January 2026 saw the release of Animal Crossing: New Horizons‘ Switch 2 edition, and a new update brings further improvements to the game’s performance (and a few other issues). Animal Crossing: New Horizons‘ 3.0 update and Switch 2 edition brought players flocking back to the game, and the recent update should help keep them a little longer, too.
It’s hard to overstate how important Animal Crossing: New Horizons is in the video game world, beyond just the walls of Nintendo. For many, it’s the game that got them through COVID, so when new updates and content came in early 2026, it was impossible to ignore. The 3.0 update brought in features like a resort on the kappas pier, The Legend of Zelda and Splatoon crossover items, major crafting updates, improvements to cooking, Pocket Camp items, and so much more.
Animal Crossing 3.0.1 Update
Of course, every new update has the chance to bring in new issues, with the aforementioned release compounding multiple issues. Now, the latest 3.0.1 fixes a few performance and cloud issues. It also addressed a few issues specific to the Switch 2. Namely, it addressed issues where the controller vibration intensity did not match the Switch and issues where the skybox would become distorted. Some issues with Animal Crossing: New Horizons‘ characters, like Resetti and Timmy/Tommy, were also addressed. It’s minor in the grand scheme of things, but quality-of-life issues often go a long way in retaining players. The full patch notes, as released by Nintendo support, are available at the end of this article.
Who’s That Character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)
Fans can, in all likelihood, expect a few more updates in the future that target minor issues like these, but it’ll be interesting to see how the 3.0 update impacts players in the long run. Many have returned and are likely to remain on their island for some time yet, but at the same time, there’s always an expectation of new games with a new console. Many fans are hoping for a brand new Animal Crossing game for the Switch 2, but that’s also an issue for Nintendo. The fact is, the COVID-19 pandemic meant more people than ever were playing games, and Animal Crossing wildly surged in part due to this. No new Animal Crossing game is likely to live up to that.
Still, Animal Crossing is an iconic Nintendo IP, and the 3.0.X updates moving forward are not likely to be the end of the franchise. Time will only tell, but Animal Crossing: New Horizons‘ quality and ability to be there for players remain something so special to so many.
Latest update: Ver. 3.0.1 (Released February 18, 2026)
The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch:
- Fixed an issue where the game would run slower than normal after exiting the island hotel to an outdoor area.
- Fixed an issue where, when asking Resetti to clean up the island, fences that were put away or in storage could change into different customizations or be duplicated, and some cleaned-up items could disappear.
- Fixed an issue where Timmy and Tommy would sometimes stop following the player inside Nook’s Cranny.
- Fixed an issue where items could pop out of a rock before the shovel made contact when hitting it.
- Fixed an issue where, after playing with another player on a slumber island, home remodeling or relocation could become unavailable on the slumber island.
- Fixed an issue where the Camera app installation sequence could play when redeeming the Island Designer license at Nook Stop.
- Fixed an issue where some items were displayed in incorrect positions in the catalog used for photo studios and hotel decorating.
- Other adjustments and corrections were made to improve the gameplay experience.
The following updates have been made when playing the game on Nintendo Switch 2:
- Fixed an issue where clouds near the horizon could appear misaligned outdoors on the island, causing parts of the sky to show unnaturally.
- Adjusted controller vibration intensity to match the level when playing on Nintendo Switch.
- Released
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March 20, 2020
- ESRB
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Everyone / Comic Mischief, Mild Fantasy Violence, Users Interact, In-Game Purchases
- Developer(s)
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Nintendo EPD
- Publisher(s)
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Nintendo
