The latest Animal Crossing entry, officially subtitled Pocket Camp, will launch for mobile devices in late November as announced during the series’ Nintendo Direct presentation earlier today.
Isabelle, who acts as the players’ assistant in 2012’s New Leaf, introduced fans to the video before a narrator took over, explaining the title’s features. Pocket Camp is the first Animal Crossing for a non-Nintendo platform, following the footsteps of mobile games Fire Emblem Heroes and Super Mario Run.
The smart device installment puts players into the shoes of a human camp manager trying to revamp a bare campsite into a trendy spot for animal villagers to visit. With a new focus on camping, the series ditches the house ownership dream and instead gives players their own compact camper van to call home. Players can decorate the interior and exterior of their campers, much like their houses in past Animal Crossing games, but with less floor space.
A trio of new characters is in charge of changing the camper’s exterior and upgrading to a more spacious vehicle. Beppe, Carlo and Giovanni, three birds, run Pocket Camp‘s OK Motors, where players can request a variety of paint jobs or add a second floor to their camper. Giovanni, who appears to be in charge of the auto shop, is reminiscent of the series’ notable home builder and salesman, Tom Nook, in the way he reminds players of the loan they need to pay for his services.
Despite camping being the game’s main draw, many of the classic Animal Crossing features remain, with a few new ones. Decorations can be crafted by collecting a series of new items, such as bundles of wood, and sending an order to handyman alpaca Cyrus. More luxurious furniture can be found in Timmy and Tommy Nook’s marketplace setup.
Amenities, such as pools, can also be built but require a large amount of real-world time. As shown in the presentation, a pool takes roughly 72 hours to complete, echoing the Public Works Projects in New Leaf.
While players might be busy renovating their campgrounds, they can also befriend various animals who each have a distinct personality and style. A newer addition to these relationships is friendship levels, which raise when completing tasks or talking with villagers. Higher friendship levels mean specific animals are more likely to show up at the player’s personalized camp site.
Other players’ characters may show up in-game, allowing friend requests in addition to visiting another user-created dwelling when talked to. Peer-to-peer economics is also available, as two players can see each other’s Market Boxes and exchange Bells for bugs, fish and fruit.
Seasonal events and limited-timed items are expected to arrive in the game after its November release. A specific date has not been announced.