Animal Crossing: New Horizons gets Switch 2 edition and massive free update

Nintendo today shocked the gaming world by shadow dropping an announcement for a Switch 2 edition of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, as well as a major free update for both original Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 players.

The announcement came earlier today, with Nintendo revealing that both the Switch 2 Edition and the free 3.0 update would launch on January 15th, 2026 – just over four years since the last major update, which released alongside the Happy Home Designer DLC.

Switch 2 Edition – What’s included?

A screenshot from the Animal Crossing: New Horizons update video showing the megaphone in use. — You can now use a megaphone to call and locate villagers.

The Switch 2 Edition of Animal Crossing: New Horizons will include several improvements and additions over the base game on the original Switch, including:

Improved visuals, but framerate remains locked at 30fps
Online multiplayer has been expanded to support 12 players from eight
A new megaphone that supports the Switch 2’s microphone, so you can locate villagers
Gamechat support with webcam
Mouse controls that can be used to decorate and create designs

Like previous Switch 2 Edition games, it’ll be available as a standalone purchase for all new players or through an update path, although Nintendo hasn’t yet confirmed the price of either.

Major 3.0 free update: Everything all players can enjoy

A screenshot from the Animal Crossing: New Horizons announcement video showing the Hotel and Tom Nook. — You’ll get to decorate and customize guest rooms at the Hotel.

Meanwhile, the 3.0 update will be free for all players, including those on the original Switch, and it includes some major new additions as well as quality-of-life changes. They are:

Craft in bulk
Kapp’n Hotel added to the dock with eight rooms for guests
Hotel rooms that you can decorate
Craft DIY items for Hotel Tickets to unlock new rewards
New themed items and sets
New controls for terraforming, including side and back stepping
House storage can be expanded to a maximum of 9000 slots
Resetti can be called to clean up areas of your island
Zelda and Splatoon Amiibo can unlock unique collab characters and items
LEGO collab items and furniture
Nintendo consoles can play retro games
Slumber dream islands with unlimited creativity and the ability to select size

Most players have welcomed the announcement, although several have expressed skepticism over the game’s direction towards becoming a decorating sim, as well as the need for several further updates to bring the game’s features up to par with those of past Animal Crossing games, most notably New Leaf.

A screenshot from the Animal Crossing: New Horizons video update showing the new customisation tools. — More customization is coming your way.

Still, it’s great to see Nintendo still show Animal Crossing some love after its mammoth success over the Covid-19 pandemic – although the update does suggest that it’ll be a while before we ever see a brand new Animal Crossing title on the Switch 2, and if we do, it’ll likely lean more towards being a decorating sim.

More details, including pricing, will likely be announced as we approach the Switch 2 Edition and 3.0 release date, so make sure to tune in then. But for now, why don’t you watch the official announcement video?