(Image via Nintendo Life) 

Staff Editor: Aidan Danforth

Email: adanforth@umassd.edu

Animal Crossing fans around the world rejoice! On an unexpected Thursday, October 15th, Nintendo causally dropped a Switch 2 edition of Animal Crossing New Horizons along with a 3.0 update that adds new content. 

Animal Crossing New Horizons is Nintendo’s second best selling game on the Switch. It’s a game that kept many people, including me, occupied during the COVID-19 outbreak that forced everyone indoors. 

This game’s last major update was back in 2021, with Nintendo claiming it to be the last. 

But now, Nintendo decided to revive one of their goodies of the Switch 1 era, hoping for the same success for the Switch 2 port. With the next Animal Crossing set to release within the middle of the Switch 2’s life, this new update will give a reason to return to their islands.

Switch 2 Edition 

The first part of the roughly 12 and a half minute video showcases the Switch 2 adaptation of Animal Crossing New Horizons. The 3.0 update is for both versions of the game, and it will present the features of the new console. 

One of the first things shown is the enchanted resolutions, which is to be expected as Switch 2 editions of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom have received the same upgrade. Nintendo even shows the original and the remastered side by side to show the increased resolution. 

There’s also the return of a familiar item: the megaphone, which utilizes the microphone mechanic of the Switch 2 by allowing the player to call their villagers so they can find them around their island. 

Players will also be able to have up to 12 players present on their island at the same time (previously, it was a max of 8), displaying the power of the Switch 2. Finally, the game utilizes mouse controls when decorating players’ homes along with a new voice chat and camera feature. 

Although there is no statement of the cost for the full game on Switch 2, if you already own the Switch 1 version, the upgrade pack only costs 5 dollars. That’s cheap considering the rest of the editions vary from 10 to 20 dollars. 

Decorate, Decorate, Decorate 

If there’s one word to describe Animal Crossing New Horizons, it would be creativity. Nintendo emphasizes the use of one’s imagination, with the premise being about decorating your island. 

The two biggest additions of Kapp’n’s Hotel and the dream islands only further that message. Kapp’n’s Hotel adds a (you guessed it) hotel to the players island, where they must work with Kapp’n’s family to design various hotel rooms for guests. 

After the players design a hotel room, they earn tickets, which they can use to buy new furniture and other items. There’s even a new feature where if the players craft a certain amount of DIY furniture for Tom Nook, they get more of those tickets. 

Most Animal Crossing fans are already familiar with Luna’s dream worlds that allow you to visit dream islands. Now, that mechanic has been expanded where you can make up to three new islands. 

You start with the choice of a small, medium, or large island, and then the game gives you all the tools you’ve acquired to make an island without any restrictions. The only limit is your imagination, as you literally have access to everything. Each player can have up to 3 islands and be able to create islands with other players. 

Remember when Nintendo released Mario-themed items as an update? They are doing that again with Zelda, Splatoon, and Lego-themed items. Lots of iconic furniture and outfits like Zelda’s Zoani attire, Link’s tunic, and so much more will give players even more customization options.

New villagers are also on the way. Players get a chance to have Tulin and Mineru from the Legend of Zelda and Cece and Viche, two new Splatoon villagers who resemble Shiver and Frey. 

There’s still more: The amount of storage one player can have has increased from 5000 to 9000, and players can finally store flowers, trees, and shrubs, a long overdue feature. Resetti has also been added to the game with the ability to reset parts of your island, making restarting one’s island a breeze. 

Finally, players can now craft multiple of the same items at DIY tables, another massive time saver that makes crafting less repetitive. 

This Switch 2 addition of Animal Crossing New Horizons and the 3.0 update is going to release on January 15th. Animal Crossing fans finally have something to look forward to as Nintendo practically finished releasing updates since the major 2.0 update in 2021. 

It’s a special game that is unlike any cozy game, given its unique mechanics and gameplay. A game all about building a community, being creative, and giving you all the tools to make your dream paradise. I’m beyond happy that Nintendo is giving this 5-year-old game a huge revival as it makes me all the more excited for how the next game can top a masterpiece like New Horizons.