Animal Crossing: New Horizons 3.0 Update Is Out Earlier Than Expected

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The latest update for Animal Crossing: New Horizons arrived a day early, on January 14, 2026. The popular life simulation game, which first launched on March 20, 2020, continues to be a hit with players who are still designing unique islands and interacting with their animal neighbors almost six years later. As the second best-selling game on the Nintendo Switch—only behind Mario Kart 8 Deluxe—Animal Crossing: New Horizons still offers a compelling experience for those who haven’t yet discovered it.

This major update, version 3.0, is the biggest change to New Horizons in over four years. Since then, there have been smaller updates to fix issues, and in November 2021, the Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Happy Home Paradise expansion was released. This isn’t the first time a game in the Animal Crossing series has received a surprise update long after its initial release – Animal Crossing: New Leaf, which came out in 2013, got the Welcome amiibo expansion in 2016. The series is known for taking its time with updates, but they’re always worth the wait.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Version 3.0 Releases Early

This update brings several improvements to make the game more enjoyable, plus new things to do both solo and with friends. The official Animal Crossing website and trailer reveal that these additions are designed to appeal to both longtime fans and new players.

What’s New in Animal Crossing: New Horizons Version 3.0?

  • A new resort hotel to decorate for guests
  • A new in-game currency to earn: hotel tickets
  • New DIY crafting request system
  • Slumber Island, a new shared “dream world” island to share and decorate with other players
  • Resetti’s Reset Service to help with island cleanup
  • Ability to store 9,000 items
  • New Nintendo items – including playable retro consoles and crossovers with LEGO, The Legend of Zelda, and Splatoon

Although version 3.0 is out now, the upgrade specifically for the Nintendo Switch 2 hasn’t launched yet, but is still expected around January 15th. Good news is, version 3.0 works well enough for Switch 2 players to enjoy while they wait. Players have been asking for the ability to store plants and clear large areas quickly for a long time, and the new Slumber Island feature will be helpful for designing islands. Plus, even though it wasn’t shown in the promotional materials, Animal Crossing: New Horizons now lets you craft multiple items at once.

This free update is surprisingly good! The new hotel feature in Animal Crossing: New Horizons is especially noteworthy. It works a lot like the Happy Home Paradise DLC, letting you design rooms for visitors. It’s a clever way to promote the DLC – players who haven’t purchased it can try out the hotel and get a feel for what it offers. And for those who can’t afford the DLC, the hotel provides a fun, free experience similar to it.

As a huge Animal Crossing fan, I was so excited to hear about another big update for New Horizons, especially after all this time – almost six years! Honestly, it’s a great move for Nintendo. The game has already sold over 48 million copies as of September 2025, making it the second best-selling Switch game ever. And considering Mario Kart 8 Deluxe had a three-year head start, that’s seriously impressive!

Image via Nintendo

It’s not surprising Nintendo is highlighting one of its biggest hits with the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2. However, it’s unexpected that this update isn’t limited to the new console. Nintendo easily could have made it exclusive to boost Switch 2 sales, but they chose to release the most significant improvements for all players, regardless of whether they’ve upgraded to the new system.

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2026-01-14 21:05