Animal Crossing Wave 2 Summer Update release date and content announced!
It was just a few days ago that we spoke our minds about what we thought the Animal Crossing Wave 2 Summer Update would bring to New Horizons. It was mostly theory-crafting, really, and though we did mention a fair few relevant data mines, not even in our wildest dreams had we suspected that virtually all of them would drop!
That's precisely right: just about every data-mine we mentioned at the start of the week is coming out with the admirably substantial Wave 2 Summer Update! Nintendo did push out a batch of new information about the update - including its release date - so it's our goal for the day to summarize all of that and offer it in a nice and tidy package for your consideration.
If you're looking for the release date, summary, content, and new features coming with the Animal Crossing Fall update, you've come to just the right place!
Animal Crossing Wave 2: Summer Update Summary!
This is all very exciting, but we must not get ahead of ourselves! The first order of business is a nice and tidy summary of all the content that's coming with the Animal Crossing Wave 2 Summer Update. Here's what we know:
- Island Backup & Restoration service
- Luna the Tapir NPC + Dream Suite
- Fireworks Shows
A whole heap of honey, isn't it? Don't forget to watch the Youtube trailer for the upcoming update, too! Now that that's done, we can focus on going through the specifics of each major new feature!
Wait, what is the Wave 2 Summer Update release date, exactly?
This awesome new content update for New Horizons is set to launch on July 30th, so really, really soon! With less than 24 hours to go, it's the perfect amount to hype things up, honestly.
Animal Crossing Island Backup & Restoration
One of the biggest quality-of-life features that Animal Crossing: New Horizons has been missing up until now, the Island Backup & Restoration functionality has been a long. long time coming.
Basically, this option allows Nintendo Switch Online users to connect to Nintendo's service and make backups of their game's progression and Island state. Then, if they want to move over to a different Switch console for whatever reason (e.g. lost or destroyed Switch, or upgrading from Lite to normal), they can just download said backups and continue playing without any loss in progression. Clouds saves are an incredible thing, they really are.
According to the official announcement blog, all the important details about the Island Backup & Restoration functionality will be available via the Consumer Support page, but after the update launches. So, if you'd like to learn more from the horse's mouth, that's where you need to go.
Animal Crossing Dream Suite is back!
If you're not interested in the technical aspects of the Wave 2 Fall Update, the upcoming Dream Suite will definitely be its defining feature instead. Veterans of the franchise will know that this does, but essentially, dreaming allows you to visit other people's Islands without them having to be around! It's not quite as exciting as the addition of swimming - at face value - but it's going to revolutionize content discovery and player engagement in the long run, we're sure. Don't forget that it will also basically nullify thievery, since you'll now have the option of letting people visit a dream-copy of your Island, instead of them having to visit "in-person".
Here's what Nintendo themselves had to say: "While dozing off, you may find yourself in a strange realm where you’ll be greeted by Luna. Luna offers visits to other islands as a dream, and with her help, you can share your island as a dream with others too." Players will now get a so-called Dream Adress from the new Luna the Tapir NPC, which will then open up the world of Island exchange and visitation with minimal hassle. Nice!
"In dreams, nothing is permanent because nothing you do is saved, so explore to your heart’s content," said Nintendo.
Animal Crossing Fireworks Shows: Custom Designs and all!
The final major feature of the update are the Fireworks Shows! Adding a taste of glorious pizzazz to the Animal Crossing experience, Fireworks Shows promise a spectacle like no other: "Enjoy atmospheric fireworks lighting up the sky above your island every Sunday in August at 7 p.m."
From what we can tell, Fireworks Shows are going to be limited to August as a sort of a seasonal event, for the lack of a better term. Players will have the option of exchanging Bells for unique new festive items, as well as put a personal spin on the fireworks themselves.
Now, we're not saying we're going to have custom Fireworks Shows here at AC Runway, but we're also not saying that we won't! Supreme-themed fireworks? Might happen!
Wrap-up!
There's a bunch of stuff to unpack here, we're well-aware. Not only have data-mines proven to be almost entirely correct, but we also feel that this further underscores Nintendo's dual dedication to both Switch and New Horizons. We can't wait to see what else they might have in store for us!
As ever, expect further updates as they drop - right here at AC Runway. With less than 24 hours to go before the Animal Crossing Wave 2 Summer Update drops, we suggest you get a breather, get some rest, and then get to refreshing your console for awesome new content!