Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the next first-party Switch release lined up to get an upgrade on the Switch 2. The life sim is also getting a free update on the original Switch as well, which will be the first major overhaul the game has had since 2021.
Nintendo released a 12-minute-long breakdown video with details on both the Switch 2 edition and the 3.0 update. The Switch 2 update will include the obvious resolution and visual upgrades you’d expect with this sort of thing, but it will also include exclusive features only available on the new system, such as mouse controls to streamline redecorating your home, a megaphone item that lets you call out to residents through the Switch 2’s microphone, and 12-player online multiplayer on the system. The Switch 2 edition will launch on January 15.
Now for the 3.0 update, which will launch the same day as the Switch 2 edition. This will be available to all players regardless of what system they’re playing on, and includes new features, modes, and quality-of-life changes. A new facility is opening up that lets you design hotel rooms based on different themes, you can freely customize the literal island of your dreams to your liking, and the game will have several new crossover items from series like The Legend of Zelda and Splatoon, as well as Nintendo consoles that will let you play some classic games within New Horizons. So if you haven’t booted up New Horizons in a while, you’ll have a reason to head back to your island whether you’re playing on the Switch or Switch 2.
Nintendo going out of its way to give New Horizons some quality-of-life updates is encouraging, but we’ll see if they’re enough to get around some of the weird obtuseness fans noted when the game was in its heyday back in 2020.
