Animal Crossing: New Horizons version 3.0 – Free Update
Animal Crossing: New Horizons version 3.0 is an upcoming update due for release on January 15, 2026, alongside Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition.[1]
It is the first major content update for New Horizons since the release of version 2.0 over four years prior in November 2021, which was announced at the time as the final planned content update for the game.
New features[edit]
Additional villagers[edit]
New[edit]
Two The Legend of Zelda collaboration villagers are introduced, based on the characters of the same names from The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. They can be invited to town by scanning compatible The Legend of Zelda series amiibo.
Returning[edit]
Two Splatoon collaboration villagers return from Animal Crossing: New Leaf - Welcome amiibo. As in that game, they can be invited to town by scanning compatible Splatoon series amiibo. Their designs are now based on Shiver and Frye from Splatoon 3 instead of Callie and Marie.
Quality-of-life improvements[edit]
The player's maximum storage capacity can now be increased by two additional levels: 7,000, and ultimately, 9,000. Trees, bushes, and flowers can now be placed in storage.
When crafting DIY, it is now possible to select the quantity of an item to be produced at once, instead of needing to craft each item one at a time. Crafting now also utilises materials held in storage, removing the need for the player to have them in their pockets.[2]
Players can now quickly step in one direction while terraforming, making it easier to build or remove fences, paths, cliffs, and rivers along a single axis.
Resort Hotel[edit]
The Resort Hotel is added to a newly-extended pier, operated by Kapp'n, Leilani, Leila, and Grams. The player is tasked to design rooms for guests to match a specific theme, utilising a similar interior design system to Happy Home Paradise. Tourist villagers will visit the player's island and can be invited to stay at the hotel. Guests who have checked in can freely roam the island, much like the resident villagers. Players can also scan amiibo to invite specific characters to the hotel (certain special characters such as Tom Nook and Isabelle cannot be invited, nor can special characters who are visiting town for the day).
As the player completes projects, they will be awarded Hotel Tickets, which can be exchanged for goods at the souvenir shop run by Grams. Hotel Tickets can also be acquired by fulfilling requests for DIY goods that Kapp'n can deliver to far-off locations, which in turn will increase the hotel's international brand recognition.
The hotel lobby has two mannequins that can be dressed with custom outfits which both animal and human visitors to the island can borrow and wear. This can also be used to quickly share common outfits amongst visitors in multiplayer.
Reset Service[edit]
Mr. Resetti appears in town with a new Reset Service, in which he can be tasked to clean up specific areas of the island. The player can ask him to clean up the entire beach, the entire island, or select a specific area themselves for him to clear. Resetti will ask the player whether they wish for items to be disposed of or placed into storage. He can also be tasked to clear planted flowers and custom designs.
Slumber Islands[edit]
The player can visit a new dream world, where Luna will bring them to a Slumber Island. Each player may create up to 3 Slumber Islands, choosing from a selection of random layouts, and one of three different sizes (small, medium, or large). The player can fully terraform the island and decorate it using items from their catalog. The time of day and weather can also be set to specific settings, while Lloid can be asked to construct bridges and inclines on demand. The player can invite their villagers to reside on the Slumber Island, or invite friends via multiplayer to assist in editing the island together.
Collaborations[edit]
By assisting the Resort Hotel and increasing its brand recognition, Grams will start stocking rare furniture items. These are items themed around classic Nintendo consoles and retro toys. If the player has an active subscription to Nintendo Switch Online, they will able to play one select game from six classic Nintendo consoles by interacting with their respective furniture items, similar to how NES games work in the first-generation games.
LEGO-themed furniture is added to Nook Shopping. The Legend of Zelda and Splatoon-themed items are available by scanning compatible amiibo from the respective series.
Changed features[edit]
Two additional stools have been added to each table at The Roost to accommodate 12 player multiplayer in the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition.
Kapp'n and his family were previously added to the game in version 2.0, having the same appearance they had in Animal Crossing: New Leaf. They have all received brand-new designs with this update:
Promotional images[edit]
A player submitting DIY items to the Resort Hotel
Kapp'n speaking to the player
A guest room designed at the Resort Hotel
A guest room designed at the Resort Hotel
Leilani speaking to the player
A guest room being designed at the Resort Hotel
A guest room designed at the Resort Hotel
Punchy speaking to the player about his guest room
Trees, bushes, and flowers placed in storage
The lobby of the Resort Hotel
A player inviting guests to the Resort Hotel with amiibo
Label speaking to the player about her guest room
Leilani rewarding the player with Hotel Tickets
A selection of LEGO items for sale in Nook Shopping
A room containing various LEGO items
The mannequins in the Resort Hotel
A player dressing a mannequin in the Resort Hotel
Maggie speaking to the player as a tourist
Eight players posing on the pier
A selection of Nintendo items for sale at the Resort Hotel
A player interacting with the NES item
Ice Climber being played via the NES item
Resetti speaking to the player about the Reset Service
A player using the Reset Service
A section of the island after using the Reset Service
A player about to enter a Slumber Island
A player entering a Slumber Island
A player placing furniture on a Slumber Island
A player modifying the terrain of a Slumber Island
A player modifying the terrain of a Slumber Island
Lloid speaking to the player on a Slumber Island
An incline being built on a Slumber Island
The time of day and weather being customized on a Slumber Island
Villagers being placed on a Slumber Island
Four different terrain layouts for a small Slumber Island
Four different terrain layouts for a medium Slumber Island
Four different terrain layouts for a large Slumber Island
Several players on a Slumber Island
Several players on a Slumber Island
Several players modifying the terrain of a Slumber Island
Grams's souvenir shop at the Resort Hotel
A selection of items for sale at the Resort Hotel
A selection of items for sale at the Resort Hotel
Trailer[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ Nintendo (October 30, 2025). "Animal Crossing: New Horizons sails ashore with a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition and free content update Jan. 15". nintendo.com. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
- ↑ Nintendo (October 30, 2025). "Animal Crossing™: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch™ 2 Edition Upgrade Pack". nintendo.com. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
External links[edit]
- Japanese game page
- North American announcement article
- Japanese announcement article
- Korean announcement article
| Animal Crossing: New Horizons | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Game updates and distributions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
