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January 2026 Update (3.0) - Animal Crossing: New Horizons
After nearly four years since the last major content update, Nintendo has released the biggest free update yet for Animal Crossing: New Horizons! Version 3.0 arrived on January 15th, 2026, bringing exciting new features that will transform how you play the game.
This update is particularly special because it coincides with the release of the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of the game, which includes enhanced features for players on the new console. However, the majority of the new content is available to everyone on both Switch and Switch 2!
Major new features (available to all players)
The Resort Hotel by Kapp'n's family
One of the most exciting additions is the Resort Hotel that appears near your island's pier. Run by Kapp'n and his family, this hotel brings a whole new gameplay experience to your island.
You'll be able to decorate themed rooms for visiting guests, fulfilling their specific requests to match their preferred style. When you successfully complete a room theme, you'll earn Hotel Tickets that can be spent in the hotel's souvenir shop on exclusive items you can't find anywhere else on your island.
The hotel also supports Amiibo functionality, allowing you to invite special characters as guests. This adds a fun new way to interact with your favorite Animal Crossing characters!
Slumber Islands
For Nintendo Switch Online members, there's a brand new feature called Slumber Islands. This lets you create and maintain up to three separate dream islands that you can decorate and build however you like. You can find and share Slumber Islands in NookFriends' Slumber Islands section.
What makes this particularly interesting is that you can bring back former villagers who have moved away from your main island! If you've been missing a favorite neighbor, Slumber Islands gives you a chance to reunite with them in a creative space all your own.
Massive storage upgrades
Storage has always been a concern for dedicated island designers, and this update addresses that in a big way. Your home storage capacity has been increased from approximately 5,000 items to a whopping 9,000 items!
Even better, this expanded storage now includes trees, shrubs, and flowers, making it much easier to manage your island's landscaping projects without running out of space.
Resetti's cleanup service
Remember Resetti? He's back, but this time in a much more helpful role! Resetti now runs a cleanup service that can help you clear out areas of your island efficiently.
Whether you want to remove items from a room, clear out flower arrangements, delete custom designs, or even reset entire regions of your island, Resetti's service will safely store everything in your storage. This is perfect for when you want to redesign large areas without manually removing everything piece by piece.
Quality of life improvements
The update also includes many smaller but highly requested improvements that make daily gameplay smoother:
- Bulk crafting: You can now craft up to 10 items at once if you have enough materials. No more repeatedly pressing the craft button!
- Storage integration: When crafting DIY recipes, you can now use items directly from your home storage without having to take them out first.
- DIY app updates: A new page in the DIY app tracks hotel DIY requests and items that Tom Nook requests, keeping everything organized in one place.
- Improved movement: Hold the L button while moving outdoors to walk while facing the same direction. This is especially helpful when placing paths or doing terraforming work!
- Bulk actions: Buy up to 50 Customization Kits at once, sell items via the drop-off box at Nook's Cranny, and enjoy reduced fees for hiring Leif's weed removal service.
- Flag and tune reversion: If you change your island flag or tune and want to go back, you can now revert to the original versions easily.
Nintendo Switch 2 Edition exclusives
If you're playing on the Nintendo Switch 2 or upgrade to the Switch 2 Edition, you'll get access to some additional features that take advantage of the new hardware:
- Enhanced graphics: Experience Animal Crossing in 4K resolution when playing in TV mode, with optimized visuals throughout the game.
- Mouse controls: Use the new Joy-Con 2 like a mouse for precise control when decorating interiors, designing custom patterns, or posting on the bulletin board. This makes detailed work much easier!
- The megaphone: A new tool that lets you call villagers by name using the Switch 2's built-in microphone. They'll actually respond when you call them! This is perfect for when you can't find a villager who's hiding in a building or behind some trees.
- Expanded online play: When all players are on Switch 2, you can now have up to 12 players online together on one island (increased from 8). Plus, there's live camera integration so players can see each other's reactions in real-time!
Collaboration items
The update also brings new furniture and clothing items from exciting collaborations with other Nintendo franchises, including The Legend of Zelda, Splatoon, and LEGO. These items let you bring a bit of your other favorite games into your island life!
Additionally, classic Nintendo console items (like NES and SNES) are now available as placeable furniture. Some of these even let you play retro games right on your island, though with some limitations.
What this means for players
This is the most significant update since version 2.0, and it's clear that Nintendo wanted to give players substantial new content to explore. The free content is incredibly generous—even if you're playing on the original Switch, you get new buildings, features, storage upgrades, cleanup tools, and collaboration items without paying anything extra.
Many of the quality-of-life improvements address long-time player requests, like bulk crafting and improved storage management. The return of Resetti in a helpful role, plus the new Resort Hotel, should give players who may have taken a break from the game plenty of reasons to come back and rediscover their islands.
Whether you're a veteran player looking for new challenges or someone who's been away for a while, the January 2026 update offers something exciting for everyone. Happy islanding!