viva-monteor:

• decorate villagers’ homes
• put curtains on windows
• move rugs around
• hang things from the ceiling
• put chairs closer to tables and still be able to sit on them
• choose where villagers live
• have a town with different terrains, such as:
• desert,
• forest,
• and cliffside
• put villager homes on the beach
• or on islands
• change the seasons at will
• design homes for NPCs
• give villagers jobs
• design a main street including:
• a school,
• cafe,
• hospital,
• and shops
• put furniture outside
• choose the exterior of villagers’ houses
• complete character customization from the beginning including:
• hair,
• facial features,
• and skin tone
• directly invite villagers to move in (via amiibo cards)
• have more than 10 villagers

Sources: Nintendo Direct Announcement, E3 Trailer, E3 Treehouse Event, Japanese Trailer/Sneak Peek, Hyper Japan Demo