Animal Crossing: New Horizons Switch 2 Upgrade – Is It Worth It?

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With over 40 million copies sold, Animal Crossing: New Horizons was hugely popular on the Nintendo Switch – second only to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. So, it’s not surprising Nintendo is releasing an updated version for the new Switch console. The Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition will bring the relaxing gameplay to the upgraded hardware, but players will need to pay $4.99 to upgrade.

While $4.99 is a small price for most, players might wonder if the upgraded version of Animal Crossing: New Horizons is worth it. The real excitement actually comes from the massive 3.0 update, which added a hotel for decorating, several helpful improvements, hidden features, the Slumber Islands, and collaborations with LEGO and Zelda, among others. This update is the main reason people are returning to New Horizons, and because it’s free for everyone, those with the Switch 2 might be unsure what the upgrade offers.

Honestly, the difference between Animal Crossing: New Horizons on the Switch and the Switch 2 isn’t huge. I played them side-by-side, and while the Switch 2 version does have a better resolution, I didn’t really see a massive improvement. It loads a little faster and runs a bit smoother, which is nice, so if those things matter to you, the $4.99 upgrade might be worth it. But if you’re on the fence, you’re probably fine skipping it – I don’t think you’d be missing out on a ton.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Has Switch 2 Exclusive Features, But They’re Not That Big of a Deal

Image via Nintendo

The Switch 2 version of Animal Crossing: New Horizons will look and run better, and it includes a few new features. The biggest addition is mouse control with the new Joy-Con 2, which is helpful when creating designs or decorating. While dedicated designers will likely enjoy this, it probably won’t be a major reason for most players to upgrade.

Image via Nintendo

The Switch 2 version of New Horizons includes a new megaphone you can buy from Nook’s Cranny for 3,500 bells. It lets you call out villagers’ names using the Switch 2’s microphone to help locate them on your island. I found it worked really well – surprisingly accurate, in fact – except for one villager. The game just wouldn’t recognize the name “Pecan,” no matter how I said it! But aside from that, the megaphone works perfectly.

Image via Nintendo

One of the biggest improvements in New Horizons on the Switch 2 is the ability to play with up to 12 players online. I wasn’t able to test this myself, as I don’t know that many people with the new console! It’s a great feature for those who enjoy playing Animal Crossing with large groups, but it likely won’t be used much by others.

Switch 2 Upgrade is Neat, But Not Essential

While the new features are nice to have, the Switch 2 offers some unique additions, such as the megaphone. At $4.99, it’s not expensive, but since the best updates are free, you can still enjoy playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons without upgrading.

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2026-01-16 23:37