New Horizons’ January 2021 Update Reintroduces Pavé
Animal Crossing: New Horizons will introduce a free update on Jan. 28, which includes the Festivale event and new furniture and clothing items.
Nintendo released the trailer for the next Animal Crossing: New Horizons update on Tuesday, with a heavy focus on the return of Pavé and Festivale. There are also a number of new furniture and clothing items for players to collect, and Nintendo teased an upcoming Super Mario-themed update for March.
Despite reports of ceiling furniture and villagers being able to visit players in their island homes, neither of these features appears to be in the January update. The core component seems to be the Festivale event, which doesn’t take place until Feb. 15. Here’s what players can expect from the next New Horizons update.
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Festivale in Animal Crossing: New Horizons
For the Festivale event in New Horizons, players will have to collect different colored feathers to give to Pavé, who will do special dances and give players themed furniture and clothing in return. Feathers will fall from the sky during Festivale, so players will need a net and — potentially — some patience to catch the ones they need.
Additionally, players can purchase the Viva Festival Reaction set from Nook’s Cranny, which includes Feelin’ It, Let’s Go, Viva and Confetti, for a limited time. The Able Sisters tailors shop will also have limited-time Festivale clothing items starting Feb. 1, so players can really get in the groove.
Festivale takes place Feb. 15, the day before Mardi Gras. It’s likely Nintendo will lock the event ahead of time, so players who time travel will not be able to access it early.
New Seasonal Items
In addition to Festivale-themed items, Animal Crossing: New Horizons will also feature items to celebrate Valentine’s Day, Groundhog Day, Lunar New Year and the Super Bowl.
Chocolate hearts and heart-shaped bouquets can be purchased from the Nook Stop and the Nook Shopping app from Feb. 1-14, and players can also acquire a Rosetti figure for Groundhog Day, though it’s unclear how at time of writing. Similarly, players can celebrate the Lunar New Year on Feb. 12 with special in-game items, which will presumably be available through Nook Shopping. The Big Game Celebration items include a football-shaped rug and megaphones.
Player Response
Animal Crossing: New Horizons players are in the unique position of playing a game that is updated semi-regularly, as opposed to past Animal Crossing titles, which were released as complete games all at once. Thus, there are several features missing from past games that players are eager to see return, including beloved NPC Brewster and the Roost Café, as well as villagers visiting player homes. Players also want quality of life improvements, like more custom design slots and the ability to bulk-craft items.
Despite dataminers finding code for these features and more, Nintendo has yet to release most of these features in New Horizons. Each update is met with outcry on social media over the perceived lack of content coming to the game, and some players have dropped out of the life sim altogether because of these piecemeal additions.
Hopefully, the March update will feature some of these additions, so veteran and new players alike can experience some of the most beloved aspects of the Animal Crossing franchise.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is available now for Nintendo Switch. The next update will be available for download at 10 a.m. Japan time on Thursday, Jan. 28. The next free update for New Horizons is scheduled for March.
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