Animal Crossing Mario update announced at Nintendo Direct - everything included, and launch date on Switch

As part of Nintendo’s full-fat Direct presentation last night (17 February), the gaming giant revealed the next big update to come to Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

Almost a year after it was first released, the sleepy tropical island simulator remains as popular as ever, thanks in part to its ability to scratch a lockdown wanderlust itch. and Nintendo’s dedication to supplying regular content updates.

The latest ties in with Super Mario’s recent 35th anniversary, and is the latest event in a long line of celebratory events to mark 35 years of one of gaming’s most iconic characters.

Super Mario themed items will be coming to Animal Crossing.

Here is everything you need to know.

What’s coming to the update?

Firstly, players will be able to dress up their Animal Crossing avatars in a range of Mario-themed items, like dungarees and hats; you can dress up as Mario, Luigi, Wario, or Princess Peach.

There even appears to be some kind of face mask that gives your character the trademark bulbous nose of the Super Mario Bros themselves. It looks a bit odd, but at least it’s on theme.

Secondly, there will be a range of Mario-themed objects that wouldn’t look out of place in the Mushroom Kingdom.

Question Blocks will dispense collectable coins, Thwomps provide some obstacles for your island, Goal Poles allow you to assert your allegiance either to Bowser or the Mushroom Kingdom, and power-ups like Super Stars and 1-Up mushrooms are also present.

In theory, it’s everything you need to create your own Super Mario levels with the world of Animal Crossing, and particular gifted players are sure to be able to come up with something spectacular.

Of course, you can just dot these items around your island if you’re simply looking for something colourful.

How do Warp Pipes work?

Warp Pipes are an iconic mainstay of the Super Mario universe, allowing the portly plumber to travel from one location to another effortlessly.

In much the same way as they work in those games, so too will they function in Animal Crossing: simply place a warp pipe in any two locations on your island, and you’ll be able to hop in and be whisked magically to the other.

This is a feature not seen before in the Animal Crossing games and is likely to be a big hit with fans.

Although the large, bright green pipes may clash with many players’ island aesthetics, they will no doubt still provide welcome transportation across islands – or even to secret areas – speeding up traversal from one location to another.

Besides, the ingenious Animal Crossing community will no doubt come up with some ingenious ways to hide or incorporate the unsightly pipes into their islands.

When will the update be available?

The update will be available as a free download from Thursday 25 February.

However, the Animal Crossing items themselves won’t be available until Monday 1 March, when they will be available to order through the Nook Shopping terminal on your island.