New terraforming information

[Rainy Day]

Hello all. According to a user on reddit, (Source: https://old.reddit.com/r/ac_newhorizons/comments/fgbi28/new_terraforming_limits_confirmed/), there's an Italian video on Youtube they translated. The two people in the video were able to play AC:NH and released some new information on terraforming.

- River mouths cannot be modified.
- Beaches cannot be modified.
- Water cannot be placed within one grass tile of the beach.
- Fourth tiers can be created but we can't reach them. (A message appears saying that it's too dangerous.)

I think it's great news. If true, and if I'm understanding correctly, we can theoretically cover the entire map in water with the exception of one grass tile before the beach. (Adding clarification: I understand we still have villager houses, buildings, etc. But that's a given. I'm referring to, aside from these obvious things, it looks as though we have the power to transform the entire island to our liking with the four exceptions listed above. )


Update:

A reviewer on Pocket Lint claimed that the terraforming permit is purchased with Nook Miles later in the game. (Under the "Ups and downs" paragraph). Source: https://www.pocket-lint.com/games/reviews/nintendo/151307-animal-crossing-new-horizons-review-nintendo-switch

There's a lot of speculation on what the criteria may be for unlocking the ability to purchase the permit, if it's locked from purchase at all.

 

[ctar17]

Thank you for this information! I suspected the river mouth rule, but now that it is likely confirmed, looks like I'll be choosing the starting map based on those mainly.

Does anyone else like the mouths at the East/West and South coasts instead of both at the south? I feel like I see a lot just talking about both being at the south, but not too many otherwise...

 

[Rainy Day]

Thank you for this information! I suspected the river mouth rule, but now that it is likely confirmed, looks like I'll be choosing the starting map based on those mainly.

Does anyone else like the mouths at the East/West and South coasts instead of both at the south? I feel like I see a lot just talking about both being at the south, but not too many otherwise...

Yes, same!

Looks like I'll be resetting for peaches, yellow Airlines, south end resident services, and river mouths!

I'm really hoping for an East/West river mouth, (completely horizontal), with only one South river mouth. I've only seen one map so far with that feature, but there's a chance at least.

 

[Krissi2197]

I'm a big dumb. What does river mouths mean?

 

[Dacroze]

I'm a big dumb. What does river mouths mean?

A river mouth is where the river flows into the ocean

 

[Fey]

I was hoping for something completely new, but it?s still good to have these points confirmed?thanks for sharing the info!

All of these seem pretty reasonable and like what we expected. All I care about knowing now is which buildings can/can?t be relocated and whether trees are still restricted by area ;ェ;

 

[Jhine7]

I suspected these rules to be the case. Nice to have confirmation though!

 

[tajikey]

Here's to hoping there's a river mouth dead center heading out the bottom.

 

[Flyffel]

I just wanna say that maybe we should stop calling it terraforming and call it landscaping, because terraforming means modifying a planet to be earthlike. This includes modifying the atmosphere etc. lol

And yeah I called it terraforming at first too, I blame Gamexplain.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terraforming

 

[Rainy Day]

I just wanna say that maybe we should stop calling it terraforming and call it landscaping, because terraforming means modifying a planet to be earthlike. This includes modifying the atmosphere etc. lol

And yeah I called it terraforming at first too, I blame Gamexplain.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terraforming

I agree, but I wanted to use the terminology we're all used to and avoid confusion.

 

[Fey]

I just wanna say that maybe we should stop calling it terraforming and call it landscaping, because terraforming means modifying a planet to be earthlike. This includes modifying the atmosphere etc. lol

And yeah I called it terraforming at first too, I blame Gamexplain.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terraforming

I get what you’re saying, but I don’t think it’s a problem (or even wrong, really). While true that it’s used primarily for what you describe, the word itself literally just means “earth-shaping”, which is exactly what the feature does.

 

[Eternal]

This is good! I'm totally fine with the river mouths honestly, I'm not creating too many rivers anyhow.

 

[Aaren]

I am very happy to hear that we can make 4 levels in total, even we cannot make it to the very top! If I understood right!

 

[sierra]

I feel like 2 river mouths pointing in any ONE direction can be a bit of a burden later on. The narrow pieces of land on the outside of the river can be hard to landscape.

 

[AquaMarie]

I just wanna say that maybe we should stop calling it terraforming and call it landscaping, because terraforming means modifying a planet to be earthlike. This includes modifying the atmosphere etc. lol

And yeah I called it terraforming at first too, I blame Gamexplain.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terraforming

I get what you're saying, but I'm not sure using the word landscaping would work. When I think of landscaping in AC I think of placing trees, bushes, flowers, etc. We need a word that differentiates the two and terraforming doesn't really bother me personally...we are so used to using it. But who knows, maybe the in-game description of how to use it will inspire a new name later on.

 

[moo-kun]

I'm hoping that we may be able to hire an NPC like Chip to alter the mouths of the rivers but I'm just gonna wait to see if these are true... Thankies so much for the update ♡♡♡

With the fourth tier, I'm thinking that if it was reinforced then it will be safe in the future? But you won't be able to access it early on in the game for safety?

 

[Azrael]

Thank you for this information! I suspected the river mouth rule, but now that it is likely confirmed, looks like I'll be choosing the starting map based on those mainly.

Does anyone else like the mouths at the East/West and South coasts instead of both at the south? I feel like I see a lot just talking about both being at the south, but not too many otherwise...

My island plan is to have one river end on the west and the other end on the bottom!

 

[Fey]

With the fourth tier, I'm thinking that if it was reinforced then it will be safe in the future? But you won't be able to access it early on in the game for safety?

I don’t really see it becoming accessible eventually, especially considering that the terraforming feature doesn’t even unlock until later in the game anyway. It’s too bad, but I’m fairly sure the restriction will be permanent for the 4th layer.

 

[Azrael]

I don’t really see it becoming accessible eventually, especially considering that the terraforming feature doesn’t even unlock until later in the game anyway. It’s too bad, but I’m fairly sure the restriction will be permanent for the 4th layer.

I wonder what the purpose of the fourth layer is then? If we can’t get to the top the. I believe we can’t create a waterfall from it so what’s to point?

 

[DJStarstryker]

This all sounds about right. Definitely confirms that it's worth resetting to make sure you're fine with the river mouths that your map starts with.

I wonder what the purpose of the fourth layer is then? If we can’t get to the top the. I believe we can’t create a waterfall from it so what’s to point?

Maybe to create cliffs? AC games have always had inaccessible (without hacking) cliffs, so it could easily replicate that.