Coming January 15, 2026, a free content update and a Nintendo Switch 2 Upgrade Pack promise to reinvigorate many a neglected island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Last week, Nintendo of America was nice enough to invite me to a media sneak preview showcasing all the forthcoming cozy goodness, and suffice it to say, I really like what I saw.
First off, Switch 2 early adopters will surely appreciate the updated visuals, which not only eliminate some last-gen jaggies but also boast a noticeably improved resolution overall (up to full 4K in TV mode). While that alone is likely worth the $4.99 price point to many longtime players, it’s far from all this Switch 2 Edition has to offer.
Joy-Con 2 mouse support provides a brand new way to create custom designs, share hand-drawn messages on the community bulletin board, and quickly redecorate your home by selecting multiple furniture items at once. Switch 2 CameraPlay is also supported using a compatible USB camera, with 12-person multiplayer available on Nintendo’s latest console.
Another cool new Switch 2 feature harkens back to the series’ previous release, Animal Crossing: New Leaf on the Nintendo 3DS. The megaphone tool has returned, now employing the integrated Switch 2 microphone. Call the name of your favorite island resident, and they’ll come running! I mean, unless they have something more interesting going on.
Now, that’s not to say that existing Switch players are left out of the fun. A free update is available on both Switch and Switch 2 versions of New Horizons, and it too has a lot to offer.
An additional home upgrade allows storage for up to 9,000 items, including trees, shrubs, and flowers. You’ll surely need that extra space when you see all the new collaborations; there’s a colorful LEGO furniture collection as well as new Legend of Zelda and Splatoon items and characters that can be unlocked using compatible amiibo, all arriving in the update.
This free update even brings in some gameplay elements that may seem familiar to those who know their Animal Crossing history. For example, classic Nintendo items are back, most notably those long-sought-after consoles, and just like in the original Animal Crossing on the GameCube, each will allow you to play a retro title from that system’s library right there in-game!
There are also interesting new takes on another pair of New Leaf elements. These arrive in the form of Kapp’n’s Resort Hotel and the world-expanding Slumber Island.
While the Resort Hotel includes the same staff we met in that shack on Tortimer Island, this hotel is a significantly more ambitious operation. Here, you’ll decorate guest rooms and craft specially requested furniture for Kapp’n and his kin to earn tickets that can be redeemed for exclusive items. Similarly, while the new Slumber Island feature looks a lot like Luna’s Dream Suite, it offers significantly more functionality, allowing Nintendo Switch Online subscribers to create and customize three additional islands in collaboration with their friends and loved ones.
Whether you’re updating to the Switch 2 Edition, continuing to enjoy all that free update content on your original Nintendo Switch system, or exploring the world of New Horizon for the first time with the new retail release (MSRP $64.99), 2026 will surely be another banner year for the Animal Crossing franchise. Personally, I don’t think January 15th can get here soon enough!
