Imagine you are back in 2020, spending most of your days at home and playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Trying to grow hybrid flowers. Spending hundreds of Nook Miles Tickets villager hunting for Raymond. Waiting for the night where Celeste will finally return to your island. This simulation game had the world in a chokehold. But, unfortunately, like many games, the hype died.

Eventually, it felt like Animal Crossing: New Horizons had become abandoned, long forgotten by many fans. Many players were no longer interested by the time that the version 2.0 update and Happy Home Paradise DLC rolled around in November 2021. To make matters worse, Nintendo announced this would be the final major content update for the game. Was this the end? Both Nintendo and Animal Crossing fans were officially neglecting the game… Well, until now.

On October 30, 2025, Nintendo announced the release of the Nintendo Switch 2 edition of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and a free content update for all Switch users. This update introduces a range of new and exciting collaborations with Zelda, Splatoon, and Lego. Players can now create and decorate ‘Slumber Islands’ without affecting their main island. Other features include Kapp’n’s Resort Hotel, where guests can stay at your island, and expanded storage and bulk crafting. There is so much to be appreciated.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is one of my favourite games — I have been playing it on and off since release. As such, the announcement of this update has been (and I am not even exaggerating) the highlight of my year. I went through a phase of playing the game religiously after the announcement, logging on immediately after I woke up. There is so much for avid players to be looking forward to from the announcement video. The most highly anticipated feature appears to be the Slumber Islands.

To restart or not to restart my island — the main dilemma I am sure all players have faced before. Annoyingly, Animal Crossing: New Horizons has only ever allowed you to have one island, leading to many people burning out. Players long to experience the early game again and experiment with new island themes. Luckily, these Slumber Islands allow the creation of up to three personal islands, managed by Luna in the dream world. These islands are purely decorative but allow for creativity outside of the main island, (hopefully) combat temptations of restarting.

I could go on for hours about the niche things that I cannot wait for. Fans of the game are bound to understand my excitement for being able to add plants and trees to storage. However, what I am most eager for is the return of the community.

Right now, I will admit that I am a lonely player. It feels like all of the friends I made back in 2020 have quit playing. Currently, whilst I play, I cherish the company of lilsimsie’s (Kayla Sims) Animal Crossing: New Horizons streams. I was watching one of her YouTube videos regarding the update, and hearing her say ‘when I needed her most, Animal Crossing came back to me’ resonated with me completely.

Not long after Nintendo released New Horizons, most of the world went into lockdown from COVID-19. Its release was perfectly (though unintentionally) timed, coming out when the world needed a distraction the most. A way to spend your time confined indoors. Most importantly, its cosy nature provided comfort to many, differing from other recent games solely centred around violence. But does the world still need this wholesome simulation game?

While nothing will beat the high of playing during the 2020 pandemic, I argue that many people need an uplifting game like Animal Crossing: New Horizons more than ever right now. In distressing times, hopping on to my island helps end the day peacefully. The worst possible situation is an ‘ugly’ villager visiting my campsite, which definitely beats the stress of battle royale games. Sometimes it’s best to take a break from competitive gaming and join the cosy game train. Even if you are not typically a gamer, cosy games are the exception for many, prioritising relaxation over skill.

The new update will hopefully bring back a wider audience, but if it does not, I just hope current fans can get the closure they are looking for. Most importantly, I hope the community becomes more active again. Logging onto X (formerly Twitter) the other day, I was delighted to see old Animal Crossing mutuals return after years. The fanbase may never be as big as it once was, but I will continue to daydream of Turnip Exchange website being active again.

The update is being released on January 15, 2026, so there is no need to worry. You have not missed anything, and you still have plenty of time to prepare. Personally, I am going to finally try and finish Happy Home Paradise, waiting for 2026 to roll around so I can finally experience the revival of Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

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