Animal Crossing: New Horizons Nintendo Switch 2 Edition- What’s New?

I received a copy of this game to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

Last month, we received a surprise update to Animal Crossing: New Horizons- the FREE 3.0 Update. You can read all about that at my full review here, but that 3.0 update became available for free to ALL players who have the original game, unlocking all kinds of fun new features.

So what’s the Animal Crossing: New Horizons Nintendo Switch 2 Edition? What’s different between this game and the original, and do you need it? Let’s dive in to learn everything you need to know about this new version of the game!

What’s new in Animal Crossing: New Horizons Nintendo Switch 2 Edition?

Faster Loading Times: Everything from your initial loading screen when booting up the game to the loading screens in between going into buildings and taking flights has been shortened. As a very, very active player of this game for the last 6 years, I have spent a LOT of time looking at loading screens- and the difference in the speed is immediately apparent on the NS2 Edition! I literally used to avoid certain types of game play just because I didn’t want to keep looking at a loading screen over and over but now that it’s SO much faster, it’s literally changed the way I play.

Smoother Graphics: At normal glance, especially on handheld, you can’t tell at first sight how much better the graphics are. You can definitely feel that they’re a little more complete, but you can’t totally see the difference. But if you zoom in and compare it to the Nintendo Switch graphics, it becomes immediately apparent. Everything has been smoothed out, from the backgrounds to the characters themselves.

Megaphone: One of the most requested features is finally here- a megaphone to locate your villagers and other characters! Available at Nook’s Cranny, you can purchase a megaphone which allows you to use your actual microphone to call for your villagers. If they’re outside, a text bubble will come up guiding you to them; if they’re inside, you’ll be told as much. This makes it SO much easier to locate your villagers for daily discussions and gifting, or even for trying to get them to move away. It also helps you track down visiting NPCs who wander, like Celeste or Daisy Mae.

*Note on this: I do think this feature needs a tiny bit of work as I don’t always have success with it figuring out who I’m trying to call, no matter how clearly I speak. This seems like an easy fix that I’m hoping will come with a future update patch.

Design with Mouse Controls: Nintendo Switch 2 comes with mouse capabilities, and those are put to great use in the NS2 Edition! You can use mouse controls for creating custom designs, writing on the bulletin board, creating paths, and even designing rooms- you can even pick up and move multiple items at once!

Is the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Worth Getting?

Yes! Between the easier controls, the faster load times, the better graphics, and the megaphone, there are lots of features that make your game play even better with the new edition of the game. It’s only a $5 upgrade, so it’s more than worth it in my opinion.

How to Get Animal Crossing: New Horizons Nintendo Switch 2 Edition

There are three ways to get this version of the game! {And while I’m sure this is obvious, I do want to mention that you’ll need a Nintendo Switch 2 to play it!}

If you already have Animal Crossing: New Horizons: You can download the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrade for just $4.99 in the Nintendo eShop.

If you don’t already have Animal Crossing: New Horizons: You can download the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition from the eShop, or buy a physical copy wherever you buy your games, or on {affiliate link} Amazon.

What will you do first with the new version??