What was announced
Companions have practical exploration abilities, including reaching hidden areas and destroying obstacles such as rocks and fallen trees.
Confirmed facts
- Abilities vary by animal.
- Obstacle removal is explicitly confirmed.
- Companions also help uncover secrets.
What it means for players
This feature makes companion selection part of route planning, but no announcement identifies which animal handles each obstacle.
This update narrows one specific player question using the publisher’s wording. It does not turn unreleased footage or marketing copy into invented routes, values, schedules, or performance claims.
What remains unconfirmed
Animal-to-ability mappings, cooldowns, progression gates, and whether tools can replace companion skills remain unknown.
Official source
Source: Natsume first-trailer announcement, published 2026-06-18. This independent fan-site summary was reviewed on 2026-07-19.