Nintendo has given Animal Crossing: New Horizons a major second life: a free 3.0 content update for existing Switch players and a new Animal Crossing: New Horizons — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition will both launch on Jan. 15, 2026. The company is also offering a low-cost upgrade pack for Switch 2 owners who already own the original game.
What’s arriving on Jan. 15
The headline: all players on the original Nintendo Switch will receive the free ACNH 3.0 update on Jan. 15, and Nintendo Switch 2 owners can buy a native Switch 2 Edition of the game. Nintendo’s announcement lays out new island features, quality-of-life upgrades and a batch of cross-promotional items and functions. For full details see Nintendo’s release here.
Key points at a glance:
- Release date: Jan. 15, 2026 (free 3.0 update for Switch; Switch 2 Edition launches the same day).
- Switch 2 Edition price: $64.99 MSRP for digital or physical copies.
- Switch 2 Upgrade Pack: $4.99 for existing Switch owners who buy a Switch 2 and already own ACNH.
- Many new features are cross-platform — the update content is playable on both consoles.
- Resort Hotel: A new hotel on your pier run by Kapp’n’s family. Players help decorate themed guest rooms, earn a hotel-ticket currency and unlock exclusive items at the souvenir shop.
- Slumber Islands / Dream World: Nintendo Switch Online members can design and save up to three “Slumber Islands,” choose layouts and collaborate with friends in a fresh, editable space that resets independently of your main island.
- Bigger storage and island reset tools: Home storage can be expanded (up to 9,000 items) and you’ll be able to store trees, shrubs and flowers. A Reset Service led by Resetti helps clear areas of unwanted flora and debris.
- New items and collaborations: Nintendo-themed items (from Ultra Hand to retro consoles), LEGO items, Zelda- and Splatoon-themed content and amiibo interactions are part of the update. Some retro games inside these console items require a Nintendo Switch Online membership to play.
- Improved visuals: Sharper graphics and support for 4K resolution in TV mode (frame rates capped at 30 fps).
- Mouse controls: A mouse-like cursor mode on the right Joy-Con lets players place multiple pieces of furniture and edit custom designs with more precision.
- Megaphone: A return of the megaphone tool that uses the system microphone to call villagers by name and pinpoint them on the map.
- Expanded online play and CameraPlay: If every player owns the Switch 2 Edition, sessions can host up to 12 players online (up from eight). Players can also connect a compatible USB camera to stream faces into the game via CameraPlay.
- If you plan to move to a Switch 2: back up your island now and follow Nintendo’s transfer instructions carefully. Several players reported confusion or accidental data loss when moving saves between consoles.
- If you own the current Switch version and plan to stay: you’ll get the 3.0 content for free; weigh whether the $4.99 upgrade is worth Switch 2–only features like higher res and mouse mode.
- If playing with friends matters: to use the expanded 12-player online sessions, every player needs the Switch 2 Edition.
What the free 3.0 update adds
The free update leans into creativity and convenience while also adding new shared multiplayer spaces.
These additions are designed to give players both more creation tools and ways to share and showcase designs with visitors.
What the Switch 2 Edition brings
The Switch 2 Edition builds on the free content with platform-specific enhancements:
Note: some Switch 2 features — like CameraPlay — require additional peripherals (USB camera sold separately) and Nintendo Switch Online for multiplayer features. Nintendo’s GameChat voice service will be available without an NSO membership until March 31, 2026; after that it will require a membership.
Price and upgrade choices
Buyers on Switch 2 who don’t already own New Horizons can purchase the full Switch 2 Edition for $64.99. Existing Switch owners who upgrade to Switch 2 can buy a $4.99 Upgrade Pack rather than repurchase the full title. The free 3.0 content itself will still be available to original Switch owners.
Players’ reactions: nostalgia, relief and debate
The announcement pulled lapsed players back into the conversation and sparked a mix of nostalgia and debate. Many longtime fans are excited to revisit unfinished islands, finish long-abandoned projects and try new social features. For some, the update is exactly the kind of sandbox boost they wanted: more room to decorate, new currencies and collaborative islands to tinker with.
At the same time, a vocal portion of the community has criticized the update’s strong emphasis on decorating and cosmetics, arguing it further tilts New Horizons toward a dollhouse-style experience rather than deeper life-sim systems. Others push back, pointing out that customization and furniture trading have long been central to Animal Crossing’s design and community appeal — and that the new features restore a sense of progression and goals for returning players.
Verge writers and other players shared intimate, mixed impressions when they re-opened older islands — from nearly pristine, lovingly curated homes to chaotic, overgrown fields and even lost islands due to migration and backup mistakes — underscoring how personal the game’s appeal is.
What this means for players
Final take
Nintendo’s surprise return to New Horizons with a large, free update and a Switch 2 Edition is both a technical upgrade and a content push that leans into what many players love about the series — customization, social play and gentle creativity. Whether the new focus will satisfy players who wanted more “life-sim” depth remains part of the conversation, but for now the announcement delivers clear, concrete features, a small upgrade price for current owners, and a fresh reason for millions of islanders to log back in this January.
For the official rundown of features, pricing and launch details, see Nintendo’s announcement here.