Animal Crossing: New Horizon’s Switch 2 Upgrade Will Be Essential If You Like This Part of the Game

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As a huge Animal Crossing fan, I was really hoping 2025 would bring a brand new game announcement. But honestly, I was thrilled with what Nintendo did show us – a big update for New Horizons! It’s actually two updates: a free content patch (version 3.0) with tons of new stuff for everyone, and then a souped-up version of Animal Crossing: New Horizons built for the Switch 2. I recently read a preview from ComicBook where they got to play both, and it sounds amazing. If you’re like me and love decorating your island in New Horizons, the Switch 2 version is going to completely change the game!

A new version of Animal Crossing: New Horizons is coming to the Switch on January 15, 2026. Current owners of the game can upgrade for just $5, while new players can purchase the full game for $64.99. If you enjoy designing and customizing your island, this upgrade is definitely worth considering. The new Joy-Con 2 controls for decorating are particularly impressive – they offer the most precise and intuitive experience I’ve seen in the game so far.

Switch 2 Controls Will Revolutionize Decorating in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

I’m not very good at decorating in games, and I definitely don’t want to show off my Animal Crossing: New Horizons island! But honestly, I think a lot of players struggle with the same thing. The Switch controls have always made it hard to precisely place items and move things around. However, seeing how the Joy-Con 2’s mouse controls work, it’s clear the new Switch 2 version will fix this problem.

Now you can easily move items after you place them by simply clicking and dragging – no more picking them up and putting them down! You can even select multiple items at once to rearrange or store them quickly. Seeing this feature in action, it’s clear that anyone who enjoys decorating in Animal Crossing will love this on the Switch 2. It might even inspire me to finally design my island!

One of the coolest things about the Switch 2 version is definitely the free Dream Islands update. Seriously, it’s about time we got a way to decorate a second space without having to totally redo our main island! Everyone gets the update, but having a mouse with the Switch 2 makes decorating these new islands SO much easier and faster. I can actually get my creative vision down without spending hours moving stuff around!

The Free 3.0 Update Adds New Items to Collect, But Many Will Require Amiibo

Even if you don’t have a new Nintendo Switch yet, there’s still something exciting coming on January 15th! A free update for Animal Crossing: New Horizons will let you design hotel rooms for visitors. You’ll be able to choose from a special set of furniture and items to create the perfect space for each guest. While the update will be even more enjoyable with the new Switch controls, it’s a great way to express your creativity no matter what system you have. Plus, you’ll earn a new type of currency called Tickets as a reward for your decorating skills!

You can now use Tickets to buy new decorations for your islands! The free update includes hotel-themed clothing and items, giving you more ways to customize your island or Dream Island. There are also special collaboration items available, but some require an Amiibo figure to unlock. The Legend of Zelda and Splatoon collections need an Amiibo, which means there’s a cost to access them if you don’t already own one. However, if you don’t collect Amiibo, you can still purchase a LEGO and Nintendo Classic collection using Bells or Tickets.

The upcoming 3.0 update and the new version of Animal Crossing: New Horizons for Switch 2 are heavily focused on letting players customize and decorate even more. Since decorating is a favorite part of the game for many fans, these new features are a welcome addition and will give players plenty of opportunities to get creative. Both the free update and the Switch 2 upgrade will be released on January 15th, 2026.

Enjoying the new, more accurate decorating options in New Horizons? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/gaming/list/all-4-animal-crossing-new-horizons-features-exclusive-to-nintendo-switch-2/embed/#

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2025-12-16 17:10