With the release of the Switch 2 version of <em>Animal Crossing: New Horizons</em>, the highly anticipated 3.0 update for the game came with it. This version comes with plenty of new features, such as the inclusion of a Hotel for even more decorative opportunities. However, the Switch 2 features added to the game are somewhat strange, with weird limitations that take some air out of the sails for this update.

The official 3.0 update for AC: New Horizons is set to release on January 15, 2026, fairly early into the new year. However, one article from IGN has some early impressions of the update build through a review demo, offering some valuable insight into the changes made to the game. While there doesn’t seem to be much not already revealed through trailers for version 3.0, some minute details are worth sharing.

First Impressions of Animal Crossing 3.0 & Switch 2

Some Upgrades and Various Content Focused on Specific Parts

Based on first impressions, it seems like AC: New Horizons‘ 3.0 update isn’t too extensive, not changing a ton of what already exists within the game. One of the biggest additions to the game is the inclusion of four new characters, including two faces from the Splatoon series and two others from The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. These figures are mainly added through amiibos, coming with special items tied to each.

The festive nature of AC: Horizons is felt in the update through its biggest new feature — The Hotel. This is a new area that is unlocked at the Pier, preventing it from being moved to other areas of your island. Themed decorations tied to whatever season it is fill The Hotel, with each room being open for further decorations as you play.

Decorating Hotel rooms will help you earn tickets, which can be spent at The Hotel’s shop to buy furniture and other items for the rest of your island. While the characters in The Hotel aren’t too interesting, this new loop of decoration is perfect for players who enjoy organizing or building up a theme for any area they accessorize.

With improved visuals, graphics updates, and performance speed from the Switch 2 version of the game, the overall impressions of the 3.0 update are solid. That being said, “this one [update 3.0] is for the decorators” is a perfect quote from the IGN article that encapsulates this patch. Despite the ability to now host 12 players in multiplayer, the lack of other new content makes this update feel less feature-rich compared to past ones.

ACNH’s New Megaphone Has A Major Flaw

Major Issue Within a Highly Marketed Switch 2 System

Another added feature to AC: New Horizons was an indirect result of it being on the Switch 2. This version of the game comes with the Switch 2’s Megaphone system, which lets players speak to each other in specific games. However, in AC: New Horizons, the Megaphone can only call residents who aren’t in buildings, making it feel incredibly weird as you play.

Considering how you can have up to 12 players at the same time now, The Megaphone could be a great way to communicate with everyone while playing. Yet, the inability to reach anyone inside a building seems like a huge flaw, as players will always be going in and out of buildings in AC: New Horizons to get items, decorate interior spaces, and more.

This feels like a big oversight that may not dampen the impact of the 3.0 update but certainly sours the Switch 2 version of the game to a degree. While this may get corrected in the future, Animal Crossing: New Horizons‘ Switch 2 edition seems to take two steps forward and one step back, perhaps making it a little harder to enjoy the game’s freshest features early next year.

[nospin]Here you can find the original article. The photos and images used in our article also come from this source. We are not their authors and they have been used solely for informational purposes with proper attribution to their original source.[nospin]

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