The Latest 'Animal Crossing: New Horizons' Update Adds Dreaming and Fireworks Shows

The latest updating coming to Animal Crossing: New Horizons will add two additional features to the Nintendo Switch game, the ability to visit other players’ islands via dreams and summertime firework shows. Firework shows will be available every Sunday in August after 7 pm and can be purchased by redeeming Bells for raggle tickets. Those tickets can be exchanged in the plaza to unlock “various festive items,” according to Nintendo in a news release. Players can even customize firework design patters personally.

Meanwhile, the dreaming mechanic is returning to the Animal Crossing franchise in this second summer update. Players only need to take a nap in a bed in their home to activate the function. “While dozing off, you may find yourself in a strange realm where you’ll be greeted by Luna,” Nintendo said. “Luna offers visits to other islands as a dream, and with her help, you can share your island as a dream with others too. She will grant those who share their island a “Dream Address” which players can exchange and use to visit each other’s island in a dream.”

Nintendo also notes that “nothing is permanent because nothing you do is saved, so explore to your heart’s content,” meaning nothing collected during dreams is retained when your character wakes up. Dreaming was previously introduced in the Nintendo 3DS game Animal Crossing: New Leaf. In New Leaf, players had to visit the Dream Suite in order to start “dream walking.”

Lastly, Nintendo will introduce a new island backup service that will automatically upload the island and users save data online at certain times. The island backup feature is separate from the Nintendo Switch’s cloud save feature via Nintendo Switch Online.

The next Animal Crossing: New Horizons update will arrive on July 30.

In other gaming news, Analogue’s Game Boy-inspired handheld is now open for pre-orders.

[Announcement]
🎆 Weekly fireworks shows in August!
🛌 Visit other players’ islands in a dream!
💾 Island Backup & Restoration

The #AnimalCrossing: New Horizons Summer Update – Wave 2 lights up the sky on 7/30. #ACNH pic.twitter.com/aqxeH6utcJ

— Isabelle (@animalcrossing) July 28, 2020