Animal Crossing: New Horizons launches this Thursday, January 15, for Nintendo Switch 2. New players and big fans who want a brand-new physical edition with Switch 2 box art can preorder a copy of New Horizons for $65 at Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, Target, and GameStop. Prime members can still get free release-day delivery as of January 13.
New Horizons is the first Nintendo Switch 2 game published by Nintendo with a $65 MSRP. As a result of the unusual price, owners of the original game–in physical or digital format–can purchase the Switch 2 Upgrade Pack for only $5 from the eShop or a major retailer such as Amazon.
$65 | Releases January 15
The physical edition of Animal Crossing: New Horizons for Switch 2 includes the full game on the card, which saves you approximately 10.8GB of storage space compared to the digital edition from the eShop.
The Switch 2 version features performance and quality-of-life upgrades, including enhanced resolutions in docked and handheld modes as well as faster load times. Nintendo also added mouse controls for Joy-Con 2 and support for GameChat and CameraPlay when playing online with friends.
Speaking of online support, Nintendo is expanding the player count from eight to 12. Another new feature is the megaphone, as by using the Switch 2 microphone, you can call out to nearby residents and have them respond to you in kind.
The Switch 2 edition is launching alongside the free New Horizons 3.0 content update for players on both platforms. New features include Slumber Islands, the Resort Hotel facility, and even Lego furniture. If you help out Kapp’n and his family at the Resort Hotel, you can acquire retro Nintendo hardware and toys to decorate your home with.
Just like in the GameCube iteration of Animal Crossing, you will be able to play retro games inside your villager’s home–if you have a Nintendo Switch Online membership. Nintendo has confirmed support for Game Boy, NES, and SNES Switch Online games.
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It’s worth noting that the official Animal Crossing: New Horizons strategy guide is still in print. Published by Future Press in June 2023, this 688-page hardcover guidebook is the most comprehensive resource available for Nintendo’s idyllic island life sim. While it naturally doesn’t cover the new content from the 3.0 update, it does detail everything els, including the Happy Home Paradise expansion. Just make sure you buy The Official Complete Guide: Collector’s Edition, not the original Companion Guide from 2020. The newer guide includes roughly 250 pages of fresh information and updates throughout.
Featuring high-quality pages and vibrant imagery, this book will help you make the most of your island getaway with tips, explainers, and fun diagrams. It’s also a neat collectible and display piece for big Animal Crossing fans.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is one of several big game releases for Nintendo Switch 2 over the next few weeks. Next week, Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade launches on Switch 2 for $40. The physical edition is a Game-Key Card, but it doesn’t come with a Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy Booster Pack. In February, the first Mario sports title designed for Switch 2 hits stores. Mario Tennis Fever is available to preorder for $69 ahead of its February 12 release. The arcade tennis game launches alongside the recently announced Light Purple/Green Joy-Con 2 set.
For more upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 games, check out the Amazon store page we created collecting all of the games for Switch 1/2 you can preorder now.
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