Nintendo has revealed a brand new Switch console 'inspired' by the new Animal Crossing game

"Inspired" by new game Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Nintendo has revealed a brand new edition of its Switch console. The console comes with blue and green pastel-coloured Joy-Con controllers, and is themed around the game which has you exploring an island and making use of its resources to develop it into a thriving community. The console itself features a custom design on its rear, recreating several from the game, and the dock shows the characters of Tom Nook, Timmy and Tommy on an island. You'll also get a download code for the game itself. Here's everything you need to know about it: Is it a new console? (Photo: Nintendo) No, the Animal Crossing-themed Switch isn't a new console, just a more colourful version of Nintendo's existing games machine. Apart from the snazzy new colour scheme, there's no change over the original model, everything runs exactly the same "under the hood" and there are no new features. Can I buy the Joy-Con and dock separately? The new edition of the console is certainly a looker, and fans of the Animal Crossing games will likely be desperate to get their hands on it. But if you already own a Nintendo Switch, forking out for a brand new machine might not be the most enticing idea. Thankfully, there may be some news on that front, and it looks as if Japanese Switch owners will have the option of buying the standalone parts of the Animal Crossing bundle individually. The Nintendo Japan store is listing the Animal Crossing Switch dock and the pastel-coloured Joy-Con separately. The Joy-Con are priced at 8,228 yen (around £60) and the dock is listed at 6,578 yen (approximately £45). Whether this option will be available to Switch owners in the UK is yet to be confirmed, but it will likely be possible to import the components to Britain. But many fans will be crossing their fingers in the hope that the option becomes available here. How much does it cost? (Photo: Nintendo) Despite the console not being available for a couple of months, a number of pre-order deals have sprung up in earnest. GAME are offering the console bundle for £329.99, while Nintendo's official UK store has it slightly cheaper at £319.99. When can I play it? The New Horizons Aloha Edition Nintendo Switch will be available from 13 March. On the same date, a New Horizons Aloha Edition carry case and screen protector will also be available for purchase. That's a week before the game itself is due out on 20 March. What is Animal Crossing? Animal Crossing is one of Nintendo’s most relaxing series, casting players as a newcomer to a rural town inhabited by cute, anthropomorphic animals. Through the completion of everyday tasks like farming, delivering items for fellow residents or socialising with in-game characters, players carve out a virtual life. There are no defined objectives, and you are free to explore the town at your own leisurely pace. The games are played in real time, which means the on-screen settlement reflects the changing seasons of the real world. It also means that if you don’t play the game for a few weeks, you can come back to a town overrun with weeds; something to add to your virtual to-do list! New Horizons will follow a similar format to previous games in the series, with non-linear gameplay playing out in real time. The big difference is that you're not a newcomer to a new village, but instead the first visitor to a deserted island after purchasing a dodgy all-inclusive package deal from Tom Nook (who in previous games set players up with their first house and gave them a mortgage). You start with just a simple tent, which you can pitch anywhere on the island - including the beach - and it's then your job to explore, making use of its resources and developing the island into a community to attract more residents. This article first appeared on iNews

Nintendo has revealed a brand new Switch console 'inspired' by the new Animal Crossing game - here's everything you need to know

Is it a new console?