The hotel is officially open!
The 3.0 update for Animal Crossing: New Horizons has released earlier than expected for most users, and is available for download now. However, the Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade and its associated update are still locked behind the release date of Jan. 15.
The dual updates for New Horizons were first announced late last year, shocking fans after Nintendo had announced in 2021 that the 2.0 update would be the last addition of content to the game. The Switch 2 update focuses on new quality-of-life enhancements that take advantage of the newer hardware, like mouse controls for decorating and pattern design, and expanding multiplayer capabilities from eight to 12 players. The 3.0 update, which is available regardless of console, adds several features, including a hotel on the pier that players can help decorate, many new items, and a reset service run by Resetti.
Some fans had predicted this early release could be a possibility, based on the fact that the Switch 2 upgrade pack was slated to release on the Nintendo eShop at midnight on Jan. 15 in New Zealand. This meant that, for players in that time zone to properly experience the upgraded version and its associated new content, the 3.0 update had to be pushed early for most users. Though the 3.0 update is now available to everyone, players will need to wait to access the Nintendo Switch 2 update until it’s officially the release date in their region.
The update can be accessed by selecting the New Horizons game options on the Switch home screen, and selecting the software update option. Players can immediately start exploring the new content, so long as they’ve already unlocked Kapp’n. When the game loads after installing the update, Isabelle will announce that a hotel has opened on the pier. Resetti can also be found wandering around the island, where he’ll explain how his new island resetting process works. With the 3.0 update now available and the Switch 2 update not far behind, there’s never been a better time to revisit your Animal Crossing: New Horizons island.
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Oh boy. More Animal Crossing. I bought the upgrade this morning, but I don’t know how I feel.
It’s like a cross between returning to a game I adore and returning to a job I left for a reason. lol
Oof, what an apt way of looking at it. I thought about coming back to it as something to do in the winter when I’m stuck inside anyway, but the idea of adding video game chores to my day maybe isn’t as appealing as it used to be. 
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