Nintendo's 'Animal Crossing' now lets users go for a swim

WASHINGTON (SBG) — "Are you serious? I can't swim?" It's a complaint as old as video games themselves.

Anyone who has ever played a video game where your character dies after falling into the water feels this pain.

While Nintendo's newest "Animal Crossing" game isn't quite like that, characters were prevented from entering the water by an invisible barrier.

Well, that's all over now.

Starting Friday, characters can swim, but there's a catch. It'll cost you. Swimming requires a virtual wetsuit, which you have to buy using digital currency.

It's not exactly a perfect replacement for the hordes of gamers dealing with closed neighborhood pools and canceled beach trips, it's still a welcome respite from the coronavirus pandemic.

In a way, "Animal Crossing: New Horizons" has become a bit of virtual release for users. Some have held weddings and parties in the virtual world U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has visited families in the game.