Animal Crossing: New Horizons 3.0 update arrives early for some players

Kotaku reports that Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ 3.0 update is available now, arriving a day earlier than many players expected; the free update is live while the paid Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade remains unavailable and is likely tied to the Switch 2’s official release date of January 15.

The early rollout is assumed to reflect it already being January 15 in some time zones such as New Zealand, and the paid Switch 2 upgrade appears to become purchasable once it hits midnight in a player’s region. To install the free update, update the game from the Switch homepage; when the update is active Isabelle will announce the new hotel opening.

The update adds content including the Kapp’n family hotel on the pier and quality-of-life features such as bulk crafting and a Resetti clean-up service. The Switch 2 upgrade is said to use the new console’s hardware to support mouse controls and larger multiplayer groups. Fans had been preparing for months after the announcement late last year, which surprised many since the 2.0 update in 2021 had been expected to be the final major release.

Key Topics

Culture, Animal Crossing, Isabelle, Kapp'n Family Hotel, Bulk Crafting, Resetti