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[That Damn Kid]

January 15, 2026

Animal Crossing: New Horizons sails ashore with a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition and free content update Jan. 15 - News - Nintendo Official Site

Ahoy! New things are en route to your island getaway, whether you’re planning to arrive on these shores for the first time, or already a seasoned Island Resident. The Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition game is sailing onto the…

www.nintendo.com

Animal Crossing: New Horizons invites you to create your island paradise at your own pace as you garden, fish, decorate, hunt for bugs and fossils, get to know the animal residents and more. The time of day and seasons mirror the ebb and flow of real life, so each day on your island is a chance to check in and find new surprises all year round.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 with several enhancements to enjoy, including:

• Improved resolution (4K in TV mode)***.
• Mouse controls with the right Joy-Con 2 controller to decorate indoors, create Custom Designs and even compose hand-written bulletin-board messages.
• Locate residents by calling their names using the in-game megaphone item and the built-in Nintendo Switch 2 microphone.
• Join 12-player sessions for online sessions if everyone is playing the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition.
• Play with friends via CameraPlay****. Connect a compatible USB camera (sold separately) and see their reactions in-game while exploring your island together.

Nintendo Switch 2 players can purchase digital or physical versions of the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of the game when it launches Jan. 15 for $64.99 MSRP*****, and if they already have the game for Nintendo Switch, a paid upgrade pack****** will also be available for $4.99 MSRP. Pre-orders for the paid upgrade pack are available starting today on the My Nintendo Store and Nintendo eShop.
And both versions of the game will receive new features to experience*******, including:

• Resort Hotel's Grand Opening: A resort hotel is opening on the pier, and it's run by Kapp'n's family. To bring in guests from off the island, you'll help out by decorating guest rooms and more. Plus, find new furniture and clothing at the souvenir shop and dress up mannequins with outfits that guests can wear.
• Making Island Life More Convenient: Want a fresh start? Resetti is on hand with a convenient Reset Service to help tidy up your island. Additionally, you can now upgrade your home storage to hold up to 9,000 items, and store trees, shrubs and flowers there, too.
• Slumber Island: Players with a Nintendo Switch Online membership can design and save up to three islands and play with friends online. Select the size and layout of the island, build and design it collaboratively, access your inventory and decorate, plus invite residents from your home island.
• Collaborations: Collect Nintendo items like the Ultra Hand and Nintendo consoles in-game to add some classic flair to your island. Nintendo Switch Online members can play select classic Nintendo titles in-game when interacting with specific Nintendo console items, too! Special LEGO® items will also make their debut with this update. And use select The Legend of Zelda and Splatoon series amiibo******** to invite certain characters — and unlock various items inspired by those series.

New island experiences await when both the free update and Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition launch Jan. 15.

 

[Baemono]

5$ upgrade path for a res boost other Nintendo games got for free, I don't understand the reasoning behind it

 

[Kataploom]

5$ upgrade path for a res boost other Nintendo games got for free, I don't understand the reasoning behind it

Extra features, we've said it many times here and it's pretty evident anyway

 

[Power Pro]

It doesn't look like they're adding the feature my mom is always telling me she wants. She keeps wishing she could have more residents on the island, because there's too much empty space. I agree, the limit on residents always felt too small, and I never felt like I could make a bustling town.

 

[ultrazilla]

Game already looked good just playing the OG version on my Switch 2. An upgrade is most welcome but that Nintendo $5 fee is petty IMO.

Sigh....

 

[pdk27]

I guess this entire gen is going to be playing Switch 2 editions of Switch 1 games.

 

[LordOcidax]

5$ upgrade path for a res boost other Nintendo games got for free, I don't understand the reasoning behind it

Did you even watched the video?

 

[Woopah]

5$ upgrade path for a res boost other Nintendo games got for free, I don't understand the reasoning behind it

It's for a res boost plus the other features. The ones that got a res boost for free didn't get new features.

 

[LordOcidax]

Lego + AC… This is going to be really big.

 

[Baemono]

Did you even watched the video?

I did, res boost, mouse support and 'up to 12 players" is not really enough for 5$ upgrade from my perspective. I mean that's expected from the extra horse power the console offers

 

[JoduanER2]

5$ upgrade path for a res boost other Nintendo games got for free, I don't understand the reasoning behind it

Nintendo is the greediest company

 

[CentralScrutinizer]

GotY 2026 dropping early, folks.

5$ upgrade path for a res boost other Nintendo games got for free, I don't understand the reasoning behind it

Because its not just a res boost. Its the camera implementation, mouse control, mic feature, and expanded online play as well. Those other "free" updates weren't native Switch 2 versions, just res bumps. You can disagree with the upgrade price, but it factually isn't just a res bump you're paying for.

 

[Mownoc]

5$ upgrade path for a res boost other Nintendo games got for free, I don't understand the reasoning behind it

I have no problem with them charging for the new content, but I feel the performance boost should be free and separate.

 

[Baemono]

Because its not just a res boost. Its the camera implementation, mouse control, mic feature, and expanded online play as well. Those other "free" updates weren't native Switch 2 versions, just res bumps. You can disagree with the upgrade price, but it factually isn't just a res bump you're paying for.

I mean Animal Crossing got several free updates more expansive than that, so I'm surprised adding mouse control and other small feats is actually what they want people paying for.

But I guess it's still better than Mario Party Jamboree which didn't even get a res boost in its Switch 2 paid upgrade.

 

[Kikorin]

I guess this entire gen is going to be playing Switch 2 editions of Switch 1 games.

Switch 2 in 6 months will have exclusive fp games like Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, Hyrule Warriors and Kirby Air Riders, don't counting cross gen games like Pokémon Z-A and Metroid Prime 4.

This is arguably more exclusive games PS5 got in its entire lifetime lol

I think we'll be fine even with SW2 upgrades.

 

[Notorious_Roy]

I guess this entire gen is going to be playing Switch 2 editions of Switch 1 games.

Well yeah. But they need to step up with the Xenoblade games. I still have Xenoblade 3 in my backlog waiting for an upgrade...

 

[Mownoc]

Oh... just realised all the good content is free. So what they actually want to charge you for is the performance upgrade and some mouse/camera stuff lol... just make the resolution bumps free.

 

[I collect VHS tapes]

I for the life of me can't get this game to click with me

Might try again but I've struggled in the past to get into this game. On the surface it seems like something I'd like, I like Stardew Valley a lot, I like collecting, etc but in practice I struggle to have fun

 

[Heimdall_Xtreme]

That game became popular because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

[spookyfish]

5$ upgrade path for a res boost other Nintendo games got for free, I don't understand the reasoning behind it

Nintendo: "Well, it's one of our most popular games, so ... money."

 

[pdk27]

Switch 2 in 6 months will have exclusive fp games like Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, Hyrule Warriors and Kirby Air Riders, don't counting cross gen games like Pokémon Z-A and Metroid Prime 4.

This is arguably more exclusive games PS5 got in its entire lifetime lol

I think we'll be fine even with SW2 upgrades.

Fair enough but it also means a proper Animal Crossing sequel is further away than anybody expected.

 

[Holammer]

Played it for quite a bit. Got all the important meme villagers Ankha, Raymond, Sasha, Shino, Coco and a few others. Never found Lucky.
I'll have to go back and get Tulin.

 

[memoryman3]

Those other "free" updates weren't native Switch 2 versions.

I wouldn't exactly say that. Pokemon's "free update" added DLSS. Doubt you can do that with pure backwards compatibility, even if the Nintendo Switch UI insists it's just a normal Switch game.

I would say that Animal Crossing's $5 charge covers the costs of updating the game late after the game's initial launch.

 

[CuteFaceJay]

Lego + AC… This is going to be really big.

The LEGO investment folks are gonna be all over this!

Other than that this seems like a meaty update for the AC fans. I've not played it much since lockdown part from testing it on the new system then turned it off LOL.

 

[PeteBull]

Ninny preparing for that winter sleepover thing:

 

[JayK47]

Ha. Why make a new game when you can milk an old game? Typical Nintendo. The Switch 2 should have been called The Switch Pro.

 

[Stitch]

Just a resolution but no frame upgrade is lame. They can still take my money.

Game already looked good just playing the OG version on my Switch 2.

I'm happy about the resolution upgrade because I think it looks blurry and has a weird ghosting effect on Switch 2 :/

edit: The Hotel is just Happy Home Designer again. But they're living on your Island and not another one so that's cool

 

[jshackles]

Whelp looks like I'm buying my wife a Switch 2 now

 

[Quasicat]

800+ hours in and still going. This may keep me going for another 800 hours.

 

[I collect VHS tapes]

Ha. Why make a new game when you can milk an old game? Typical Nintendo. The Switch 2 should have been called The Switch Pro.

They're making a Pokemon version, which is why they're likely skipping making a new game

They seem very similar, makes sense they'd delay the next Animal Crossing game:

 

[Unknown?]

I guess this entire gen is going to be playing Switch 2 editions of Switch 1 games.

Like Switch was playing Switch editions of Wii U games, they got a plan!

 

[Stitch]

They're making a Pokemon version, which is why they're likely skipping making a new game

They seem very similar, makes sense they'd delay the next Animal Crossing game:

That's just a weird Minecraft clone made by Koei Tecmo

 

[Magic Carpet]

They need to un-wii the characters. New character designs all around. I'll pay for that.

 

[nikos]

Really nice to see an update for this. It'll definitely get me back on for a bit.

A higher frame rate would have been really nice. Also the ability for other users to have their own island. My girflriend's island is currently stuck on Nintendo's servers because I got rid of the Switch she was playing on and restored my own onto the Switch 2. Sort of feel bad about that lol

 

[jshackles]

30fps still on Switch 2?

 

[daclynk]

Yep Nintendo is going to kill 2026.

 

[drotahorror]

GotY 2026 dropping early, folks.


Because its not just a res boost. Its the camera implementation, mouse control, mic feature, and expanded online play as well. Those other "free" updates weren't native Switch 2 versions, just res bumps. You can disagree with the upgrade price, but it factually isn't just a res bump you're paying for.

Aite well I'll take the res boost for free please.

 

[Holammer]

30fps still on Switch 2?

Kinda sad, Switch emulators have mods for it.
But on the other hand it's not a twitch shooter.

 

[Zacfoldor]

5$ upgrade path for a res boost other Nintendo games got for free, I don't understand the reasoning behind it

I believe Nintendo stated that simple res bumps were not being charged for but new content was. So I'm assuming that they added content in addition to a simple res boost, correct?

Ha. Why make a new game when you can milk an old game? Typical Nintendo. The Switch 2 should have been called The Switch Pro.

You think only Nintendo plays on nostalgia?

Have you seen the industry we are in? The entire entertainment world including Sony Playstation and Sony movie studios runs off nothing but nostalgia and it has been that way for years. Even the entire superhero boom is all about nostalgia. People like remakes and sequels more than new shit but suddenly it is "typical nintendo"? Not hardly. This is the only company doing things in the traditional way. The new ways are shit and they are all about stealing your money in some pay to play month to month gamefly scheme. Here is Nintendo repackaging and adding content to their most beloved game series and charging like 5-10 bucks to upgrade(with added content, simple res/fps upgrades are often free and the BC on Switch 2 has been heavily praised) and here you are complaining about Nintendo and I just want to make sure I challenge this when I see it. Nintendo didn't change shit. If you changed then that's on you. I hear Xbox PC can play Playstation games and gamepass, so enjoy! You will never have to deal with greedy Nintendo again, charging their greedy 5 dollars, your saviors Microsoft and Sony are here to protect you from the big bad mean ole company forcing you to upgrade your games.

 

[Generic]

Charging for mouse support is a new low...

 

[DarkShadowXI]

30fps still on Switch 2?

I don't mind the $5 fee. I get it, they added content and are also running a business.

But I'm not interested anymore with this 30fps razzmatazz.

 

[Emedan]

3.0 Is quite a substantial upgrade. I'm pretty sure they didn't mention it (or have I missed an previous update) but being able to create multiples of something at the same time is new right? Like one of the biggest pet peeves people had from what I recall - though I haven't played in over a year.

 

[PauloRoberto]

The number of * inside this officla message is frightening...

 

[Generic]

30fps still on Switch 2?

Man, charging for this is pretty sad. I used to cheer for Nintendo but they are a completely different company nowadays.

 

[keefged4]

So its taken Nintendo 6 months to edit the .ini for 2160p output, and they are charging for it?

Did anyone really expect anything less. Pure greed.

Xenoblade when?

 

[Hookshot]

So is the Zelda and Splatoon stuff only available via amiibo or can you get it from a friends island if not a store? Seems a lot of items and characters to hide away from most people.

 

[LordOcidax]

Yep Nintendo is going to kill 2026.

In a big way.

 

[Baemono]

I believe Nintendo stated that simple res bumps were not being charged for but new content was. So I'm assuming that they added content in addition to a simple res boost, correct?

Well they announced a free update with new content at the same time

 

[FoxMcChief]

Well shit. I guess I'm going back to AC sooner than I thought. I wonder how many roaches I will have in my house.

 

[The_hunter]

This game's load times are so long, looking forward to them being cut down.

They added classic games, but you need a online subscription