Now that Animal Crossing: New Horizons has been out for almost a year, in-game events will soon start to circle back around and brand new content will start to grow slimmer. And while the in-game holidays such as Halloween and Toy Day have provided a wholesome experience, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic, they aren't that different from what was seen in Animal Crossing: New Leaf.
The biggest difference between the two is, of course, the crafting and terraforming features. Crafting was first introduced with the mobile spinoff Pocket Camp, but many players have noticed how many more furniture sets are available in the mobile game compared to the Switch exclusive. And despite the in-game events provided by free updates bringing some new content in, terraforming and island configuration, the main focus of this Animal Crossing installment, haven't been touched since the game's release.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons Needs More Furniture Sets
Gamers are rarely excited over the idea of paying even more for a game they've already put money towards, but once terraforming and decorating the island up to a five-star rating has run its course, what's there to do afterward? This is typically where DLC comes in when content can be added to enhance the experience but isn't vital for the main game. Oftentimes, dedicated fans are the ones willing to spend money on paid DLC, and Animal Crossing is no stranger to a strong fan base always wanting more.
When it comes to Pocket Camp, paid content worked successfully. Every so often, new themed furniture sets release, such as the Artisanal Bakery Series, the Boba Shop Series, and the Serene Hotspring Series (all of which have been highly requested for New Horizons). Players obtain furniture chosen at random through matching fortune cookies, which can be purchased with the premium currency called Leaf Tickets. There are dozens upon dozens of sets in Pocket Camp that don't appear in New Horizons.
Of course, mobile games and console titles work a bit differently; if players have spent $60, they expect the content to be included in the expense, so most players might not put down a few dollars here and there just for some cosmetic items. This works best with free-to-play titles like League of Legend or Genshin Impact. But what about multiple furniture sets and other highly requested items in one big bundle?
Other Content Additions for Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Now that Animal Crossing: New Horizons' vanilla mechanics are starting to grow old with much of the community, there are lots of other elements requested by players that could be included in DLC packs. One of the most asked for items is NPCs that still haven't made an appearance in New Horizons. For example, Brewster was a beloved character who worked at The Roost Cafe in Wild World and City Folk. While some villagers may mention him in conversation, Nintendo hasn't acknowledged the pigeon being added into New Horizons, though nagging for him has become something of a meme in the community.
But what's one perfect way to introduce Brewster into New Horizons? The addition of new buildings. The only real buildings that exist in New Horizons are Town Hall (which can't be moved), the Museum, Able Sisters, the airport, and Nook's Cranny. Previously, The Roost was located in the basement of the Museum, but it would be a great addition to New Horizons stylistically, especially for the many fans who have dedicated a corner of their islands to being a cafe.
Other fans have requested adding in RVs to Animal Crossing: New Horizons, or even allowing crossplay or connectivity between a player's Pocket Camp and New Horizons accounts. Most mobile players that pay to collect furniture sets would likely pay a small fee to connect their campgrounds and their islands as well. In general, there's a lot of space to expand upon what's already been created in New Horizons, such as allowing more freedom with terraforming, the missing exotic fruit, and the number of villagers allowed on an island, that many Animal Crossing fans would be willing to spend a chunk of change on.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is out now for the Nintendo Switch.