Switch 2 Makes Animal Crossing Island Transfer a Breeze – But Here’s the Catch!

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Summary

  • Nintendo Switch 2 developer Takuhiro Dohta said that the Switch 2 system transfer process will include Animal Crossing: New Horizons data.
  • Transferring game save data from a Switch to a Switch 2 will keep most data from the source system intact.
  • However, the source Switch system will not have access to Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ island data once the transfer is done.

As a dedicated gamer, I’m excited to share some insight about my beloved game, Animal Crossing: New Horizons. In a recent chat, a Nintendo exec spilled the beans that it’ll be a breeze for us players to migrate our island paradise from the original Switch console to the upcoming Switch 2. But

Back in March 2020, I found solace in a game called Animal Crossing: New Horizons during the initial surge of COVID-19. This charming island escape served as a unique platform for gamers to connect, swap gardening tips, and even host virtual events like graduation ceremonies and birthday parties. Despite not receiving significant updates since November 2022, Animal Crossing: New Horizons has proven to be a massive success, selling over 47.44 million copies by February 2025, making it the second-best Nintendo Switch game behind Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s impressive 67.35 million units sold.

Even though the Animal Crossing franchise didn’t make an appearance in the April 2 Nintendo Direct, players can rest assured they can carry over all their hard work to the Switch 2. In a conversation with Polygon, the developer of the Nintendo Switch 2, Takuhiro Dohta, revealed that the system transfer process on the Switch 2 won’t affect most save data, but the island data from Animal Crossing: New Horizons will be an exception. Dohta clarified that the original Switch console will discard the island data during a system transfer, but it will reappear on the Switch 2 just as it was.

Nintendo Switch to Switch 2 Transfers Will Carry Over Animal Crossing Island Data

Furthermore, you won’t need to install an additional app or rely on cloud storage for the system transfer. Luckily, this process can be done independently. Regrettably, if players wish to trade in their original Switch for a Switch 2, they won’t benefit from the system transfer method as it only works when both systems are in close proximity.

To make use of the new Switch 2 console, you’ll need enough storage space, but the built-in 256GB should be helpful. Apart from transferring the system itself from one Switch to another using the provided method, there are other options available. For instance, the “Animal Crossing: New Horizons Island Transfer” app allows for smooth movement of an island from one original Switch console to another, such as from a Switch Lite to a Switch OLED. Another way involves utilizing Cloud Save data and a Nintendo Switch Online subscription to transfer an “Animal Crossing” island between consoles, though you might need to contact Nintendo to download the data securely.

It’s yet undetermined whether the “Animal Crossing: New Horizons Island Transfer” app will work with the Switch 2. While there isn’t a specific Switch 2 Edition of “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” as of now, moving an island to the Switch 2 is expected to be a straightforward process.

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2025-04-08 01:39