During today’s announcement-packed Nintendo Direct, Nintendo showcased the upcomingAnimal Crossing: New Horizons. In the Direct, fans of theAnimal Crossingseries got to see a lot of what they can expect whenAnimal Crossing: New Horizonslaunches early next year, including new multiplayer functionality as well as a new crafting mechanic. Players will be able to play online with a bunch of friends as they work together to make the most of their deserted island experience.

While fans may be waiting a while longer to get their hands on on the game since theAnimal Crossing: New HorizonsMarch 2020 delay, Nintendo is making sure to get fans excited about the next installment in this classic relaxing franchise. In today' Direct, Nintendo showed off new multiplayer functions, which will allow players to play online with up to eight people on one island. There is also local co-op for the game, which will allow four-player to play simultaneously on the same Switch console.

Many of the stapleAnimal Crossingfeatures also made an appearance in the Direct. In the video, players can see plenty of fishing, gathering, socializing, and decorating which have all become synonymous with theAnimal Crossingfranchise.

One other new feature was shown off was the ability to craft tools and items, which adds a whole new benefit for players to go out and scavenge for materials. Players will be able to create tools and key items that will help them shape their deserted island to their liking. Fossils, bug catching, and much more are making a return, so die-hard fans of the series will feel right at home on the new deserted island, all it needs now iscloud saves inNew Horizons.

With the addition of anauto-save feature inNew Horizonsand more quality of life changes, it seems like itis shaping up to be a great new installment in the beloved life-sim franchise. WhileNew Horizonsis still a ways off, Nintendo will hopefully showcase more of this highly anticipated game as March slowly approaches.