Animal Crossing: New Horizons has released a Fall Halloween Update patch to allow players to make their islands as spooky as possible for the upcoming holiday. Pumpkins are now an item in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and like other materials in the game, can be used to build or develop other projects. 

Like previously holidays or social trends to take place since the exclusive Nintendo Switch release of AC: New Horizons on March 20, 2020, the Halloween patch has seen many a community member show of a spooky new island aesthetic. The social aspect of Animal Crossing has been one of the largest ongoing conversations in gaming this year because of the global COVID-19 pandemic shutting down most — and at times, all — non-virtual social interactions. 

In addition to pumpkins being added to New Horizons, the most recent Animal Crossing patch brings new eye colors, new Halloween costumes at Able Sisters, and a book of DIY pumpkin-themed ideas for those having trouble deciding where to start. An event will also be taking place on Halloween in-game. 

Forward-facing Halloween updates via the new patch to Animal Crossing: New Horizons were also accompanied by a handful of quality of life changes, most notably the adjustment to give players the option to hide items not for sale in the catalog when Nook Shopping to streamline the browsing experience. 

Since the release of the original Animal Crossing in 2001, the game has always been about the social aspect of personalizing one's experience and then sharing, comparing, and experiencing other people's take on the same gaming experience. The exponential developmental rate of social media technology over the past decade has only created a more convenient, streamlined way of these interactions.

Specifically, the Halloween update on Animal Crossing: New Horizons comes at a much-needed time when standard social interactions are hindered by the COVID-19 pandemic by creating a new virtual avenue for those to celebrate the festivities. 

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