It’s hard to believe that *Animal Crossing: New Horizons* first launched over six years ago. After such a long run, many fans assumed Nintendo’s major support for the cozy life sim had wrapped up. However, the company recently delivered a pleasant shock, announcing not only a performance-enhanced Switch 2 version but also a substantial, completely free 3.0 content update for all current players. While both releases were slated for tomorrow, January 15th, Nintendo has pulled the trigger on the major content drop early, with Update 3.0 officially available right now across global regions.
Getting the update is incredibly simple. For most users, the download should initiate automatically upon booting up the console. If your Switch doesn’t grab it immediately, navigate to the *Animal Crossing: New Horizons* application on your Home Screen, press the Plus (+) button, select “Software Update,” and choose “Via the Internet.”
It is crucial to note the distinction: while the free 3.0 update is live, the optional $4.99 Switch 2 performance upgrade is not yet available for purchase. Despite the delay on the technical enhancements—which focus on better frame rates, increased online player limits, and GameChat integration—the 3.0 content drop contains the biggest chunk of new features. Players can now dive into major additions like Kapp’n’s pier hotel, the mysterious Slumber Islands, and fresh crossover furniture lines, giving fans plenty of reasons to rush back to their islands today.