Animal Crossing: New Horizons Switch 2 – What’s Changing?

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In 2020, as the world faced challenging times, Nintendo launched Animal Crossing: New Horizons for the Switch. The game let players escape to a virtual island where they could build, decorate, and create a thriving community by inviting residents to live there. It quickly became incredibly popular, selling almost 49 million copies on the Switch.

Despite no longer being officially supported since November 2021, New Horizons is making a comeback on January 15th, 2026, with its release on the Nintendo Switch 2. Plus, a major update – Version 3.0 – will be available for both Switch consoles, adding lots of new content and features. Here’s what you need to know before you start playing!

4K in TV Mode

The new version of Animal Crossing: New Horizons now looks even better on TVs, displaying your island and everything happening on it in sharp 4K resolution. However, the game still runs at 30 frames per second, whether you’re playing on the TV or in handheld mode. The reasons for this are complex, but if you’ve played the original Switch version, the performance will feel familiar.

Mouse Controls

Okay, so one really cool thing is they added mouse support using the right Joy-Con! It’s a game-changer for decorating – I can finally drag and select a bunch of items and move them around easily. It’s not just about that, though. I’m already picturing myself making awesome custom bulletin boards with the paint tools, and even writing messages by hand – it’s gonna be so much more personal!

12 Player Online Sessions

Frustrated with the player limit on your island? The new Switch 2 Edition lets you expand things, increasing the number of players per session from eight to twelve. While that might not sound like a huge change for a standard island, it’s great to have more friends running around and enjoying everything you’ve created.

CameraPlay

Players can now show their reactions beyond just saying things, thanks to features like GameChat and CameraPlay which display their facial expressions above their characters. This requires a Nintendo Switch Online subscription and the Switch 2 Camera.

Megaphone and Switch 2 Mic Support

Nintendo is considering a fun new feature for the Switch 2: a megaphone that uses the console’s microphone. This would let players shout commands or simply find villagers more easily – finally giving them a way to yell at their Animal Crossing residents (if they want to!).

Resort Hotel

The features we talked about are only available on the new Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. However, Switch 1 owners will also get a free update, Version 3.0, on the same day! This update adds a fun new feature called the Resort Hotel, where you can welcome visitors to your island. You’ll get to design and decorate guest rooms with different themes and furniture. If your guests like what you’ve done, they’ll let you know!

Hotel Tickets and Souvenir Shop

The best part of visiting resorts is earning Hotel Tickets from Kapp’n for completing tasks. You can then trade these tickets at Grams’ Souvenir Shop for cool items like decorations, furniture, and even t-shirts! If you love a resort’s style, this is how you can bring a piece of that vacation feeling home with you.

Crafting Island Goods for Hotel Tickets

Tom Nook, always looking for new ventures, is now getting into the resort business! Luckily, it mostly involves making furniture like desks and wardrobes. By collecting materials and crafting these items, you’ll earn Hotel Tickets, making it a worthwhile activity. Plus, it’s a great way to use up any extra resources you have.

Expanded Home Storage

As we add more and more items to the game – on top of the thousands already there – running out of storage space is bound to happen. Luckily, Version 3.0 lets you expand your home storage! You can increase your capacity from 5000 to 7000, and eventually to 9000 slots, giving you plenty of room. Plus, you can now store trees, shrubs, and flowers, which is great news alongside another fantastic new feature.

Resetti Service

Made a mess on your island in Animal Crossing and don’t feel like cleaning? Resetti now offers a Reset Service that will tidy up any area you choose. You can decide what to do with flowers and custom designs – leave them as they are, store them for later, or remove them completely. The Reset Service can be used on a single area, the beach, or even the entire island if you want a fresh start.

Slumber Islands

While dreams in the game were fun, they felt a bit limited. To solve this, Nintendo is introducing Slumber Islands – personal, customizable spaces you can access while your character sleeps. You can choose from three sizes, each with unique layouts, and then completely design it how you like using items you already own. Change the time of day and weather, invite your island residents, or even visit and collaborate on other players’ Slumber Islands. Plus, you can save up to three different designs, so feel free to build and rebuild to your heart’s content!

LEGO Items and Furniture

We talked about lots of new items coming to the game, and now they’re here – including LEGO items for the very first time! You can now buy things like beds, fireplaces, sofas, tables, T-shirts, and even a LEGO workbench through Nook Shopping. Feel free to decorate your home entirely with LEGO furniture, or combine it with items from the Resort Hotel and your existing decorations to create a totally unique style.

The Legend of Zelda and Splatoon Collaboration

If you own amiibo figures from The Legend of Zelda or Splatoon, you’ll find even more special items in the game. Zelda amiibo unlock things like the Triforce, Master Sword, and character outfits. You can also invite Tulin from Breath of the Wild to live on your island. For Splatoon fans, using a compatible amiibo will bring Cece and Viché (inspired by Shiver and Frye) to visit, and you can buy furniture and other items themed around the game, including chairs featuring Big Man.

$5 Paid Upgrade for Switch 1 Owners

The new version of Animal Crossing: New Horizons on the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 will be priced at $64.99, which might seem unusual. However, existing owners of the game on the original Nintendo Switch can upgrade for just $4.99, making the pricing logical. Even if you don’t buy the new console, the Version 3.0 update adds plenty of content to encourage you to return to your island, catch up with familiar characters, and meet new ones.

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2025-12-30 14:50