Animal Crossing: New Horizons Gets Surprise Update Ahead of Switch 2 Launch
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Key points
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons received its first update in nearly three years.
- The patch improves multiplayer compatibility between Switch and Switch 2.
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The game remains Nintendo’s second-best seller on the Switch with nearly 48 million units sold.
Nintendo has quietly updated Animal Crossing: New Horizons for the first time since 2022, just days before the debut of the Switch 2. The patch focuses on improving multiplayer stability between the original Switch and Switch 2 ahead of the generational handoff. Nintendo’s new console is set to hit retailers on June 5, 2025.
The official patch notes are not particularly specific, noting only that the update “improves compatibility for multiplayer sessions between Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch.” While no gameplay changes or new content were introduced, the update marks a rare return to one of Nintendo’s best-selling titles, which had been considered content-complete since November 2022.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons launched globally on March 20, 2020, for the Nintendo Switch. The game was released at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and quickly became a cultural phenomenon, offering millions a form of virtual escape and social connection during global lockdowns and reaching far beyond the typical gaming audience.
Lockdown-induced escapism helped New Horizons sell over 13 million copies in its first six weeks and almost 48 million units by March 2025, making it the second best-selling Nintendo Switch game of all time behind Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. The game was also a critical success and became a frequent reference point in pop culture — from celebrity islands and late-night talk shows to virtual weddings and political protests.
