So, despite my general concerns for the future of Animal Crossing and complicated feelings on New Horizons especially, the series is still very near and dear to my heart… So, imagine my surprise when Nintendo just drops this:
Let alone that apparently the Upgrade Pack is just $5.
In addition to graphic updates, expanded multiplayer up to 12 players, and using other Nintendo Switch 2 features (such as mouse controls for decorating and designing and the camera), there is just… so many additional things being added as part of a 3.0 update such as:
- The Megaphone is back! I always really enjoyed this because finding people can be so tricky so I’m genuinely happy to see it back.
- Kapp’n’s family returns with a new hotel on the pier! We get to decorate the rooms and it kind of reminds me of Happy Home Designer even more than the DLC Expansion, especially as it feels like it’ll suggest more things. It seems some older furniture may be returning as well and we’ll even get tickets for various new items from working at the hotel.
Tourists will even wander your island which I think is really neat! I’m excited to make cute outfits for them to wear. Like with Happy Home Paradise, you can use Amiibo to invite characters as well and it seems there is a whole thing with making your island more appealing by crafting requested furniture which also showcased a much-wanted feature: We can FINALLY craft multiple items at once.
- We also will finally be getting a storage upgrade in addition to being able to store Trees, Bushes, Flowers, and other foliage which ties into Resetti’s new job which cleans out areas around your island (or even the entire thing) which I think is a nice feature for people who like to change their island up a lot. It’s not really something I’d make use of, but I’m happy for those who it will work for.
- As for something I may end up using… Luna’s New Dream World essentially introduces an entire second island (and third and fourth since you can have up to three) for you to decorate without all the buildings on your main island. This is actually super tempting for me to make my full water-pink-themed palace that was tempting, but just not really possible with the restraints on the main island. I don’t know if I’ll make use of all three slots, but I am kind of excited for one. We can apparently set time and weather so I kind of hope we’ll also be able to choose season as well…
It’s really cute that you can terraform and stuff with your friends as well.
- We also have various collaboration items being added such as all the Nintendo systems and other neat Nintendo trinkets and FINALLY we can play the systems to play games again like in the original Animal Crossing. Unfortunately, it does require a Nintendo Online Membership because paying for the game isn’t enough, I guess, so that is certainly something that differs from the original game.
- In addition to the Nintendo items, we have a whole new LEGO series (with a pink coloration as well!), Zelda items returning with a bunch from Breath of the Wild/Tears of the Kingdom, and Splatoon items as well alongside new villagers for the latter with Villagers based off Tulin, Mineru, Shiver, and Frye. I’m so excited for the little Seasnails… Definitely want to decorate with a bunch of them. I also love the pink fairy in a bottle.
Everything releases January 15th, 2026 and while the graphic update and additional controls are just for Nintendo Switch 2, the 3.0 update is for both Switch 1 and Switch 2 owners. I’m really excited for it. I should try and get through more Happy Home Paradise before it’s here…