As always, these blurbs are mainly about the video games I’m currently playing. And with a big update for Animal Crossing: New Horizons dropping recently, it won’t surprise you that it is exactly what I’m playing at the moment! For me, New Horizons has been a constant companion for the past 6 years. But I realise that for many of you it will be like unlocking a time capsule. And of a time with maybe painful memories when the world was in lockdown.
By the way, if you like these bits of gaming thoughts, you can find the previous ones here.
A Time Capsule of Lockdown Life
Back in March 2020, Animal Crossing: New Horizons wasn’t just a hit. I might even go as far as to say it was a cultural phenomenon. It sold over 48 million copies worldwide as of late 2025, making it the best-selling game in the series and the second best-selling Nintendo Switch title overall. The mainstream Animal Crossing title before that, New Leaf, sold 13 million copies, which was already a big step up from the earlier titles. While Animal Crossing always had a dedicated fan base, it was discovered by an entirely new group of gamers, and it even managed to attract non-gamers.
I think the reason was that it gave millions of players a sense of control and connection during a time of global chaos. Birthdays were celebrated with online friends on virtual beaches, weddings were held in the game under cherry blossom trees, and friendships blossomed, or new ones were formed through turnip trades.
With the 3.0 update and the Switch 2 version, the question isn’t just what’s new in the game, but whether players who left are ready to reclaim their islands and make them their own again! At least in my opinion, the changes are well worth it!
Huge Update 3.0 and Extras for Switch 2
To be honest, I hadn’t expected such a huge update for the 6-year-old game. Because it’s not the Switch 2 upgrade (announced at the same time) that gives us the most new content, but the free 3.0 update. My thought is that this unexpected extension is a way to bridge to a new Animal Crossing version designed for the Switch 2. (Or is that just wishful thinking?)
I must say I’m not bowled over by the Switch 2 upgrade. It includes:
- Improved resolution: 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.
As I always play in handheld mode, I don’t really see much difference. But I can see that the other features can be fun when you play the game with a group of friends. Still, for the upgrade price of € 4,99, I’m happy to shell out for it; it’s a small price for the years of fun I’ve had with New Horizons.
3.0 The Hotel
At the end of the pier where Kapp’n was waiting with his boat to take you on an island tour, there’s now a Resort Hotel. Family of Kapp’n runs it: his wife Leilani is the hotel’s receptionist, Grams operates the hotel’s souvenir shop and little Leila is found sitting in the lobby, while Kapp’n can be found sitting in his boat outside the hotel, shipping the items you craft on demand. In the hotel, you can decorate themed hotel rooms, dress mannequins, and complete DIY requests to earn Hotel Tickets, which can be exchanged for exclusive items at the souvenir shop. Always grand, new items and furniture sets to the already impressive amount of items you can collect in Animal Crossing.
You can design 8 standard rooms for the hotel, for which Leilani always gives you a choice of two themes out of the standard 15 themes (except for the first one, which is always a Seaside Room). After that, you can design the VIP room at the top, for which you can choose from 45 different themes. You can scan Amiibo to invite a specific character to the room; they stay one day, and the room resets the next day. That way, you can keep on designing. Also, after designing your first VIP room, you can also redesign the standard rooms.
What’s extra fun is that tourists appear walking around your island, wearing the clothes on the mannequins. It’s turning into a lively getaway island!
3.0 Slumber Islands
Slumber Islands are added as well, accessible through Luna. It’s a creative mode where you can design freely without altering your main island. Perfect for experimenting with layouts and décor, and you can choose from three different sizes. You can create three Slumber Islands that are saved online for you. I’m not sure what I think about these Slumber Islands, but I can see how it would be fun to create such an island with friends online: you can decorate and terraform it together, and there are no constraints in landscaping and items. If you want more info about how it works, Nookipedia has it all sorted for you.
3.0 Resetti’s Reset Service
Resetti is back in town, our old friend, or should I say, nemesis. If you’ve played older games, you might still have nightmares of being berated by him when you shut your game down without saving! This time, though, he is back with a handy feature, the Reset Service.
Now, if your island feels a little cluttered, you can call on him to tidy things up. He’ll happily clear the entire beach, the whole island, or just a specific area you choose. For custom clean-ups, Resetti gives you a transceiver so you can summon him exactly where you need him.
You’ll even get to decide what happens to the cleared items; you can pop them into storage or have him dispose of them entirely. He can remove planted flowers and custom designs too, though he draws the line at weeds, trees, bushes, produce, shells, message bottles, or buried items. But for me, getting rid of the excess of flowers I have is grand.
The first time you use the service, it’s free for the entire day, and you don’t have to use it on the first day you meet him. After that, it costs 60,000 Bells per day, and you can use it as much as you like during that day. If Resetti isn’t around, just ask Isabelle at Resident Services to call him over. However, he won’t be available during major town events.
3.0 Collaborations and New Villagers
Four amiibo characters are added: Cece and Viché from Splatoon and Tulin and Mineru from The Legend of Zelda. You can have them as guests in your campground, and eventually even have them move to your island if you have a vacant spot. As soon as they are in your campground for the first time, the entire series of items and clothing unlocks in the Nook store.
Another series of collaboration items is for the LEGO-themed furniture. And not to worry if you’re not fond of the primary colours, you can customise them to your liking.
By helping out at the hotel and boosting its reputation, you’ll unlock something special: Grams will start stocking rare furniture items. These pieces are themed around classic Nintendo consoles and retro toys, perfect for adding a nostalgic touch to your island.
And if you have an active Nintendo Switch Online subscription, you can actually play one select game from six classic Nintendo consoles by interacting with these furniture items. It works just like the NES games in the original Animal Crossing titles, bringing a lovely throwback to the series’ roots.
3.0 Quality of Life Improvements
Also very important to mention are the Quality of Life improvements:
- When you craft an item, you can make multiple at a time
- And for crafting, your entire material inventory is accessible
- You can buy customisation kits in bulk of 50
- You can put trees and flowers in your storage, as well as snowflakes
- You can increase your storage at Tom Nook’s; it will (in Nook-style) cost a fortune, though
- Pressing L while moving lets you move more fluently and do actions at the same time, very handy when you want to lay paths, build fences, terraforming and more.
- When you give Pascal a scallop, you’ll now always get a pearl
- You can have Leif remove your weeds at a reduced price (still high though, I think)
- Animal Crossing Pocket Camp-themed items are now available for all players
- You can ask Isabelle to revert to the original town flag, and she can also recommend an island tune melody
See, told you. Update 3.0 brings us so much more and makes gameplay easier. I have only one thing to wish for….more slots for custom designs!
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