Future update discussion/speculation

[TheKryptoKnight]

This is the topic that I'm most interested in discussing with other AC fans, but I've been struggling to find any decent conversations about this, that aren't rooted in complaints.

Content updates are one of the most exciting aspects about this AC to me. They've built such a solid foundation that is already a joy to play. I'm at 260+ hours, which is insane for me at this point in the game's life, compared to past games. The core mechanics are the best they've ever been in terms of quality of life improvements. Crafting is brand new, and has some rough edges still, and tools need to have some unbreakable diamond level to work towards, but overall this is imo the best base Animal Crossing game to build upon.

Some topics that I'm interested in hearing other people's views on:

1) What old things do you think they'll bring back? What do you hope stays gone?
2) What new features do you think they'll introduce to the series?
3) How frequent do you think updates will be?
4) When it's all said and done, how much bigger do you expect the game to be? Minor changes from what we have now or completely unrecognizable?
5) How do you think holidays will be handled on subsequent years? Exact same event/prizes like past games, or does stuff get added, similar to games like Overwatch?
6) What would have to be included in a paid dlc, larger style expansion to be worthwhile for you?

I don't want to go on too long here, so I'll throw my thoughts into separate replies, but I'm really interested in what you guys anticipate or hope for.

If your thoughts about the update model are especially negative... Your point of view is valid, but that's not especially what I want this thread to be about. I'm interested in hearing what people think will happen, given that this is the direction they've chosen to go.. not so much a discussion about IF this is the way you think they ought to have gone.

 

[Sephiroth]

2. For sure I forsee Bewsters returning. I would likely not be surprised if diving is brought back in the summer.
3) I see monthly updates being the likelyhood as it seems that was their intent. Other than that I am expecting a patch this week to fix those glitches.
5) Honestly, I don't know how they will handle them since the first one left a sour after taste. I would assume when support ends either the holidays end with them or they will become regularly available. Seeing as though events are network dependent should give us an idea how Nintendo plans to handle things.

 

[TheKryptoKnight]

2. For sure I forsee Bewsters returning. I would likely not be surprised if diving is brought back in the summer.
3) I see monthly updates being the likelyhood as it seems that was their intent. Other than that I am expecting a patch this week to fix those glitches.
5) Honestly, I don't know how they will handle them since the first one left a sour after taste. I would assume when support ends either the holidays end with them or they will become regularly available. Seeing as though events are network dependent should give us an idea how Nintendo plans to handle things.

With the holidays, I expect when service ends for this game, there will be a final patch to just make it all available, but I know that's a pretty common belief that we have no way to confirm

And as far as the sour after taste, I can't tell how much of that was their handling of things or how much was just because people don't care about bunny day As long as they tune down the villager dialogue a bit in the future, I think/hope things will be okay!

 

[brockbrock]

1. I have quite a few things I'm happy are gone, but one thing I hope returns is the Café, if not just to see how it is designed. Everything in New Horizons is beautiful. Adding on to that, I'd like to see Copper and the Police Station return too, as well as a Dream Suite kind of thing so we can explore other people's island at our own comfort!

2. I guess judging by the (so far) accurate dataminer that correctly predicted the Earth day content, I think Brewsters will return, as will diving, and it looks like we've got a chance at cooking and growing vegetables, to top it off.

3. I would think monthly for the rest of the year at the very least. They mentioned they planned to support the game for at least three years, so given the enormous popularity and exposure the game has gotten I think we have a chance to have a lot of additional content and support.

4. Of course the game will be significantly larger than it is now with all of the additions.

5. If the game is going to be supported for several years, I think they will spice it up somehow. Possibly new prizes, altered events but I have no idea.

6. New villagers for a start. Probably expanding the island, or possibly a construction planning app where you can pre-design your island without the auto-save... but realistically Nintendo basically own my wallet. I'll most likely buy whatever it is.

 

[voltairenism]

Since I'm very certain that the cafe will appear, my hopes are direct to minigames like New leaf. But mostly I am expecting for old NPCs to return with new mechanics, like a rotating NPC. I think at this pace we are getting an update per month, but I probably not staying for long, probably until christmas. I think, and hope, that the new items as acessible as possible without being boring. Celest and Redd are bad enough. I mean, they are cool, but the marke sucks.
I don't want for this to be the last we see of Cyrus and Reese. I love them but it seems they will just an empty shell of their former selfs on Harv's Island. Probably they will have some dialogue but I want to see them regurarly. I hope they give out something to you from time to time. If the roster of rotating NPCs gets too big, maybe there can two at a time, one walking around and one at the plaza.
I also want new UX updates. With *that thing* we got, I am pretty sure Nintendo is listening and probably will add more feature to make our lifes easier. I am hoping for a cart at Ables and the ability to buy multiple NMTs.
Well, that was an word vomit

 

[R. Planet]

This is the topic that I'm most interested in discussing with other AC fans, but I've been struggling to find any decent conversations about this, that aren't rooted in complaints.

Content updates are one of the most exciting aspects about this AC to me. They've built such a solid foundation that is already a joy to play. I'm at 260+ hours, which is insane for me at this point in the game's life, compared to past games. The core mechanics are the best they've ever been in terms of quality of life improvements. Crafting is brand new, and has some rough edges still, and tools need to have some unbreakable diamond level to work towards, but overall this is imo the best base Animal Crossing game to build upon.

Some topics that I'm interested in hearing other people's views on:

1) What old things do you think they'll bring back? What do you hope stays gone?
2) What new features do you think they'll introduce to the series?
3) How frequent do you think updates will be?
4) When it's all said and done, how much bigger do you expect the game to be? Minor changes from what we have now or completely unrecognizable?
5) How do you think holidays will be handled on subsequent years? Exact same event/prizes like past games, or does stuff get added, similar to games like Overwatch?
6) What would have to be included in a paid dlc, larger style expansion to be worthwhile for you?

I don't want to go on too long here, so I'll throw my thoughts into separate replies, but I'm really interested in what you guys anticipate or hope for.

If your thoughts about the update model are especially negative... Your point of view is valid, but that's not especially what I want this thread to be about. I'm interested in hearing what people think will happen, given that this is the direction they've chosen to go.. not so much a discussion about IF this is the way you think they ought to have gone.

1. I really don't care about any of the old missing features coming back really. Although I'm down for anything.

2. I feel like that dock is there for something. At some point a boat or something is going to happen there. Maybe to take you to mystery islands for a bell fee instead of NMT.

3. I'm so eager to learn if updates are going to continue as regularly as they have so far. I'm leaning towards yes because the game is made for updates in terms of content...and also its buggy as hell.

4. I don't think anything in terms of updates is going to utterly change the game into something else. But what it is can be way expanded on.

5. Holidays need to remain as they always have at their core. Tied to dexcorating a room with exclusive themed merch. DIY or not.

6. I'm so into this game I think I'd pay for anything.

 

[carackobama]

1) I hope they bring back more of the stores from the older games as they really flesh out the world of Animal Crossing, I could live without Club LOL though. I’d also like to see Brewster back in the museum!
2) I would love to see more species in a later update, as well as new events
3) probably every month or so to start, then eventually every few months
4) probably somewhere in the middle!
5) I think they’ll keep changing it up for sure
6) new unique items, new villagers and NPCs, new stores

 

[TheKryptoKnight]

As far as my own answers to my questions...


1) Brewsters and gyroids I think are a given to return. I also really hope we see some furniture themes come back! I opened PC the other day and saw the ranch furniture and got a little bit sad, because it was always my favorite! I ALSO really would like them to expand on fruit. Bring back the tropical fruit, bring the PC fruit... There are so many options just to be stuck with the base six. I NEED a Dream Suite, especially with dramatically improved island customization, this seems like a no-brainer.

I wouldn't miss Club LOL or really, Dr. Shrunk. I also never cared for diving, although I think it will come back. I hope it's a lot smoother/more fun this time.

2) I don't really think this will happen, but I'd love if we could help expand villager houses. If we really have a favorite villager.... Let them live in a mansion that rivals our own. Maybe have us design the additional rooms, HHD-style, so they don't have to put development time into creating hundreds of new pre-sets?

I also hope we see some more NEW special NPCs.. I really don't care what they do, but everyone is always so focused on the old favorites coming back... I'd like some more new favorites

3) I'm torn between approximately monthly and approximately seasonally. I could see us not getting another until late into wedding season, or I could see us getting one this week. I tend to think more pessimistically so I can be pleasantly surprised if it's more frequent.

4) My wording on this question was kind of dumb, but I think the game will be a majorly different experience in a few years. Not unrecognizable, but I think the additions will be significant.


5) This one I genuinely have no idea and what to see what you all think. I lean towards "exact same every year" because that's how it's always been, but if that's the case... Why not activate Bunny Day for 2021?

6) I'll be totally honest and say that I'd pay for anything. If content exists for this game, I want it. But I'd like to see a huge furniture addition, villager additions, and maybe a way to expand our islands?

Post automatically merged: May 17, 2020

1. I really don't care about any of the old missing features coming back really. Although I'm down for anything.

2. I feel like that dock is there for something. At some point a boat or something is going to happen there. Maybe to take you to mystery islands for a bell fee instead of NMT.

3. I'm so eager to learn if updates are going to continue as regularly as they have so far. I'm leaning towards yes because the game is made for updates in terms of content...and also its buggy as hell.

4. I don't think anything in terms of updates is going to utterly change the game into something else. But what it is can be way expanded on.

5. Holidays need to remain as they always have at their core. Tied to dexcorating a room with exclusive themed merch. DIY or not.

6. I'm so into this game I think I'd pay for anything.

I keep going back and forth on the dock. It's so easy for it to be there for something, and there's tons of precedence for it... But I think this is also the first time in the series that we've had dock specific fish, and I don't know how that would work if there was an NPC parked there.

 

[Hesper]

I am the opposite of everyone, in that I don't really care for gyroids at all and would love to see Shrunk back. Tell me more terrible jokes, old man!! Also, Katrina needs to return.

Nintendo has in the past been pretty cool about server stuff, but on the other hand there was time limited download furniture in NL iirc. So who knows re: events.

I actually thought May Day was a cute little break, i hope we get more fun minor things like that for low stakes that are noninvasive...

 

[Clock]

• Brewster and Gyroids
• Hopefully Gracie returns with her furniture sets
• Copper and booker return and tell what visitor
• Dr shrunk and club lol for K.K.
• Diving and new exhibits
• More mini-games like hide and seek
• Tortimer to return
• Easier terraforming
• Dream suite

 

[TheKryptoKnight]

I am the opposite of everyone, in that I don't really care for gyroids at all and would love to see Shrunk back. Tell me more terrible jokes, old man!! Also, Katrina needs to return.

Nintendo has in the past been pretty cool about server stuff, but on the other hand there was time limited download furniture in NL iirc. So who knows re: events.

I actually thought May Day was a cute little break, i hope we get more fun minor things like that for low stakes that are noninvasive...

I definitely want Katrina back too, but I'm a little nervous, since dataminers have confirmed that luck only affects HHA score.... and absolutely nothing else. Although I suppose they could implement more luck effects if/when they add her in!

I also really enjoyed May Day. I didn't mind that it was a one time thing and it was cool to have something a little bit different to do!

• Brewster and Gyroids
• Hopefully Gracie returns with her furniture sets
• Copper and booker return and tell what visitor
• Dr shrunk and club lol for K.K.
• Diving and new exhibits
• More mini-games like hide and seek
• Tortimer to return
• Easier terraforming
• Dream suite

I definitely forgot to mention Gracie/her furniture sets! That's a big one for me. Though, I'm fairly optimistic, since she was a late game unlock in NL too. I feel pretty confident she'll show up by the time we have this game's Nookington's.

 

[Katy88]

I really want the cafe back, in a separate building to the museum.

I'd also like a venue for KK to perform, rather than somewhat tragically sitting in my plaza all day, rain or shine, mostly being ignored by my villagers. He's a star, give him some dignity! The venue could either be a separate building or inside Brewsters, and I'd also like some sort of open mic night hosted by Shrunk.

I really want Dream Suite back, sometimes I just want a nosey around people's villages without the loading screens.

 

[sfelix]

hope they bring back:

• Diving/swimming
• lychee + banana trees
• music from the old games. Don't get me wrong I do like the NH music. I would like to see an option where you can switch the music to play hourly music from any of the previous games - maybe by talking to Isabelle, she would change the music settings for you.
• Outdoor features like the arches and whatnot in New Leaf. I know we can put furniture outside. But what if there were some outdoor features that had to be built, not placed? Imagine if you could only buy them with Nook Miles (not tickets), that would be interesting!
• Gyroids
• Phyllis, Pelly and Pete
• Resetti (don't know how but, still. I miss that guy)
• Police station
• Tortimer
• The Nooklings show you the wallpaper/flooring in the shop before you decide whether to buy it
• Customising furniture with fabric at the Llama shop

features I think (and hope) will make a comeback:

• modern furniture
• lovely furniture
• island games like in New Leaf
• diving/swimming and catching sea creatures
• Brewster
• Precious gemstones
• Katrina

new features:

• a recipe for a nectarine tree seed that uses apple + peach seeds
• customise fences (how awesome would the imperial fence look in black or white?)
• Other types of plants? What if you could grow, for example a grapevine and you can harvest grapes from it
• More fences and hedges. What about a recipe for hedge scupltures like this:
  
  
  
  How cool would it be if you could craft it in the shape of a specific villager, but ONLY if that villager gave you the recipe?

also improvements to current features:

• Copy/paste letter content
• Popup message: "pluck flower? yes/no"
• Abilty to lock a piece of furniture in place after you've placed it- so you don't go accidentally picking up a bench when all you wanted to do was collect a dropped stick
• A better method of collecting sticks that fall out of trees. Maybe a character who takes a fee to go and do it for you.

features I'd like to see but will probably never happen:

• A setting to make the characters as rude as they were in the GC game. Like, I understand why they toned down villager rudeness. I guess that stuff can be upsetting for kids. But if it was a setting you could switch on and off at will, then you don't run the risk of people being offended/upset by the dialogue.
• I'd like to see the travellers set up permanent shops on the island
• Morning aerobics and sports games as in the Gamecube game
• Washing Gracie's car

 

[TheKryptoKnight]

hope they bring back:

• Diving/swimming
• lychee + banana trees
• music from the old games. Don't get me wrong I do like the NH music. I would like to see an option where you can switch the music to play hourly music from any of the previous games - maybe by talking to Isabelle, she would change the music settings for you.
• Outdoor features like the arches and whatnot in New Leaf. I know we can put furniture outside. But what if there were some outdoor features that had to be built, not placed? Imagine if you could only buy them with Nook Miles (not tickets), that would be interesting!
• Gyroids
• Phyllis, Pelly and Pete
• Resetti (don't know how but, still. I miss that guy)
• Police station
• Tortimer
• The Nooklings show you the wallpaper/flooring in the shop before you decide whether to buy it
• Customising furniture with fabric at the Llama shop

features I think (and hope) will make a comeback:

• modern furniture
• lovely furniture
• island games like in New Leaf
• diving/swimming and catching sea creatures
• Brewster
• Precious gemstones
• Katrina

new features:

• a recipe for a nectarine tree seed that uses apple + peach seeds
• customise fences (how awesome would the imperial fence look in black or white?)
• Other types of plants? What if you could grow, for example a grapevine and you can harvest grapes from it
• More fences and hedges. What about a recipe for hedge scupltures like this:
  
  
  
  How cool would it be if you could craft it in the shape of a specific villager, but ONLY if that villager gave you the recipe?

also improvements to current features:

• Copy/paste letter content
• Popup message: "pluck flower? yes/no"
• Abilty to lock a piece of furniture in place after you've placed it- so you don't go accidentally picking up a bench when all you wanted to do was collect a dropped stick
• A better method of collecting sticks that fall out of trees. Maybe a character who takes a fee to go and do it for you.

features I'd like to see but will probably never happen:

• A setting to make the characters as rude as they were in the GC game. Like, I understand why they toned down villager rudeness. I guess that stuff can be upsetting for kids. But if it was a setting you could switch on and off at will, then you don't run the risk of people being offended/upset by the dialogue.
• I'd like to see the travellers set up permanent shops on the island
• Morning aerobics and sports games as in the Gamecube game
• Washing Gracie's car

This was a fantastic post! I'm completely on board with all of this. Your last section about things that you think would never happen, I could easily see Lief/Label/Kicks either getting their own shops or joining others!

Your hedge idea is also really cool... I kind of need it now...

 

[Edge]

1. For old things being brought back, I would like to see bananas, diving, sea creatures, many of New Leafs furniture sets, Brewsters, dream suite. I do not want to see grass deterioration.

2. Besides what has been data mined(cafe, dream suite, vegetables), I would like to see Cyrus and Reese bring the ability to customize fences and other Nook Miles items that we cannot do currently, Shampoodle bringing in new hairstyles, hair colors, make up, and piercings. I would also like to see new plant types like ferns, cacti that can be planted , and strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries. I want a fence that is see through like you would see in zoos or aquariums, new personalities for villagers and new villager species like bats, snakes, and ravens. I need a shopping cart for the dressing room at Ables and the ability to craft multiple items at once. HHA island where we can decorate the interior and exterior of villager homes.

3. We will get updates monthly, but events might be a little more frequent.

4. I think the game will still have the same feel, but if we choose to there will be more for us to do.

5. I would like to see updates to holidays like adding new furniture/ prizes to motivate players who have done the event to try it out again to get ahold of the new content. I think some smaller events might stay the same, but bigger ones like Easter could see additional rewards.

6. Paid DLC: Dinosaur island, where the villagers are dinosaurs and we use our shovels to dig up time capsules from the future. Underwater Living, where the villagers are whales, sharks, sea turtles, and dolphinsLol!!! Idk. I don’t see any of that happening. For me to purchase DLC it would have to have some game changing element or have a large amount of new content for me to consider.

 

[TheKryptoKnight]

A lot of people seem to think that the updates will come approximately monthly! I thought the community consensus was every 2-3 months. I definitely hope you all are right!

 

[th8827]

I would like to see Shampoodle return.

If Harriet is a wandering salesperson, she could unlock additional hairstyles or colors with each visit?

Or if she has a shop, she could have exclusive and/or seasonal/holiday hairstyles only available through her.

 

[telluric]

I hope that there will be more furniture!! But idk if this has been a thing in other AC games, where there are updates adding more furniture.

 

[wolfie1]

1) I'm hoping they'll eventually bring everything back, sooner or later. Some characters could be repurposed, such as Dr. Shrunk, since it's the villagers now who teach us reactions. I think Phyllis could come back if Nintendo improved the letter system. As it stands right now, I don't send letters because it's a pain in the ass.
2) It's been datamined that they'll introduce vegetables and harvesting. I don't know how I'll make it work because my island doesn't have much space now. I hate that I'll have to redo everything once new things are released, but if it looks better, I guess it'll be worth it.
3) I'd like them to drop updates on a monthly basis but I think it'll be more like seasonally. So the next one would be in late June or early July, since the wedding season ends is the latest stuff they announced in a video they released in late April.
4) I hope it's nothing like at the beginning, but closer to what previous AC games were like, in terms of available NPCs, buildings, etc.
5) If they follow the Pocket Camp model, they'll release new, different items every year, but that's never been done in full-fledged iterations, so they could simply bring those old DIY and pieces of furniture back. Or maybe they could do both, as there are players who started playing at a later date or were unable to collect everything.
6) I hope they don't follow this kind of practice. We've never had to pay for extra stuff. That's Pocket Camp's fault. I don't want this game to end up like The Sims, where players have to pay between €20-40 just for a couple of new features. I'm aware Nintendo is nothing like EA, but mobile games has changed the scenery, and I don't want them to transfer these practices over to console games.

 

[Mairmalade]

I'm hoping they bring back diving and static islands like the ones from the Gamecube game and New Leaf. The idea of having more islands to visit that have purpose (beyond the random island hopping for villagers/materials/catching) is extremely appealing to me. I'm also itching for morning aerobics and Brewster to make a return. Maybe even the release of mini-games?

We'll definitely see both seasonal and holiday-themed content. While the 'event' will likely remain the same, they'll probably add item variants. I could also see them releasing special furniture packs similar to the RVs from Welcome Amiibo.

For new features, I think our next big one will be related to gardening. @tanisha23 mentioned garden or green houses earlier today which would be a wonderful addition.