Animal Crossing: New Leaf - Welcome amiibo

Animal Crossing: New Leaf - Welcome amiibo is an updated version of the Nintendo 3DS title with additional content, mainly the inclusion of amiibo support. This is the first major update released for the game, arriving four years after the game's initial launch in 2012. The update was released worldwide on November 2, 2016 via the Nintendo eShop as a free digital download for existing New Leaf players. In addition, the update is included on physical retail Game Cards released on November 23, 2016 in Japan, November 25, 2016 in Europe, and December 2, 2016 in North America. The Japanese and European releases include one free amiibo card with every copy.

Announcements
The update was first announced on Nintendo's official Japanese website on July 2, 2016. It was later reaffirmed and announced for Western release via the September 1, 2016 Nintendo Direct.

On November 2, Nintendo released an official trailer and revealed additional information via a Nintendo Direct focused on the update.

amiibo and new villagers
Welcome amiibo introduces amiibo compatibility to the game. Amiibo from the Animal Crossing series, as well as amiibo from several other Nintendo franchises, are compatible.

Villagers can be brought into New Leaf by summoning Wisp, who will prompt them to to scan a character's amiibo to make him to transform into them. Once summoned, the villager will set up camp in a new campground managed by a new special character, Harvey. At that point, the player can invite the villager to live in their town.

50 villagers from and  who were absent in New Leaf and later entries also return to the series with this update. On November 11th, 50 new amiibo cards will be released featuring these 50 new villagers.

Other amiibo series are compatible, and scanning them introduces exclusive characters and items. For example, Splatoon amiibo will bring squirrel villagers based on Callie and Marie into the game, as well a series of Splatoon-themed furniture and clothing items. Amiibo from the Legend of Zelda series have also been confirmed to work.

amiibo camera
Players will be able place villagers into photographs they take with their console's camera. The update also includes new items, many of which were introduced in. The player can also connect with their Happy Home Designer data if they own the game, which unlocks more new giant furniture.

Minigames
The update includes two new minigames, Animal Crossing Puzzle League and Desert Island Escape. These can be played by activating a Nintendo 3DS XL/New Nintendo 3DS XL or a Wii U piece of furniture, respectively.

Town

 * A new Campground has been built in town, and is located on the eastern or western cliffs of town (depending on town orientation).
 * A CAT Machine has been added outside of Town Hall, and allows the player to receive MEOW Coupons after completing Town Initiatives.
 * When opting to rebuild a town, the player can now sell the town to Tom Nook for a large amount of bells that can be transferred to help create a new town. The player's catalogue can optionally be sold for additional funds, or transferred to the new town.

Interface

 * Screenshots can now be shared to Facebook and Twitter directly from a dedicated button on the touch screen.
 * The TPC menu has been divided into tabs. One tab displays Town Initiatives while the other displays the TPC.
 * A secret storeroom can be purchased from Nook's Homes. It provides a large amount of additional storage space.
 * Furniture can be arranged using the touch screen after a secret storeroom has been purchased from Nook's Homes.
 * The 'Friends in Town' button is now a darker green colour.
 * The text box when loading and saving now has a light blue border, instead of cyan, and a dark blue background.
 * Fruit can now be stacked while in the storage interface.
 * The storage interface will remember the last viewed page for each tab instead of resetting to the first page.

Furniture

 * Many new Fortune Cookie items are available, including a Wii U and New Nintendo 3DS.
 * Floating balloon presents now contain items outside of the Balloon Series.
 * Clothes can now be hung up on the wall of a house.
 * Cushions now function as chairs, and can be placed on top of other chairs.
 * Certain chairs now also function as tables.
 * Many new objects, including two-tile items, can now be placed on tables.
 * The Balloon Dog Lamp has been renamed to Balloon Poodle Lamp.
 * The Sprinkler and Lawn Mower can now be ordered from the catalog machine.

Interactivity

 * Players and villagers can sit on rocks.
 * Players can shake trees while holding a Watering Can, Fishing Rod, Net, Slingshot, and Megaphone.
 * Players can interact with items in front of them while sitting down.
 * Players can perform a short dance when interacting with the campfire Public Works Project.
 * Players will pose in a fighting stance when interacting with a Judge's Bell.
 * Beans that are thrown on the ground in the Campground or Main Street will now attract nearby birds, who will land on the ground and eat them.

Miscellaneous

 * Existing Dream Addresses are not compatible with the update. A new address must be generated at the Dream Suite to share a Dream Town, and addresses now contain letters in addition to numbers.
 * Villagers can now move out up to 10 days after announcing to the player that they are leaving town, instead of the previous 5 day period.
 * An increased amount of former villagers now appear Main Street
 * Scanning a Villager's amiibo will bypass the 16 former villager limit, and allow that villager to move back into town.
 * Villagers can be invited to town from Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer, and their house will feature the layout as designed by the player in that game.
 * The filter used on custom designs is no longer used on designs placed on the ground, but is now used on designs used as wallpaper.
 * Using a Mii Mask now changes the player's skintone to match.
 * Fertilizer can now revive dead Perfect Fruit trees. Leif will mail a free sample to the player.
 * Cyrus will wave at the player when retrieving an item that has been customized at Re-Tail.
 * The lights of the Happy Home Showcase sign are now much brighter and a cold white light, instead of a warm white light.
 * Timmy and Tommy no longer explain how to use Wrapping Paper every time the player purchases it. They will now only give the explanation the very first time it's purchased.