Forgot password
Enter the email address you used when you joined and we'll send you instructions to reset your password.
If you used Apple or Google to create your account, this process will create a password for your existing account.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Reset password instructions sent. If you have an account with us, you will receive an email within a few minutes.
Something went wrong. Try again or contact support if the problem persists.
animal crossing new horizons preload unlock times

Animal Crossing New Horizons Preload & Unlock Times

This article is over 4 years old and may contain outdated information

This Animal Crossing: New Horizons preload guide will talk you through when you can preload the game, and when it’ll unlock on your Nintendo Switch so you can finally get playing.

Recommended Videos

We’re just over a week away from the day that Nintendo fans the world over have been waiting for for over half a decade. Animal Crossing: New Horizons is coming to Nintendo Switch on March 20, and that means players will have a fresh island to develop, villagers to befriend, and a house to expand.

Preloading Animal Crossing: New Horizons

The good news is that you can begin preloading Animal Crossing: New Horizons right now. All you need to do is pre-order and fully pay for the game from the Nintendo Switch eShop.

Once you’ve done this, the game will begin preloading onto your system. You’ll need to make sure you’ve got a permanent internet connection, of course, but if you’ve already accessed the Nintendo eShop, this shouldn’t be an issue for you.

The progress of preloading Animal Crossing: New Horizons will be shown on your home screen by a little bar filling up in front of the tile for the game.

It’s worth noting here that Animal Crossing: New Horizons will take up roughly 6.2 GB of space on your Switch’s internal storage, so make sure you’ve freed up enough room.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Unlock Times

Just because you’ve got the game preloaded, doesn’t mean you can just start playing it whenever you want. You’ll need to wait for the unlock time to hit before it’ll be playable. We’ve listed all Animal Crossing New Horizons preload times below.

  • Eastern Time – 12:01am March 20
  • Pacific Time – 9:01pm March 19
  • Hawaii – 6:01pm March 19
  • UK – 11:01pm March 19
  • CET – 12:01am March 20

That’s all you need to know regarding Animal Crossing: New Horizons preload and unlock times. You can search for Twinfinite or have a browse through more of our coverage on the game below.


Twinfinite is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy
Author
Image of Chris Jecks
Chris Jecks
Chris Jecks has been covering the games industry for over eight years. He typically covers new releases, FIFA, Fortnite, any good shooters, and loves nothing more than a good Pro Clubs session with the lads. Chris has a History degree from the University of Central Lancashire. He spends his days eagerly awaiting the release of BioShock 4.