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Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition

Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is Nintendo's enhanced version of the 2020 island life-sim, rebuilt for the Nintendo Switch 2 and released Thursday, January 15, 2026 as a Switch 2 exclusive. It runs at 4K in TV/docked mode and 1080p in handheld (up from the original's 1080p/720p), keeps the 30 FPS cap, and adds Switch 2 hardware features: mouse controls with the Joy-Con 2 for decorating, an in-game megaphone that uses the built-in microphone to call residents, online sessions for up to 12 players, and CameraPlay via a USB camera with GameChat. You can buy it as a $64.99 standalone game, or, if you already own the original New Horizons, pay $4.99 for the Upgrade Pack to add the Switch 2 features to your existing island. The same day, a free Ver. 3.0 content update (a resort hotel run by Kapp'n's family, Slumber Islands, bulk DIY crafting and storage up to 9,000 items) launched on both the original Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, so the paid Switch 2 Edition is specifically the visual and hardware-feature upgrade rather than the new content.

Developer
Nintendo EPD
Publisher
Nintendo
Released
Thursday, January 15, 2026
Platforms
Nintendo Switch 2

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Animal Crossing NH Switch 2 Edition — frequently asked

Is the upgrade free or paid?
The Switch 2 Edition itself is paid: $64.99 as a standalone game, or $4.99 for the Upgrade Pack if you already own the original New Horizons. What is free is the separate Ver. 3.0 content update (resort hotel, Slumber Islands, more storage), which launched the same day on both the original Switch and Switch 2. So the free update adds content to everyone; the paid Switch 2 Edition adds the visual and hardware enhancements.
Do I need Nintendo Switch Online to play it?
Only for online play. You need a paid Nintendo Switch Online membership (base tier, sold separately) to visit other players' islands online or have them visit yours. The higher NSO + Expansion Pack tier is not required for online island visits, and you can play solo or in local wireless co-op with no subscription at all.
What platforms is it on?
The enhanced Switch 2 Edition is a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive — it does not run on the original Switch, and there is no PlayStation, Xbox or PC version. The accompanying free Ver. 3.0 content update is available on the original Nintendo Switch as well, but the Switch 2 Edition itself requires a Switch 2.
How does online play work?
Multiplayer is island-visiting. Up to 8 players can gather in a standard local or online session, increasing to up to 12 players online when everyone owns the Switch 2 Edition. Online visits need a Nintendo Switch Online membership; the Switch 2 Edition also supports CameraPlay via a compatible USB camera (sold separately) plus GameChat so friends can see and hear each other.
Can I transfer my island/save from the original Switch?
Yes. If you already own New Horizons, the $4.99 Upgrade Pack adds the Switch 2 features directly to your existing island. If instead you buy the standalone Switch 2 Edition, you move your island to the Switch 2 using Nintendo's standard system/save-data transfer, so your existing town carries over rather than starting fresh.

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Sources

Animal Crossing NH Switch 2 Edition
Thursday, January 15, 2026
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