Even four months after launch, Animal Crossing: New Horizons players are finding new secrets to enjoy. Releasing at the beginning of the global lockdown period, New Horizons took the series to heights not before realized. From talk shows to celebrity meet-and-greets with everyone from Danny Trejo to the mascot of Wendy's, it seems that just about everyone was taking out a loan with Tom Nook and settling onto a new island. There are even enough players to support a makeshift economy trading villagers and items online, though Nintendo doesn't approve of anything like that.
Of course, not everyone is in it for the fad. Animal Crossing has a huge fanbase going back to its debut on the Nintendo 64 in Japan. When it came stateside on the GameCube, its outdated graphics seemingly added to the charm, and many players were hooked for life. After so many years away from a proper franchise entry (and a lackluster party game to boot), New Horizons provided the deep life simulations players were looking for. Now, even as some players stray more towards using the game for creative means, others are content to find secrets left in by the developers as they go about their daily tasks.
Such is the case with the discovery of the moment, courtesy of missmarymax on Reddit. Apparently, when a player visits the museum at night for some late-night fossil identification, they can also see the insects they've curated duking it out in some sort of "Beetle Fight Club." They've recorded the incident as well, showcasing the insects butting heads for the entertainment of their bug companions. According to posts below the video, it's maybe not just a random selection of bugs either. Some have seen a winner return to the tree the next night to take on a new challenger, while other commentators mention seeing unusual bugs taking in the beetle combat.
Has anyone noticed the big tree in the museum becomes Beetle Fight Club at night? from AnimalCrossing
Others on the comment thread point out that this isn't as hidden as you think, which only goes to show the depth of Animal Crossing: New Horizons. There are so many aspects of the town to discover that players keep stumbling onto this even after months of play. While the museum has been in the game from the beginning, it's just one small part of an expansive whole that changes and reveals new aspects of itself along with the seasons.
While one might hope that Blathers isn't getting in on this action, the Beetle Fight Club is just one way that Animal Crossing: New Horizons shows off the polish you expect from a Nintendo property. Outside of Stardew Valley, no game in the life simulation genre is such a clockwork masterpiece, and there aren't nearly as many people posting their favorite quotes from Penny as they are fan art of Cube the Gamecube loving penguin. With Animal Crossing established in Super Smash Bros. with multiple characters, it's firmly established as one of the Nintendo's premier franchises, and there will undoubtedly be other towns full of secrets to explore in the future.
Source: missmarymax