{"id":688511,"date":"2026-01-11T08:23:15","date_gmt":"2026-01-11T08:23:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/688511\/"},"modified":"2026-01-11T08:23:15","modified_gmt":"2026-01-11T08:23:15","slug":"icymi-animal-crossing-new-horizons-switch-gets-a-free-switch-2-update-next-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/688511\/","title":{"rendered":"ICYMI: Animal Crossing: New Horizons Switch Gets A Free Switch 2 Update Next Week"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a class=\"scanlines\" title=\"Animal Crossing: New Horizons\" href=\"https:\/\/images.nintendolife.com\/2666b126c8ba4\/animal-crossing-new-horizons.large.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/animal-crossing-new-horizons.900x.jpg\" width=\"900\" height=\"507\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Animal Crossing: New Horizons\"\/><\/a> Image: Nintendo<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/games\/nintendo-switch\/animal_crossing_new_horizons\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Animal Crossing: New Horizons<\/a> is getting a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/guides\/everything-included-in-the-animal-crossing-new-horizons-nintendo-switch-2-edition-and-free-3-0-update\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">free 3.0 update<\/a> alongside the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/guides\/everything-included-in-the-animal-crossing-new-horizons-nintendo-switch-2-edition-and-free-3-0-update\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">paid Switch 2 Edition<\/a> of the game next week. In case you missed it, there&#8217;ll also be some additional free enhancements for Switch players who revisit the game on the Switch 2 but don&#8217;t purchase the upgrade.<\/p>\n<p>This is now highlighted on <a class=\"external\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nintendo.com\/us\/gaming-systems\/switch-2\/transfer-guide\/games-with-free-updates\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Nintendo&#8217;s &#8220;free updates&#8221; page<\/a> for existing Switch games. It notes how the original Switch version of New Horizons will get a visual update &#8211; optimising visuals on the &#8220;Switch 2 display&#8221; and improving the image quality:<\/p>\n<p>Animal Crossing: New Horizons &#8211; Free Update (15th January, 2026)<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong>Free updates for select Nintendo Switch games<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Animal Crossing: New Horizons &#8211; Updates included:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Visuals: Optimized for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and improved image quality.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><a class=\"scanlines\" title=\"Animal Crossing: New Horizons\" href=\"https:\/\/images.nintendolife.com\/147b289ecd0f0\/animal-crossing-new-horizons.large.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1768119794_616_animal-crossing-new-horizons.900x.jpg\" width=\"900\" height=\"261\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Animal Crossing: New Horizons\"\/><\/a> Image: Nintendo Life \/ Nintendo<\/p>\n<p>Again, this will arrive alongside the free 3.0 update for Animal Crossing: New Horizons on Switch and Switch 2, which includes new features such as the Resort Hotel, Expanded Home Storage, the return of Resetti, collaborations and more.<\/p>\n<p>As for the paid Switch 2 Edition (priced at <strong>\u00a354.99 \/ $64.99<\/strong>) and upgrade (available for <strong>\u00a34.19 \/ $4.99<\/strong>), users can expect improved graphics and resolution (4K), mouse controls, a megaphone for voice communication, and the ability to play with more friends. You can find out more about all of this in our guide:<\/p>\n<p>This Animal Crossing: New Horizons free Switch 2 update scheduled for <strong>15th January 2026<\/strong> joins the existing free updates for the following Switch titles:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/games\/nintendo-switch\/arms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ARMS<\/a> (released 5th June, 2025)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/games\/nintendo-switch\/big_brain_academy_brain_vs_brain\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain<\/a> (released 5th June, 2025)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/games\/nintendo-switch\/captain_toad_treasure_tracker\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker<\/a> (released 5th June, 2025)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/games\/nintendo-switch\/clubhouse_games_51_worldwide_classics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics<\/a> (released 5th June, 2025)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/games\/nintendo-switch\/game_builder_garage\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Game Builder Garage<\/a> (released 5th June, 2025)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/games\/nintendo-switch\/new_super_mario_bros_u_deluxe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe<\/a> (released 5th June, 2025)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/games\/nintendo-switch\/pokemon_scarlet_and_violet\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pok\u00e9mon Scarlet<\/a> (released 5th June, 2025)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/games\/nintendo-switch\/pokemon_scarlet_and_violet\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pok\u00e9mon Violet<\/a> (released 5th June, 2025)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/games\/nintendo-switch\/splatoon_3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Splatoon 3<\/a> (released 12th June, 2025)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/games\/nintendo-switch\/super_mario_3d_world_plus_bowsers_fury\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Super Mario 3D World + Bowser&#8217;s Fury<\/a> (released 5th June, 2025)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/games\/nintendo-switch\/super_mario_galaxy_plus_super_mario_galaxy_2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2<\/a> (released 2nd October, 2025)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/games\/nintendo-switch\/super_mario_odyssey\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Super Mario Odyssey<\/a> (released 5th June, 2025)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/games\/nintendo-switch\/legend_of_zelda_echoes_of_wisdom\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom<\/a> (released 5th June, 2025)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/games\/nintendo-switch\/legend_of_zelda_links_awakening\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Legend of Zelda: Link&#8217;s Awakening<\/a> (released 5th June, 2025)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Here&#8217;s a bit more about these free updates for &#8220;select Nintendo Switch games&#8221; and how exactly they work:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;Free updates to enhance the gameplay experience on the Nintendo Switch\u2122 2 system will be released for select Nintendo Switch\u2122 games.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;By connecting your Nintendo Switch 2 to the internet and performing a system update, you can download free updates for selected games that may improve graphics or add support for features such as GameShare*. The contents of these free updates will differ depending on the game.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"text source\">[source <a class=\"external\" title=\"External Link: https:\/\/www.nintendo.com\/us\/gaming-systems\/switch-2\/transfer-guide\/games-with-free-updates\/\" rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nintendo.com\/us\/gaming-systems\/switch-2\/transfer-guide\/games-with-free-updates\/\" target=\"_blank\">nintendo.com<\/a>, via <a class=\"external\" title=\"External Link: https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/NintendoSwitch\/comments\/1q90kyy\/nintendos_official_website_confirms_that_animal\/\" rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/NintendoSwitch\/comments\/1q90kyy\/nintendos_official_website_confirms_that_animal\/\" target=\"_blank\">reddit.com<\/a>]<\/p>\n<dl>\n<dt>Related Games<\/dt>\n<dd class=\"first\">\n<\/dd>\n<dt>See Also<\/dt>\n<dd class=\"first\">\n<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<p class=\"avatar\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1753583769_175_avatar.jpg\" width=\"80\" height=\"80\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Liam Doolan\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Liam is a news writer and reviewer across Hookshot Media. He&#8217;s been writing about games for more than 15 years and is a lifelong fan of many iconic video game characters.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Image: Nintendo Animal Crossing: New Horizons is getting a free 3.0 update alongside the paid Switch 2 Edition&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":688512,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[76177,123,270,53,16,15,8642,12448],"class_list":{"0":"post-688511","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-technology","8":"tag-icymi","9":"tag-nintendo-switch","10":"tag-nintendo-switch-2","11":"tag-technology","12":"tag-uk","13":"tag-united-kingdom","14":"tag-updates","15":"tag-upgrades"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115875506240185226","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/688511","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=688511"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/688511\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/688512"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=688511"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=688511"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=688511"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}