Back in March 2020, it appeared as if the whole world was playing . The newest version of the enduring life simulation franchise arrived on Nintendo’s hugely successful console amid pandemic lockdowns, capturing a vast audience seeking relaxed entertainment. Now, nearly six years on, is receiving a , introducing fresh features that leverage the new Switch’s distinctive hardware.
You might not have checked on your island in quite a while, but the moment to return is nearly upon us. Here is the launch timing for the Animal Crossing: New Horizons Switch 2 Edition and the new elements you can anticipate.
What’s being added in the Animal Crossing: New Horizons Switch 2 Edition?
The premium upgrade to the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition offers enhanced visuals, similar to other Switch 2 Editions, along with several innovations that utilize the console in novel ways. A major highlight is , a feature few titles have fully embraced until now. On the Switch 2, you can arrange your home using a mouse, similar to PC games. Manipulating objects with the mouse is likely simpler than using the Switch’s joysticks, but the standout improvement is the ability to select and move several furniture items simultaneously, significantly streamlining the decorating process.
Mouse mode also allows for creating custom designs with New Horizons‘ pixel-based interface, making it far more convenient to design your own apparel. Additionally, the mouse can be used to compose messages on your island’s bulletin board, enabling you to display your creativity to guests.
Among the most impressive new additions in the Switch 2 Edition is the megaphone. When equipped, you can speak a villager’s name into the Switch’s microphone, and they will answer, with an on-screen marker revealing their whereabouts. For owners of the Switch 2 Edition, the multiplayer session cap is raised to 12 players, and the voice and video chat functionalities from the Switch 2’s GameChat are also supported.
A host of other features will arrive concurrently with the free 3.0 update for all players. As Nintendo revealed towards the end of last year, the introduces a new hotel to manage, a distinct dream island to personalize, and crossover content with games like and Splatoon.
When Is the Animal Crossing: New Horizons Switch 2 Edition Release Date and Time?
The Animal Crossing: New Horizons Switch 2 Edition is scheduled for release on January 15, though Nintendo has not specified an exact unlock time, making it somewhat difficult to forecast. Usually, physically released games become available at midnight EST on launch day, but this instance may differ because the edition’s debut aligns with the New Horizons 3.0 update.
In the past, New Horizons updates have typically gone live at 10 am Japan Standard Time, so the Switch 2 Edition might follow suit. If that holds true, the new edition would be accessible globally at these times:
- North America West Coast: 5 pm PST on January 14
- North America East Coast: 8 pm EST on January 14
- U.K.: 1 am GMT on January 15
- Central Europe: 2 am CET on January 15
- Japan: 10 am JST on January 15
- Australia: 12 pm AEDT on January 15
There is also a chance the Switch 2 Edition and the 3.0 update will roll out separately. If so, the new Switch 2 features would become playable four hours after the update is released.
What is the Animal Crossing: New Horizons Switch 2 Edition file size and can you preload?
Similar to the unlock time, preloading the Animal Crossing: New Horizons Switch 2 Edition is slightly more involved than normal. The Nintendo eShop shows the full Switch 2 Edition file size as 10.8, while the upgrade pack for existing Switch owners is listed at 3 MB. The upgrade pack can be pre-ordered now, which includes a preload feature. However, for players who do not own the original game and are purchasing the Switch 2 Edition outright, there is presently no option to preload it via the eShop.