It’s finally happening, we’re getting a brand new update to Nintendo Animal Crossing New Horizons, and it’s the Version 3.0 update, which is set to drop on January 15th.
We’ve not had any new content added to the game, since the Version 2.0 update, back in November 2021, so it’s been a very long time. I have a run-down of all the new stuff coming in this update, so keep on reading to find out what’s new, and click here to find out what time the Animal Crossing Version 3.0 update drops…
What Does The Animal Crossing New Horizons Version 3.0 Update Bring?
The Nintendo trailer for this update is 12 minutes long, and whenever their trailers go over the 5-minute mark, you know it’s going to be a good game/update.
This update also brings a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, with features you won’t be able to get on earlier Switch models, as well as the “free” version of the update, that everyone will be able to enjoy, regardless of whether they have the Switch 2 or not.
Animal Crossing New Horizons Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
Here is a run-down of the new features within the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, and I’ll share the features within the free version too, so keep reading for those…
Enhanced Resolution For Improved Graphics
Graphics are improved, with enhanced resolution, and they shared a side-by-side image of the regular game VS the new version, to show the quality of the graphics, and the difference is huge.
Joy-Con 2 Mouse Controls
Switch 2 players will be able to make use of Joy-Con 2 Mouse Controls, to give you greater control within the game, for things like redecorating for easier item placement. In the trailer, they show that the Joy-Con 2 will be able to move multiple items at once, when trying to redecorate, for a more intuitive way to make adjustments.
We will also be able to use the Joy-Con 2 Mouse Controls when designing Custom Designs (and messages on the Bulletin Board), which is something players have been asking for, for the longest time.
Megaphone
This is definitely one of the more fun updates to the game, using the new Built-In Microphone on the Switch 2.
Inside Nook’s Cranny, you’ll be able to buy a brand new item inside the item chest where you buy seeds and wallpapers, and it’s the Megaphone, which you’ll find next to the Fishing Rods, and it’ll cost 3,500 Bells.
You’ll be able to equip the Megaphone in your hand, and “call out” to your Island Residents, via the microphone built into the Switch 2, at the top of the Switch 2 console.
You can say one of your island villagers names, and a message will appear on the screen to show you where the villager is, so you don’t have to hunt them down.
It’ll be so much easier to find residents when returning lost items, or passing on gifts from other villagers, without having to run all over your island and beaches.
Expanded Online Features
Until now, 8 players can “meet” when connecting online, but if everyone has the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of New Horizons, upto 12 players will be able to meet and play together.
With GameChat on the Nintendo Switch 2, you can talk to each other, whilst playing – kinda like the ACNH version of Skype or Teams. If you have the external Nintendo Camera, your faces can also appear in the game above your avatar/character.
If you already own Animal Crossing New Horizons on your Nintendo Switch 2, you’ll be able to purchase the Upgrade Pack, which will upgrade your version of ACNH to the new 3.0 update version, to enjoy the new features.
Animal Crossing New Horizons Free Update Version 3.0
The free update will be available January 15th, the same day that the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition launches.
New Locale, Familiar Faces
The biggest news, is that there’s a new “facility” opening on the Pier called the Resort Hotel right on the water, which is the Dock where you’d find Kapp’n in his little boat.
The Pier has been extended, further into the ocean, and halfway along the Pier, there’s now the new and exciting Resort Hotel, and Kapp’n can be found right at the end of the Pier.
The Resort Hotel is beautiful, and from the outside, it’s a two-storey hotel with cute little decorations outside in a coastal blue and white theme.
When you enter the hotel, you’ll find yourself inside the lobby, and the whole hotel is run by Kapp’n’s family, like Leilani and Grams.
Their goal is to work together, to bring in guests from off the island, and we’ll help out by decorating guest rooms within the hotel, based on different themes, to ensure guests enjoy their stay – for example, a theme could be “Seaside Room”.
Just like Happy Home Paradise, you’ll have access to items to decorate with, and you’ll be able to use other furniture you’ve previously obtained, to fully customize the rooms to suit each room’s theme.
Your guests will be other villagers within the game, that aren’t already living on your island.
After decorating your room, Leilani will give you “Tickets” as payment, kinda like how we get Poki in HHP, and you’ll be able to exchange your Hotel Tickets within the Souvenir Shop inside the Resort Hotel Lobby, which is run by Grams.
Gram’s Souvenir Shop will offer a whole range of brand new items we don’t already have in the game like;
- Hotel Mug
- Hotel Pennant
- Hotel Wall Clock
- Hotel Towel Rack
- Hotel Snow Globe
- Blue Hotel Tee
- White Hotel Tee
- Blue Hotel Aloha Shirt
- Blue Hotel Cardigan
- Orange Hotel Aloha Shirt
- Orange Hotel Cardigan
- Hotel Bandanna
- Hotel Umbrella
- Circle Cushion
- Cutlery
- Ice Pail
- Glass Pitcher
- Bird-Of-Paradise
- Pampas Grass
- Rolling Suitcase
- Wall-Mounted Bookshelf
- Cat Plushie
- Flower Planter
- Mug Shelves
- Simple Streetlamp
- Colorful Lantern Arch
- Tubular Lamp
- Tubular Magazine Rack
- Tubular Chair
- Tubular Shelves
- Tubular Table
- Artful Screen
- Artful Lamp
- Artful Chair
- Artful Shelves
- Artful Bed
- Kiddie Partition
- Kiddie Car
- Kiddie Seesaw
We’ll be able to dress up two mannequins within the shop in the lobby, so guests can wear the outfits. You can choose outfits which match your island’s vibe or theme, so when guests walk around your island, they’re wearing the outfits you chose for the mannequins.
At the hotel desk, you’ll be able to scan Amiibo Cards, to invite guests to the hotel.
To increase your island brand recognition, Tom Nooks wants to promote the Resort Hotel, by crafting special island DIY goods.
Outside the hotel, on the pier, there’s a box which you can check, and it’ll tell you which items to craft, and you’ll get Hotel Tickets for crafting the necessary items Tom Nook wants.
Making Life More Convenient
We will be able to increase our home storage even more. The max until now, was always 5000 items inside your home’s storage, but with this new update, we can upgrade it two more times, one upgrade to 7000 items, and one final upgrade to 9000 items, which is fantastic.
My favorite part of this section of the update, is that we’ll now be able to store trees, flowers and shrubs within our home storage. No more beach flower storage issues – we can just put it all inside a Storage Shed, which is going to be such a time saver.
Next, is the amazing Resetti. Resetti will be offering a new clean-up service, called the Reset Service, and he’ll be able to give you the following options when choosing which area you want to “reset”:
- I’ll pick the area
- Just the beach
- The entire island
- I changed my mind
Meaning, you can “tidy” three different areas, if you want to pick up items in a specific area to change things up.
He can even pick up flowers, and will ask you if you want them in your storage or if you’d like them trashed.
It won’t affect your path placements, but it’ll pick up items and flowers for you. Hopefully, weeds too, so we don’t have to mass pick weeds anymore!
Luna’s New Dream World: It’s Slumber Time
When you lay down on a bed inside your house, you’ll get the options: Yeah, I want to sleep, It’s slumber time, or I’ll just lie down.
When you select it’s slumber time, you’ll be transported to the Luna’s New Dream World, where you’ll wake up in a “pristine, fresh location” called Slumber Island, and you can decorate your Slumber Island using items from your catalog, and place plants and trees – choosing which size of trees you want, without having to stunt them like the main game.
You can terraform, and widen rivers, break down cliffs, and Lloid (in his sleep hat) will allow you to place bridges and inclines too.
Amazingly, you’ll be able to select the time of day, on your Slumber Island, and even the weather. Plus, add your island villagers.
Each player will be able to build up to three FREE Slumber Islands in addition to their main, original island, and for your Slumber Island, you’ll be able to choose from three sizes for the island: Small, Medium, Large, and then choose the layout of your island, once you’ve chosen the size.
We will be able to meet up on Nintendo friend’s Slumber Islands, and play together, decorating or helping to terraform and transform the island.
Various NEW Collaborations
Until now, we’ve had collaborations within New Horizons, like the Sanrio Amiibo Cards, which allow you to have six different Sanrio characters on your island, plus their limited edition clothing items and home items.
By using the Resort Hotel, and increasing it’s “brand recognition”, the souvenir shop will start to carry Nintendo products like:
- Ultra Hand
- Ultra Machine
- Love Tester
- Nintendo Switch 2
- Famicom
- NES
- Famicom Disk System
- Game Boy
- Super Famicom
If you have an active Nintendo Online membership, you’ll be able to play a select a Classic Nintendo game on each system, meaning they’re interactive, which is so cool.
Via the Nook Stop, inside Resident Services, you’ll be able to access some really amazing new items via Nook Shopping, like the brand new LEGO collaboration fashion and furniture items like:
- LEGO Arcade Game
- LEGO Bed
- LEGO DIY Workbench
- LEGO Fireplace
- LEGO Partition
- LEGO Plum Blossom
- LEGO Sofa
- LEGO Table
- LEGO Brick Tee
- LEGO Logo Tee
- LEGO Wallpaper
- LEGO Floor
The Legend Of Zelda x Amiibo
If you love Zelda, you’re going to be obsessed with the Zelda crossover collaboration. There’s going to be furniture and fashion items inspired by The Legend Of Zelda series will be available when tapping Zelda series Amiibo Cards on your Nintendo Switch.
There will be brand new Zelda inspired villagers like; Tulin and Mineru, and you’ll be able to invite them to come and live on your island, once you have their Amiibo Cards.
Splatoon x Amiibo
The next collaboration within the ACNH Version 3.0 Update, is with Splatoon, another super popular Nintendo franchise, using special edition Splatoon Amiibo Cards.
There will be two Splatoon villagers: Cece and Viché, and just like the Zelda villagers, you’ll be able to invite them to your island.
Plus, there will be Splatoon collaboration items within Nook Shopping like:
- Big Man Bench
- Crab Tank
- Golden Egg
- Splatfest Sign Center Panel
- Splatfest Sign Left Panel
- Splatfest Sign Right Panel
- Splatoon Locker
- Splattershot
- Squid Bumper
- Squid Jukebox
- Super Sea Snail
- Smallfry Headband
- Inkling Head
- Octoling Head
- Frye Top
- Hero Suit Replica
- Shiver Top
- Squidmark Sweat
- Takoroka Nylon Vintage
- Tri-Shred Tee
Bulk Crafting
There are a few sneaky sneak peaks the trailer didn’t mention verbally, but showed us in imagery and videos, and one of those is bulk crafting.
Ever since the original game launched on the Switch, in March 2020, we’ve all been desperate for bulk crafting. Being able to craft one single item at a time was so boring and tedious, and it looks like Version 3.0 is going to allow us to do bulk crafting.
They showed the bulk crafting feature, as part of the explanation of the Resort Hotel, and it’s going to be such a time saver.