Following the surprise early launch of the version 3.0 free update on January 14, 2026 (as covered previously), Nintendo's Animal Crossing: New Horizons continues to expand with in-depth features like the unlockable Resort Hotel, Resetti's automated island reset service, precise movement controls, Amiibo crossovers, and Nintendo Switch 2 exclusives. Available now on Switch, the update enhances the 2020 life-sim hit.
The version 3.0 update for Animal Crossing: New Horizons, released early on January 14, 2026—ahead of its planned January 15 worldwide rollout—delivers extensive new content. To unlock the Resort Hotel, managed by Kapp'n and family on his pier, players need a three-star island rating, 15 museum donations to Blathers, and a K.K. Slider concert. Players can then decorate up to two themed guest rooms daily, earning Hotel Tickets for Grams' souvenir shop. This progresses to outfit planning for guests and attracting roaming tourists.
Resetti's Reset Service automates island tidying. Post-update, Resetti appears on the island to activate; the first use is free, with later hires at 60,000 Bells via Isabelle at Resident Services. He resets furniture, fencing, ladders, and ground decor (storing for retrieval), skipping shells, coral, trees, crops, weeds, and buried items. Add-ons handle flowers, custom designs, and home pest control (roaches). Unavailable during festivals.
Quality-of-life updates include holding L for grid-based movement (terraforming/decorating with strafing, backpedaling, small jumps); crafting from home storage with bulk up to 10 items; new Amiibo for Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Tulin, Mineru) and Splatoon (Viché, Cece) crossovers. Nintendo Switch Online users access classic consoles (e.g., NES Ice Climber, Game Boy Dr. Mario) bought at the hotel shop.
Switch 2 edition exclusives (via $4.99 upgrade) feature the 3,500-Bell megaphone tool using the console mic to locate residents. Additional tweaks: home storage for DIY, up to 50 Customization Kits simultaneously, reduced Leif weed removal fees. Patch notes align with the free update's broad enhancements.
