A useful bug became a feature in Animal Crossing: New Horizon’s latest update

By Don Reisinger July 30, 2020

Nintendo added back a bug it removed earlier this month from Animal Crossing: New Horizons after players said they actually wanted it to be part of the game.

The game company quietly added the ability to remove the head-up display (HUD) from Animal Crossing: New Horizons in its latest Version 1.4 Summer Update. When players press the right analog stick down, they’ll be able to remove all on-screen overlays to give them a clear view of the game’s characters and environment.

Earlier this month, Nintendo updated Animal Crossing: New Horizons with a variety of bug fixes, including one that removed the ability to nix the HUD. Soon after, players took to Twitter, Reddit, and Nintendo forums to decry the move and say that it was a useful feature. Many players said they would often remove the HUD when they were using the title’s NookPhone Camera app to take screen captures and record game footage.

Nintendo didn’t acknowledge the bug removal and didn’t respond after the outcry surfaced. In release notes accompanying the update on Thursday, Nintendo only said that it added the feature to the NookPhone Camera app without acknowledging that it previously removed it.

Nintendo has not responded to a Digital Trends request for comment on why it added back the HUD-removal feature.

In addition to the new camera feature, Nintendo’s Version 1.4 Summer Update includes a new seasonal event called Fireworks Show that will allow players to watch in-game fireworks events each Sunday in August. The update also includes new seasonal items in Nook Shopping and the ability to back up game save data to Nintendo’s cloud storage. Players will also find new dream sequences that let them explore the world and visit each other’s islands.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons launched on the Nintendo Switch in March and quickly became an international success. Digital Trends gaming editor Lisa Marie Segarra reviewed the game in March and awarded it four stars out of five and an Editors’ Choice award.

“New Horizons is packed with delight,” Segarra wrote in the review. “It’s fun, with rare cross-generation appeal.”

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Don Reisinger is a freelance technology, video game, and entertainment journalist. He has been writing about the world of…

Gaming

The best Animal Crossing games, ranked from best to worst

My New Horizons character dances next to her satellite farm.

The Animal Crossing games have always had a dedicated fanbase. It wasn't until Animal Crossing: New Horizons arrived on the Nintendo Switch, however, that the series exploded in popularity. This cute life-simulation series speaks to the more laid-back crowd, somewhere between a game like the Sims and a Harvest Moon-style game. While each game does mix things up, adding new mechanics and ways to express yourself and explore, the core concept has always been about taking your time, making friends, and living out a peaceful life in these bright and colorful worlds. Oh, and paying off the massive debt you always seem to get dumped on you by Tom Nook, of course.

Animal Crossing began on the N64 in Japan, but the first time we got to experience this lovely series was on the GameCube in 2001. Including the debut entry, only eight titles in the series have been made across various systems. While this is a small number compared to some other Nintendo franchises, such as Zelda or Mario, each game can be played almost endlessly. The number of things to do, make, decorate, and more makes it hard not to get hooked on these games. Whether you're a seasoned villager or looking for a new game to relax with, we've taken all of the Animal Crossing games and ranked them from best to worst.

Gaming

Animal Crossing: New Horizons ordinances guide

Isabelle making the morning annoucements.

It only makes sense that as the owner of your own island, you should be in charge of just about everything there. Since the beginning, you've had a huge amount of control over how your island works, including transforming the landscape itself to look exactly how you want it to. One thing you couldn't do, however, was lay down the law. In past games, you were able to enact rules called ordinances that changed the way your village functioned, but these options were missing from Animal Crossing: New Horizons until the giant 2.0 update.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons has been a part of our lives for over a year now, but finally we can start to make the game work more toward fitting into our schedule rather than the other way around. These ordinances were great in past titles, and having them back will make your life, both in and out of the game, much easier. But, considering how long it's been, and how many people may not have played a past game with them in it, here's a full guide on ordinances in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

Gaming

Animal Crossing: New Horizons terraforming guide

Animal Crossing player poses with their terraformed waterfall.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is all about customization. With the version 2.0 update, returning players are opting for a complete island overhaul, while new players have plenty of tools and toys to work with. They'll re-shape the landscape of their island through terraforming, a mechanic that elated long-time Animal Crossing fans when it was announced in New Horizons. You will have to unlock the terraforming app, aka the Island Designer App, on your NookPhone if you plan to reshape the landmass around your island. Here's how to unlock terraforming in Animal Crossing: New Horizons and some helpful hints on using it best.

How to swim in Animal Crossing: New Horizons
How to play the turnip Stalk Market in Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Animal Crossing: New Horizons beginner’s guide