Everything You Need to Know About Animal Crossing: New Horizons Version 3.0 and Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
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| Animal Crossing: New Horizons Version 3.0 is now live, bringing new island features alongside the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. |
By Juli Scarr
Nintendo has released the free Version 3.0 update for Animal Crossing: New Horizons, alongside the launch of Animal Crossing: New Horizons Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. The update is now live and brings a wide range of new systems, creative tools, collaborations, and quality-of-life improvements.
If you’re jumping back in after a break, the main thing to know is simple. Most of the new content comes from the free Version 3.0 update, while the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition adds a smaller set of Switch 2–specific features.
Here’s a full breakdown of what’s included in the free Version 3.0 update, what’s new in the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, and what still requires Nintendo Switch Online.
A new resort hotel operated by Kapp’n’s family
One of the biggest additions in Version 3.0 is a newly opened resort hotel located off your island’s dock. The resort is run by Kapp’n and his family and gives you a more guided decorating loop that still fits the game’s laid-back pace.
At the hotel, you help coordinate guest rooms for visiting tourists. Guests arrive with preferences, and you can decorate manually or use recommended layouts to quickly pull a room together. These guests don’t stay confined to the hotel either. They can wander your island like tourists, which helps your island feel more active.
Rental outfits, amiibo support, and who you can’t invite
- Rental outfit mannequins can be set up in the hotel lobby, letting guests wear your outfit picks.
- Friends visiting via multiplayer can also use those mannequin outfits.
- amiibo support lets you invite animal villagers to the hotel, but there are restrictions.
- Staff characters and certain special visitors can’t be invited through the hotel.
Island specialties, coupons, and the souvenir shop
The hotel also introduces a progression loop that connects back to your island’s identity.
- You can craft island specialty items and place them in a delivery box.
- Completing hotel work and delivering specialties earns resort coupons.
- Those coupons can be redeemed at the hotel’s souvenir shop for special items and rarer picks.
Dream islands expand into full creative sandboxes
Version 3.0 upgrades the Dream feature in a way that’s clearly aimed at builders. You can now create up to three separate dream islands, each completely separate from your main island.
- Choose island size (small, medium, or large)
- Bring in your own villagers if you want them appearing there
- Place unlimited furniture as long as you’ve obtained it at least once before
- Set time and weather to match the vibe you’re after
- Place bridges and inclines freely
- Invite friends to visit and build together
Note: Dream islands require an active Nintendo Switch Online membership.
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| Dream islands in Animal Crossing: New Horizons Version 3.0 give you a space to build freely and invite others without affecting your main island. |
Reset Clean-up Centre makes rebuilding faster
Version 3.0 adds a new Reset Clean-up Centre that helps you clear space quickly when you want to redesign.
- Clean up your entire island, or target a specific area
- Anything cleared gets sent directly to your home storage
Storage expands to 9,000 items and supports more object types
Storage gets one of the most practical upgrades in the update.
- Storage can now be expanded in two additional stages
- The maximum storage cap increases to 9,000 items
- You can now store trees, shrubs, and flowers through expanded storage services
New collaborations, including Nintendo and LEGO items
Nintendo themed items and playable consoles
As you progress with hotel activities, the souvenir shop can stock Nintendo-themed furniture, including classic toys and in-game consoles. Nintendo notes that some of these consoles can be interacted with, letting you play games within the game itself.
LEGO furniture and clothing with colour variations
A LEGO collaboration adds new furniture like sofas, tables, and wallpapers, alongside LEGO inspired clothing. Many LEGO items can be customised into different colour variations, so you can find combinations that actually match your island’s look.
Zelda and Splatoon amiibo collaborations expand
Zelda amiibo unlock themed items and visitors
Using The Legend of Zelda series amiibo unlocks themed furniture and clothing inspired by the series, including items based on the Triforce and Zonai designs. Depending on the amiibo, Riju or Mineru can also visit your island, and you can invite them to stay.
Splatoon amiibo unlock themed items and visitors
Using Splatoon series amiibo unlocks themed furniture and clothing. Depending on the amiibo, Shiver or Frye may visit your island, and you can invite them to stay as well.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons Nintendo Switch 2 Edition features
The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition includes the full Animal Crossing: New Horizons experience with Version 3.0 content, plus a set of Switch 2 specific features.
- 4K output in TV mode for a cleaner, higher resolution presentation
- Joy-Con 2 mouse controls for decorating, custom designs, and the bulletin board
- A new megaphone item that uses the built-in microphone so you can call villagers by name from a distance
- Online multiplayer up to 12 players, when everyone is playing the Switch 2 Edition
- Cross-play with the original Switch version remains capped at 8 players
- Optional camera features during online play via GameChat (requires a separate USB camera, and only up to four faces display at once)
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| Nintendo Switch 2 Edition adds new social and communication features, including optional camera support during online play. |
Upgrade options and availability
The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is available now as a standalone release. If you already own Animal Crossing: New Horizons and you’re playing on Nintendo Switch 2, you can purchase an upgrade pass instead of buying the full game again.
The free Version 3.0 update and Animal Crossing: New Horizons Nintendo Switch 2 Edition are both available as of January 15, 2026.
Thanks for breaking it all down for us, Juli! There’s so much information out there; it’s nice to have one place to learn about all the updates, and so cleanly organized, too. Zarina
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