After a few years, Animal Crossing fans have a fresh update to get excited about! The series is celebrating its 25th anniversary, and Nintendo is kicking off the year with a significant update for Animal Crossing: New Horizons. This update, version 3.0, is coming to the Switch 2 on January 15th and has already drawn players back to the game. To build even more anticipation, Nintendo has just released a free gift for players.
To ring in 2026, Nintendo is giving away some free items for Animal Crossing: New Horizons players. However, you need to be a Nintendo Switch Online member to get them, as they’re available through the game’s Custom Design portal. With a new Animal Crossing update on the way and many players renewing their NSO memberships for online play, now’s a great time to snag these free gifts!
Nintendo Shares Free Animal Crossing: New Horizons Designs to Celebrate the New Year
The latest designs are focused on celebrating the year 2026, so they’re a bit niche. However, free avatar items are always welcome! Nintendo has released three new designs featuring the numbers ‘2026’ and fireworks. Here’s what’s available:
- 2026 Knit Cap – Design ID MO-4BF9-FR90-X513
- 2026 Hoodie – Design ID MO-05W4-BPK8-3R2F
- 2026 Flag – Design ID MO-T5KK-WX8Y-VKP0
To get these free items, you’ll need to meet a few requirements first. You must have unlocked the Able Sisters shop in the game, which lets you use the Custom Design Kiosk at the back of the store. You also need a Nintendo Switch Online membership to use the kiosk. Once you’ve done those things, you can get the items by using the Design IDs provided.
How to Claim Free Custom Designs in Animal Crossing: New Horizons
If you haven’t claimed a Custom Design in a while, or if you’re new to Animal Crossing: New Horizons, here’s a quick reminder of how to get them.
To get the free New Year’s items, start by going to the Able Sisters shop and using the Kiosk in the back. You can search for designs using either a Creator ID or a Design ID. You can find the individual items by using the specific Design IDs provided. Alternatively, you can search for designs created by Nina / Nintendo by entering the Creator ID: MA-6818-1746-6029.
Once you’ve found the designs you like, tap Save to download them and add them to your Custom Designs app. You can then access and use these designs through the Nook Phone in the game.
A big new update for Animal Crossing: New Horizons is coming on January 15th! It’s free for all players on both the original Switch and the new Switch 2, and it includes lots of fresh content to discover.
Excited about the New Horizons 3.0 update? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!
Read More
- Best Controller Settings for ARC Raiders
- Ashes of Creation Rogue Guide for Beginners
- Meet the cast of Mighty Nein: Every Critical Role character explained
- Bloober Team launches ‘Remosd Neul Serorehso Ovam Ceyerd’ countdown website
- Arc Raiders Guide – All Workbenches And How To Upgrade Them
- Kit Keenan Slams Claim Mom Cynthia Rowley Helped Buy Her NYC Apartment
- Avengers: Doomsday Finally Gives The X-Men What Fox Refused To
- 7 Fantasy Movies That Aged Incredibly Poorly
- 5 Remakes Announced In 2025, Ranked By How Much We Actually Want Them
- You’ll Love All of Chrissy Teigen & John Legend’s Sweet Family Photos
2026-01-02 23:12