Animal Crossing: New Horizons It was the second-best-selling game on the Nintendo Switch (right behind Mario Kart 8 Deluxe), and so it's no surprise that Nintendo has decided to go ahead with the Nintendo Switch 2 version of the game. Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Brings the beloved casual game to Nintendo's newest console, though the upgrade isn't free. Anyone interested in upgrading to Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition $4.99 will be required to unlock.
For most people, $4.99 won't break the bank, but some may still be curious if the upgrade is worth the asking price. After all, the version of Switch 2 Animal Crossing: New Horizons Coincided with the release of the big 3.0 update, which really has fans buzzing. Animal Crossing: New Horizons' The free 3.0 update adds a hotel to the island that players can decorate, various quality-of-life improvements, secret new features, slumber islands, and crossover content with LEGO., Zeldaand more. It's meat and potatoes New Horizons Revival, and since it's all free, it's understandable that some Switch 2 owners might be scratching their heads about what they're paying for.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons Update 3.0 officially goes live a day ahead of schedule
Update 3.0 for Animal Crossing: New Horizons drops today on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 instead of the planned release date of January 15th.
It turns out, nothing much. The Switch 2 version Animal Crossing: New Horizons Includes higher resolution, but I played two versions of the game back-to-back and didn't notice that very different The Switch 2 version features slightly faster load times and seems to run better in general, so if that's important to you, then the $4.99 might be worth it. Otherwise, you can skip the upgrade and lose sleep at night.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons has 2 special Switch features, but they aren't that big of a deal
In addition to the expected graphical and performance boost, the Switch 2 version Animal Crossing: New Horizons There are some special features, but they are nothing to write home about. Joy-Con 2 mouse controls can be used while designing and decorating your home. People who are really into designing will probably appreciate this new functionality, but for them, mouse controls won't be a selling point.
There is also a new megaphone item that is exclusive to the Switch 2 version New Horizons. After purchasing it from Nook's Cranny for 3,500 bells, you can use it to call villagers by name and find them easily on the island. You literally have to call their names using the Switch 2 microphone, and it was surprisingly accurate in my experience, except one the villagers For some reason, the game didn't recognize that I was saying “pecan” and yes, I tried every pronunciation I could think of. Otherwise, the Megaphone feature works as an ad.
The last big difference between New Horizons The Switch 2 and Switch 1 versions of the game feature 12-player multiplayer sessions. I don't even know 12 people in real life who own a Switch 2, so I couldn't test this feature. It is good for people who like to play in large groups Animal CrossingBut otherwise probably won't be of much use.
The Switch 2 upgrade is neat, but not necessary
Still, added functionality is added functionality, and I think there are some Switch 2-specific things that are neat, like Megaphone. $4.99 is a relatively low asking price, but since most of the new stuff is free, you can skip getting the upgrade and still have a great time getting back to yours. Animal Crossing: New Horizons the island
- issued
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January 15, 2026
- ESRB
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Everyone / Comedy pranks, mild fantasy violence, user interaction, in-game purchases
- developer(s)
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Nintendo EPD
- publisher(s)
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Nintendo
- Multiplayer
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Online co-op
