All the New Features in Animal Crossing: New Horizons Update 3.0

The Animal Crossing: New Horizons Update 3.0 has officially launched, coinciding with the arrival of the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. This update is packed with exciting new features, including quality-of-life improvements, a brand-new resort hotel called Slumber Islands, and the Reset Service. The best part? While the Switch 2 upgrade comes with a price tag for its enhanced resolution, the 3.0 update is completely free for all Animal Crossing: New Horizons players! To ensure you don’t miss any of the major additions and changes as you dive back into island life, here’s a comprehensive overview of what you need to know about Update 3.0.

Both the 3.0 update and the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrade are available now.

The 3.0 update is free, and if you need assistance, there are guides available on how to update Animal Crossing. However, the Switch 2 Edition upgrade is a premium offering, available for purchase in the eShop for $4.99/£4.19.

If you’re making the jump to the Switch 2 Edition, be sure to check out how to transfer your Animal Crossing: New Horizons save data to the new console. Plus, you can grab the Animal Crossing Megaphone to communicate with your villagers more effectively.

Your pier has received a makeover in this update, with Kapp’n’s family moving in. The 3.0 update introduces a new Animal Crossing hotel to your island, where Kapp’n’s family will need your help to decorate. Think of it as a Happy Home Paradise experience, but for hotel rooms.

You’ll be tasked with following specific themes for each guest room, adding furniture, wallpapers, lighting, and everything else needed to create a cozy getaway. Random villagers will come to stay and explore your island, turning it into the ultimate vacation destination. Your efforts will be rewarded with hotel tickets, which can be exchanged at the Hotel Souvenir shop for new items and furniture that will rotate like Nook’s Cranny.

The beloved Resetti makes his official return in Update 3.0, introducing a new Reset Service that allows you to tidy up your island by removing items you’ve left behind and safely storing them, saving you from the hassle of doing it manually.

Sleeping just got a lot more interesting in ACNH with the introduction of Slumber Islands, accessible by lying down on your bed.

Slumber Islands offer up to three completely empty islands—small, medium, or large—for you to redesign as you wish. You can terraform, build bridges and slopes, and use all the furniture you’ve unlocked without needing to craft anything. You can even plant trees or flowers at various growth stages for complete creative control over your Slumber Islands. Plus, you can adjust the time of day and season, making it a sandbox mode where your villagers can roam freely.

Update 3.0 also brings some exciting new furniture collaborations. Classic Nintendo consoles like the Famicom, NES, and Game Boy are now available. If you have a Nintendo Switch Online membership, you can interact with these consoles in-game to play selected classic games.

LEGO is also making its mark with a range of official items, including furniture and clothing. The LEGO arcade and themed flowers are particularly delightful.

If you have compatible Legend of Zelda amiibo, you can unlock some fantastic Animal Crossing Zelda items, including iconic outfits, rupees, the Tri-Force, and more. Two new Zelda-themed villagers, Tulin and Mineru, can also join your island as campers or residents.

The Splatoon amiibo bring their own set of rewards, introducing two new squirrel villagers named Cece and Viche, inspired by the Splatoon TV hosts Shiver and Frye. You can also unlock Splatoon-themed outfits, hairstyles, and furniture.

Additionally, Update 3.0 expands your home storage capacity with two new upgrade options of 7,000 and 9,000, available through Tom Nook. You can now also store trees, shrubs, and flowers in your home storage.

Crafting has seen significant improvements, including a major upgrade that wasn’t even mentioned in the trailer: you can now craft directly from your storage, eliminating the need to move items into your pockets first.

You can also finally craft in bulk at any crafting bench, which is a huge relief!

Stay tuned for more updates and news on upcoming Switch 2 games and other titles on the Switch.