Animal Crossing for Switch will not see release in 2019. With the Switch’s jam-packed release schedule until the end of the year, this is not entirely surprising. Before E3, Nintendo announced that Animal Crossing for Switch would not be playable at E3. That’s a good indicator the game needed more time in the oven.

However, Nintendo still showed off the game. We found out that the new title is called Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Fitting, as this game takes place on a tropical island, as opposed to a pre-built town you move into. There seems to be a big emphasis on crafting this time around, as you’ll be crafting your own tools and other items to put in your house and around your town that you’ll be building from scratch.

For the first time in an Animal Crossing game, there will be local multiplayer co-op on one system. I’m sure there will be online and wireless multiplayer as well.

I’m intrigued. I’ve put a lot (A LOT) of time into Animal Crossing: New Leaf, and was concerned that the Switch version would play it safe. That doesn’t seem to be the case at all. New Horizons looks to be doing the opposite with a new setting and new gameplay elements not seen in the series up until now.

The official release date is March 20, 2020. I have a feeling the delay is going to be worth the wait.