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Animal Crossing fans received a big surprise from Nintendo on Thursday. Not only will Animal Crossing: New Horizons get a big update, but a Switch 2 version is on its way.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons will receive its first new content update in three years, according to a post from Nintendo on Thursday. The update, labeled 3.0, will roll out on Jan. 15, the same day the Switch 2 version of the game will be available for purchase.
First released for the original Switch back in 2020, New Horizons was the first Animal Crossing game to come to a Nintendo console since 2008's Animal Crossing: City Folk for the Nintendo Wii. Nintendo regularly updated New Horizons for two years after its release, but stopped at update 2.0.6 released in November 2022. Two updates were added earlier in the year to prepare the game for playability on the Switch 2.
In the 3.0 update coming on Jan. 15, there will be a new hotel opening. Players can help bring in guests to stay at the hotel by decorating guest rooms and dressing up mannequins to sell resort clothing.
For those who haven't touched New Horizons in years, a new Reset Service will be available. Players can have their island cleaned up, and items can be stored away or trashed for those who want a clean slate.
Players with a Nintendo Switch Online membership will be able to access up to three islands, where they can do as they please. These new areas are available in Slumber Island, and it's up to the player on how the island will look, what items or plants are on it and even what characters will be found on the island. Players can also invite friends to the island to build it together.
Lastly, New Horizons will feature special collaborations and Nintendo retro gear. Lego items will be available in the update for players to decorate their homes with or clothing to dress up their villagers with. Retro Nintendo consoles such as the NES and Game Boy can also be used as decorations. If the player has a Switch Online subscription, some classic titles such as Ice Climbers and Dr. Mario can be played via these in-game devices. There are also special items based on The Legend of Zelda and Splatoon series when players tap their amiibo from those games onto the Switch while playing.
Switch 2 owners can get in on the digital life game with Animal Crossing: New Horizons -- Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. Not only will this new version come with updated graphics, including 4K resolution in TV mode, but it will also add special features that can only be done on the newest console.
One of the features is mouse controls for the Joy-Con 2. Players will be able to use the controller as a mouse to decorate indoors, create custom designs and write handwritten messages for the bulletin board. Residents in the game can now be found by saying their name into the Switch 2's built-in microphone while using the megaphone in the game. Multiplayer has also improved dramatically, with 12-player sessions available for those playing on the new edition, and CameraPlay is supported to allow players to see one another.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons -- Nintendo Switch 2 Edition will be available for purchase on Jan. 15 for $65. Owners of the original Switch version of New Horizons can upgrade to the Switch 2 version for $5.