What we know about the new Animal Crossing update

For the first time in four years, Nintendo has announced that a new update is heading to Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

The free 3.0 update will be released on 15 January 2026, and Nintendo has said it is also releasing a Switch 2 version of the game - which will cost money.

Back in 2021 Nintendo announced that 2.0 would be the 'last major free content update' to the game.

The new update will also feature a collab with The Legend of Zelda, Lego and Splatoon.

Let's take a closer look at what is coming in the new update...

What's in the Animal Crossing 3.0 update?

A new resort hotel run by Kapp'n and his family is coming in the new update.

Players can help decorate the hotel's guest rooms in different themes to encourage guests from off the island to visit.

This allows players to earn hotel tickets which they can use to buy items from the hotel shop.

Storage will also get an upgrade - and player's homes will be able to hold 9,000 items, rather than 5,000, including trees, shrubs and flowers.

Crafting is also getting a quality of life improvement, with players able to batch-craft multiple objects now.

Players will also have the option to reset parts or all of their island if they want to, by asking Resetti for help.

Any items moved in the clear-up, will go into players storage.

Another addition coming in the new update is Slumber Island.

Currently Luna can help players to visit other islands in their dreams by typing in a unique code when they go to sleep in a bed.

In the new update, players will be able to build up to three new island designs in their dream world, which can be visited by villagers or friends in real life.

What collaborations are coming in the new Animal Crossing update?

The Legend of Zelda is coming to Animal Crossing

A number of collabs were also announced in the new update video.

Lego items, including wallpaper, furniture and clothing will be available in Nook Shopping.

A Legend of Zelda collab is also coming in the new update, featuring clothing, decorations and also two new villagers from the Tears of the Kingdom game: Tulin and Mineru.

However, players will need to use a paid-for amiibo - an interactive figure or card, which can be tapped onto the console to unlock new features.

The same feature will also allow Cece and Viché, cosplaying as Shiver and Frye from the Splatoon series to visit.

What is in the Switch 2 animal Crossing update?

The Switch 2 version of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, will cost £4.19 to buy, if players already own the Switch copy of the game, or around £54.99 to buy new.

The new update will allow players to use the console's Joy-Con mouse controls whilst decorating or designing.

Players will also be able to find missing villagers on their island by shouting into a new megaphone item, which uses the Switch 2's in-built microphone.

If players have an online membership, they will also be able to meet and speak with up to 12 players online instead of eight using the chat feature.

Do you like Animal Crossing? Are you looking forward to the new features? Let us know your thoughts in the comments...