced in Happy Home Designer, New Horizons will be the first mainline Animal Crossing game where players can choose from a variety of skin tones. Players of colour previously had to go through the annoying tanning process to get their player to have darker skin.

Additionally, New Horizons will include a wider variety of hairstyles and hair colours for players to choose from. These additions will allow players to express themselves more freely and have characters they can relate too. This is especially the case with the introduction of hairstyles for people of colour.

All Facial Features And Hairstyles Are Gender Free

New Horizons will have two new nose types (round and square) in addition to the traditional triangle nose shape, and various mouth types and hairstyles to choose from. These are all gender free, so you can be who you really are.

You Can Change Your Look At Any Point In The Game

Like in Pocket Camp, players will be able to customise their look at any point in the game. This is a great feature for many reasons. Whether you’ve dyed your hair, got a new haircut, or changed gender, you will always be able to have a character who reflects who you really are.

First Game In The Franchise To Be Localised in Latin American Spanish + An Introduction Of Mexican Elements

Those of you who speak Latin American Spanish will know that it can differ to European Spanish slightly. Examples include idioms and alternative words for items. Therefore this is great news for Latin American Spanish speakers.

Additionally, there will be elements of Mexican culture in the game. Clothing is a confirmed element, as a character can be seen wearing a “Vestido de China Poblana”, which is an outfit from the Mexican state of Puebla.

Players Can Learn About New Cultures

The recent Animal Crossing: New Horizons Nintendo Direct mentions “learning about new customs we aren’t familiar with”. The video then proceeds to show a character wearing a kimono. Whilst different cultures have been a part of previous games, an expansion on this with a wider variety of cultures being represented would be great.

Animals’ Speech Bubble Colour No Longer Tied To Gender

In previous games, an animal’s name in their speech bubble would either appear in pink or blue, depending on their gender. In New Horizons however, the colour will match the NPC’s colour scheme instead.