Animal Crossing: New Horizons hasn’t obtained a serious replace since 2021, and Nintendo beforehand confirmed no real interest in persevering with improvement on the five-year-old sport. It was an enormous shock when Nintendo, in October, introduced that Animal Crossing: New Horizons would get not solely a Nintendo Change 2 version, however a 3.0 content material replace, too. On Oct. 30, Nintendo dropped a 12-minute video breaking down the new details and gave press an early, hands-off look earlier in December.
Nintendo previewed the replace in a 25-minute demo covered by IGN, which stated the replace is basically centered on design and decor and Nintendo Change 2 quality-of-life enhancements. Right here’s what we all know thus far.
When’s it popping out?
Animal Crossing: New Horizons‘ 3.0 replace and Nintendo Change 2 version shall be launched on Jan. 15, 2026. The Nintendo Change 2 Version prices $64.99 by itself, or $4.99 for individuals who already personal the sport on Nintendo Change. All gamers will get the three.0 replace content material for no extra value.
What’s new within the Change 2 model?
Animal Crossing: New Horizons on the Nintendo Change 2 will profit from the console’s mouse controls, which can make putting decor a bit much less fiddly. And that is sensible, paired with a content material replace that’s largely centered on decor. Utilizing the Pleasure-Con 2s as a mouse makes clicking and dragging stuff across the map a lot easier.
IGN stated the Animal Crossing: New Horizons Change 2 version additionally has an unique machine—a megaphone. It’s used to name out to villagers and different visiting characters so that they’re simpler to seek out. To take action, you actually should say a personality’s identify into the Change 2 microphone, according to Polygon. Nevertheless, the megaphone can solely be used for characters which might be exterior of buildings—ones that might really “hear” you—so it isn’t as helpful for anybody inside a construction, IGN stated.
One preliminary draw is the upgraded multiplayer; as much as 12 folks can congregate on an island. However IGN reported that this function requires everybody to be on a Change 2. Plus, the version makes use of the brand new digital camera system to show a participant’s face close to their character.
How concerning the 3.0 content material replace?
The large addition in Animal Crossing: New Horizons‘ 3.0 update is the Kapp’n household’s resort—your Animal Crossing island is now a vacation spot not solely in your mates, however visiting Animal Crossing characters. Leilani, Kapp’n’s spouse, runs the resort and provides you the chance to embellish as much as 10 rooms, per Polygon. IGN stated it’s one thing to be unlocked, nevertheless it’s tied to the pier—not non-compulsory or moveable. It’s just like the Completely happy House Paradise DLC, IGN stated, wherein you’ll enhance rooms, simply by theme and to not a selected character’s pursuits.
Designing resort rooms
IGN stated that you simply’ll be capable of design round themes—like, say, seaside—however don’t should. You’ll be capable of select from completely different gadgets, however aren’t required to make use of something particularly, not like in Completely happy House Paradise. You’ll have your full catalog of things to make use of, in addition to gadgets associated to the precise theme.
Resort procuring and new gadgets
You earn resort tickets by designing rooms, after which use the tickets to earn extra issues from a hotel-specific store manned by Gran. Polygon stated that plenty of new gadgets have been overlooked of the preview, however that it’s a “very large amount of furniture.” There are new Nintendo-themed gadgets, too, just like the Extremely Hand and completely different NES video games playable on traditional consoles purchasable from the resort foyer store. (These want a Nintendo Change On-line subscription to play.)
Different new gadgets embody Splatoon, Lego, and The Legend of Zelda stuff.
Crafting tweaks
One of many quality-of-life changes within the 3.0 content material replace is the power to craft a number of gadgets directly, utilizing supplies from storage as a substitute of inside a participant’s pockets, Nintendo introduced throughout its October preview. Merely put, crafting might be a ache within the ass earlier than; this could assist, particularly once you’ve received quite a bit to make.
With a lot new design and decor content material, easing the ache of crafting a variety of stuff feels important to the expertise. Making issues simpler as soon as once more, there’s additionally a Resetti “reset” service to shortly clear part of your island.
Slumber Island
The Verge described the Slumber Island function, seen within the December preview, as “extra sandboxes” to embellish and play in. You’ll be capable of set the time of day and climate to create no matter vibe you’re into—with out messing about in your everlasting island. The Verge stated it regarded like a “quicker and smoother” approach to dream up a design and construct all of it out: Gadgets out of your in-game catalog seem instantly, and terraforming has somewhat quality-of-life enchancment, it appears, to assist make the method much less painful. Plus, Lloyd can construct bridges and inclines instantly, in response to The Verge. No ready round.
