It has been announced that an official book based on Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ museum will soon be hitting shelves. The in-game institution is currently host to a stamp rally in honor of International Museum Day, which offers special plaques as rewards for completing stamp cards. A chance to learn more about the creatures in the museum could be a fun treat for players.
The museum, run by the bug-fearing Blathers, has always been an important part of Animal Crossing. It is here that players deliver collected fish, fossils, insects, and artwork, allowing Blathers to gradually build up a grand display of everything the New Horizons world has to offer. In New Horizons, the player’s burgeoning collection of wildlife is what first attracts Blathers to the island, leading to the building of a new museum from scratch. Blather’s position and his dedication to educating Villagers about the natural world have helped to make him one of Animal Crossing‘s most recognizable characters. His place of work has even helped children learn about real-life museums during the Covid-19 pandemic.
To expand the museum’s educational benefits further, VGC reports that an encyclopedia based on the exhibits found in New Horizons will be released in Japan later this year. Presented as an educational guide to the world of Animal Crossing, it will feature 235 different species. However, the information for each entry seems to be restricted to “a small infographic” instead of a more detailed description. Despite this, the available screenshots show the book covers everything from modern-day marine life to dinosaurs and even seems to feature a rudimentary tree of life. With the popularity of the game beginning to slow down due to a lack of fresh New Horizons content, tie-in products like this will likely be tiding fans until the franchise’s next installment.
The new encyclopedia is due to release on July 29, and will be accompanied by a DVD containing approximately 57 minutes worth of material. Unfortunately for international fans, there is no word of an English translation at this time. However, there is a strong likelihood that the book will eventually receive an English release, as New Horizons has maintained an expansive western audience.
While it is disappointing that the Animal Crossing encyclopedia won’t be available in the west for the foreseeable future, its release indicates the possibility of fresh material for New Horizons before the next game is announced. Books can make great merchandise for gamers, as they can provide new material and insight related to a player’s favorite games and can point out new secrets. Animal Crossing: New Horizons‘ museum is already a fun challenge in the game, and the encyclopedia will offer further chances for players to learn something new.
