This morning, Nintendo casually announced that Animal Crossing: New Horizons is getting a Switch 2 update to make it run better and use some of the device’s more powerful tech for quality-of-life improvements. Alongside this, Nintendo is also releasing a 3.0 update that includes new features, crossover items, and a whole new creator mode that exists in your character’s dreams. This is the first major update New Horizons has received since 2021, and at a certain point, you kind of accept that a game is probably no longer a developer’s priority and they’ve likely shifted their attention elsewhere. So the reveal that a huge update is coming has reawakened the Animal Crossing community like a sleeper agent, and they’re in a state of disbelief.
© YouTube / Kotaku
The Switch 2 upgrade and the 3.0 update are bringing some surprising changes to New Horizons, including crossover items from The Legend of Zelda and Splatoon, as well as general Nintendo memorabilia, and, oddly enough, a bunch of Lego furniture pieces. Some Zelda characters will even appear as villagers in the new update, which raises questions about whether or not Animal Crossing takes place in the Smash Bros. multiverse. But more due to the existence of a big new update at all than to any one specific addition or change, fans basically have the zoomies knowing they have a reason to boot up New Horizons again.
nintendo finally remembering animal crossing new horizons exists https://t.co/AjePhdBlqu pic.twitter.com/KFL7kH9goK
— 𝔖𝔱𝔢𝔭𝔥 𐚁 ᴺᴹ SEEING ARIANA 7/22| Mrs. Withers (@negressvelaryon) October 30, 2025
MY UGLY SON IS IN ANIMAL CROSSING pic.twitter.com/xLPkJg8ojc
— Lacey 👑🩷 (@nekolacey) October 30, 2025
animal crossing X Splatoon comes back in the big 2026???? HELLO??? pic.twitter.com/LAEOtH1Lmk
— Vicvillon💜💚 @ Splatoon 3 (@Vicvillon) October 30, 2025
animal crossing getting an update in the big 2025❤️🩹❤️🩹🌹🌹💐 pic.twitter.com/ttcfCFmtzI
— amber♡ (@djamesse_) October 30, 2025
u can build & decorate an island together with ur friends im crying 😭😭😭#acnh #animalcrossingnewhorizons pic.twitter.com/4XW6qZ8nMB
— ❤︎ (@lizaacnh) October 30, 2025
Nintendo randomly announcing a new Animal Crossing Update the day before Halloween really wasn’t on my 2025 bingo card, but I’m definitely not mad about it! pic.twitter.com/SD2kQs0AiL
— Bryce McQuaid (@BryceMcQuaid) October 30, 2025
WAIT IT JUST HIT ME THEY ADDED BULK CRAFTING IN THE NEW ANIMAL CROSSING UPDATE FINALLYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY pic.twitter.com/EM2dxwyOEi
— 🎃 SpookySealz 🎃 (@Salty_Sealz) October 30, 2025
Animal Crossing New Horizons isn’t dead after so many years 😭🙏
I have so much hope for the future now, i’m thankful Nintendo didn’t just let a peak game die, and i’m so excited to go back to my island now#acnh #animalcrossing #AnimalCrossingNewHorizons pic.twitter.com/eIAl53x94j
— Sabrina Twyla💖 (I VOICE STUFF 😬) (@SabrinaTwyla) October 30, 2025
Now the question is, will Nintendo keep updating New Horizons’ Switch 2 edition, and will it become the de facto Animal Crossing game for the system, or is a new game on the way? I wouldn’t be surprised if Nintendo released further patches and features for the Switch 2 edition in the future, but by the time the Switch 2 reaches the end of its life cycle, it will have been around a decade since New Horizons launched on the first Switch, so it would be surprising if a new AC game didn’t come out sometime in the Switch 2’s lifespan. For now, at least, Animal Crossing fans have something new to look forward to.
