Animal Crossing New Horizons Free Update

Well, well, I didn’t see that coming! Animal Crossing New Horizons is getting a Switch 2 version (plus an upgrade if you already own the first version) on January 15th 2026. And what’s more: there will be a free update on that same date.

The Free Update

The update brings new content and even an extension of your own island. I think there is something for everyone, a way to tide us over until a new Switch 2 Animal Crossing game arrives (that’s wishful thinking, of course!)

The Grand Opening of the Hotel

A new hotel is opening on the pier (where Kapp’n docks his boat), it is run by Kapp’n’s family. To help attract guests from beyond your island, you can lend a hand by decorating hotel rooms and more. You’ll also find new furniture and clothing in the souvenir shop, and you can dress mannequins with outfits for hotel guests to wear.

Offers daily island tours with new biomes and weather effects
Includes a spa, café, and gift shop run by Kapp’n’s cousins
Players can rent rooms for visiting friends or NPCs
Mini-games like shell sorting and fishing contests hosted by hotel staff

A new currency is added into the game, called Hotel Tickets. You get them for decorating rooms (reminds me of how the Happy Home Paradise DLC works, actually) and you can use them at the new souvenir gift shop operated by Grams inside the Resort Hotel. New exclusive items are sold at this shop, including Hotel-themed ones.

You can also rack up more Hotel Tickets through a handy new kiosk set up by Tom Nook on the dock, right beside Kapp’n’s boat. This station offers four rotating requests at a time, each asking you to craft specific island-themed items using your DIY skills. Complete these tasks, and you’ll earn additional Hotel Tickets as a reward for your craftsmanship.

Once you’ve dedicated enough time to decorating guest suites at the Resort Hotel, you’ll unlock a nostalgic lineup of vintage Nintendo-themed furniture, including classics like the Ultra Hand, Love Tester, and Famicom. These exclusive items can be purchased from the hotel’s souvenir shop using Hotel Tickets earned through your design efforts.

As a fun bonus for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers, you’ll be able to launch select classic games directly within Animal Crossing by using the retro game consoles available at the souvenir shop. (Remember we had those too in the GameCube version?) Just interact with one of these nostalgic systems, and you’ll unlock a playable slice of Nintendo history right on your island.

A Fresh Start

Feeling like a clean slate on your island in Animal Crossing New Horizons? Head over to Resetti’s Junk Removal to tidy up your island. You can now also expand your home storage to hold up to 9,000 items—including trees, bushes, and flowers.

Slumber Island

Nintendo Switch Online members can design and save up to three custom islands to play on with friends online. A Slumber Island is a completely separate dream-like island where you have much greater abilities that improve decorating quality of life, such as:

- Freely place all furniture you’ve previously obtained from a menu
- Instantly grow plants and trees to any of the growth stages
- Easily install bridges and inclines
- Customize the current time of day and weather
- Change the size of your island to a small or medium size for cozier builds

On these Dream Islands you can invite up to 11 friends (on the Switch 2 or 7 on the original Nintendo Switch) to your dream island. You and your friends can actually build and decorate the island together.

Collaborations

This update also adds LEGO® items in the special things to buy in Nooks, and you can use select The Legend of Zelda and Splatoon amiibo to invite special characters to your island—and unlock themed items inspired by those series.

Quality of Life Improvements

Finally, there are some quality of life improvements for Animal Crossing New Horizons as well:

Improvements:

Bulk crafting and faster inventory sorting (Finally!!)
Expanded storage with new categories
Villager pathfinding improved to reduce blockages

Additions for the Switch 2 Version

The new Switch 2 version will be €64,99 / £54.99 / $64.99, but if you only need the Switch 2 update for your current island, you pay €4,99 / £4.19 / $4.99. Let’s see what it bring you:

Improved resolution: Enjoy 4K visuals in TV mode for a sharper, more vibrant island experience.
Mouse-style controls: Use the right Joy-Con 2 controller to decorate your home, create custom designs, and write messages on the bulletin board with precision.
Megaphone feature: Call out villagers by name using the in-game megaphone, which works through the built-in microphone on the Nintendo Switch 2.
12-player multiplayer: You can play with up to 12 people at once—if everyone is using the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition.
CameraPlay: Connect a compatible USB camera (sold separately) to see your friends’ reactions live in-game as you explore your island together.