Nintendo has announced that Animal Crossing: New Horizons will arrive on the Nintendo Switch 2 alongside a significant free content update on January 15, 2026. The new Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition introduces several enhancements, while the update expands content for players across both the original and upgraded versions of the game.
The Switch 2 Edition of New Horizons brings a series of hardware-based improvements, including 4K resolution support in TV mode, mouse control functionality via the right Joy-Con, and the addition of a built-in megaphone that uses the system’s microphone to call out island residents by name. Online multiplayer has also been expanded to support up to twelve players, a notable increase from the eight-player limit on the original system.
Nintendo also introduced CameraPlay, a new feature that allows players to connect a compatible USB camera and view friends’ live reactions during online island visits. Both digital and physical editions of the Switch 2 Edition will retail for $64.99. Existing owners of the Nintendo Switch version can upgrade to the new edition via a paid upgrade pack, available for $4.99 through the My Nintendo Store and Nintendo eShop, with pre-orders open now.
Alongside the new version, Nintendo will roll out a free update for all players, adding new facilities, characters, and gameplay options. The highlight of the update is the debut of a resort hotel managed by Kapp’n’s family, located at the island’s pier. Players can assist in running the resort by decorating guest rooms, managing visitors, and browsing new furniture and clothing in the souvenir shop.
Other new features include expanded home storage—now capable of holding up to 9,000 items—and the ability to store trees, shrubs, and flowers directly in storage. The update also reintroduces Resetti, who now operates a “Reset Service” to help players reorganize or refresh their islands with ease.
Players subscribed to Nintendo Switch Online will gain exclusive access to Slumber Island, a new creative mode where up to three custom islands can be designed, shared, and collaboratively edited with friends. The feature offers flexible layout options, inventory management, and multiplayer design tools.
Collaborative events are also being introduced with this update. Players can collect new in-game Nintendo-themed items, including classic consoles and the Ultra Hand accessory, while interacting with certain console decorations to play select retro Nintendo titles. In addition, the update will introduce LEGO-themed furniture and compatibility with select The Legend of Zelda and Splatoon amiibo figures, unlocking themed items and guest appearances from those franchises.
Nintendo continues to invest in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, extending the game into the next hardware generation while providing existing players with meaningful free content.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition and the accompanying free update will both be available on January 15, 2026.
