After 4 long years without an Animal Crossing: New Horizons update, Nintendo announced on the morning of October 30 that the game would be getting a free DLC as well as a Nintendo Switch 2 update on January 15, 2026. The company had previously announced that the 2.0 update, which was released on November 4, 2021, would be the last major update that the game would receive.
The Switch 2 updates include higher resolution, Joy-Con 2 mouse controls, as well as voice and face chat features. Animal Crossing: New Horizons will be available to purchase on the Switch 2 for $64.99, but for those who already have it on their Switch 2 console, the update pack will be $4.99.
As for the free DLC, accessible for both original Switch and Switch 2 users, the 13-minute direct provided lots of surprises! An additional building will be added to your island, a hotel resort that is run by the already present NPC Kapp’n and his family of kappas. Filled with empty guest rooms, the player’s objective is to decorate the spaces to fit a given theme, or the request of the guest.
It has a similar theme to the Happy Home Paradise DLC from 2021. Through one of the characters in the hotel, Grams, the player can access the Souvenir Shop, which allows them to purchase old-school Nintendo items. Along with being fun decorations, these old gaming systems each have one playable game included within them!
The games that were revealed in the direct were Dr. Mario, Ice Climbers, and Clu Clu Land, with more games expected to be revealed with the update. You will, however, need Nintendo Switch Online to access this feature. Another addition is the Dream World, accessible through resting in a bed; the player will be transported to a blank slate island.
Similar to Minecraft’s creative mode, these “Slumber Islands” allow you full creative control of up to 3 islands that you can decorate to your heart’s content without the restriction of material insecurity. And for players who want to start anew on their real islands, a returning NPC from some older games, Resetti, offers a clean-up service to tidy up your island.
Animal Crossing is also introducing new collaborations! In the promotional tab of Nook Shopping, the player can find LEGO-themed furniture items that come in various colors and themes. In addition, there are collaborations with the Legend of Zelda and Splatoon. These collabs include exclusive villagers, furniture items, and clothing. Zelda and Splatoon items/features are only available through collaboration-specific amiibo cards.
Along with these larger updates, smaller additions have been made to the game. Eagle-eyes fans noticed new furniture items and sets will be included in the new update, as well as an updated crafting mechanic that allows you to craft multiple items at once, a feature fans have been asking for since the game’s 2020 release.
Just when hope had run out for any new Animal Crossing news, fans have been delighted with the announcement of this new update, which is sure to inspire more creative and exciting gameplay and designs for players and fans of the game.
