Animal Crossing New Leaf – Welcome Amiibo

Animal Crossing New Leaf – Welcome Amiibo is an updated version of the Nintendo 3DS title Animal Crossing – New Leaf with additional content, mainly the inclusion of amiibo support. Internally, the update is referred as version 1.4 of Animal Crossing: New Leaf. This is the first major update released for the game, arriving four years after the game’s initial launch in 2012. The update was released worldwide on November 2, 2016 via the Nintendo eShop as a free digital download for existing New Leaf players.

In addition, the update is included on physical retail Game Cards released on November 23, 2016 in Japan, November 25, 2016 in Europe, and December 2, 2016 in North America. The Japanese and European releases include one free amiibo card with every copy. Welcome amiibo introduces amiibo compatibility to the game. Amiibo from the Animal Crossing series, as well as amiibo from several other Nintendo franchises, are compatible.

Villagers can be brought into New Leaf by summoning Wisp, who will prompt them to scan a character’s amiibo to make him transform into said villager. Once summoned, the villager will set up camp in a new campground managed by a new special character, Harvey. At that point, the player can invite the villager to live in their town. 50 villagers from Animal Crossing and Doubutsu no Mori e+ who were absent in New Leaf and earlier entries also return to the series with this update. On November 11th, 2016, 50 new amiibo cards were released featuring these 50 returning villagers.

Other amiibo series are compatible, and scanning them introduces exclusive characters and items. For example, Splatoon amiibo will bring Inkwell, Cece, or Viché into the game, as well a series of Splatoon-themed furniture and clothing items. The Legend of Zelda series amiibo also work, adding Medli, Ganon, Epona, or W. Link. Monster Hunter Stories amiibo will add Felyne to the game. Six other new amiibo cards which add villagers from a crossover promotion with Sanrio were also released in Europe and Japan.