Animal Crossing: New Horizonswas perhaps the biggest surprise hit of the Nintendo Switch console generation. This 2020 game was launched at a rather unusual time, right at the very start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since everyone was stuck at home back then, social simulation games likeAnimal Crossingmanaged to appeal to a wider-than-usual audience.Animal Crossing: New Horizonsperformed incredibly well for a game of its caliber. It sold over 47 million copies in 5 years on the Nintendo Switch, surpassing even the sales of titles likeThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the WildandSuper Smash Bros: Ultimate.
After seeing how successful the game was, Nintendo unsurprisingly decided to support it with multiple major content updates, the first time it had ever done so for anAnimal Crossingtitle. In the months after its launch, the company added new content to the game themed around real-world seasons and holidays. It also releaseda paid expansion forNew HorizonstitledHappy Home Paradise, which allowed players to design vacation homes for villagers. After the debut of the 2.0 update in November 2021, however, Nintendo largely stopped supporting the game with new content. That said, the company has recently started releasing updates forAnimal Crossing: New Horizonsagain, although they’re relatively minor in scope.
The Nintendo 3DS exclusive,Animal Crossing: New Leaf,also received a few minor updates post-launch, but none of them added any major content, aside from amiibo support.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons Should Get More Updates in the Future
Nintendo Has Started Releasing Updates for AC: New Horizons Again, After Years of Inactivity
On Jun 07, 2025,Animal Crossing: New Horizonsgot a new patch that improved the compatibility for multiplayer sessions between Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. Then, on June 18, it received another patch that fixed some bugs, including one that only affected those who played the game on the Nintendo Switch 2. According to Nintendo,the latestAnimal Crossing: New Horizonsupdatealso made some unspecified “adjustments and corrections” to improve the gameplay experience.
These two updates are significant, not for the content they contain, but rather for the time that they were released in. TheMay 2025Animal Crossing: New Horizonsupdatewas the first patch that the game had received in over two years. Prior to that, Nintendo hadn’t released a single piece of new content for the game since November 2022. It’s frankly odd that Nintendo decided to abandonAnimal Crossing: New Horizonsso abruptly back then, considering how profitable the game was for the company. SinceNew Horizonsstill has a lot of potential, though, these new updates for the game hopefully won’t be its last.
Nintendo Could Promote the Next Animal Crossing Game By Adding New Content to New Horizons
Animal Crossing: New Horizonshas been out for around five years, so it’s about time for a new mainline entry in the series. Nintendo has traditionally launched a newAnimal Crossinggame roughly a year after releasing a new console, so there’s a chance that the Switch 2 could geta successor toAnimal Crossing: New Horizonsas soon as 2026.
Before it completely moves on fromNew Horizons, though, Nintendo should release more updates for the game ahead of the launch of the series' next installment. In order to promote the nextAnimal Crossinggame, Nintendo could add new posters and cosmetic items toNew Horizonsthat depict thenewAnimal Crossingvillagers and NPCsin the upcoming title. It could also add a countdown timer toNew Horizonsto celebrate the launch of the nextAnimal Crossinggame.
Nintendo hasn’t officially announced that a newAnimal Crossinggame is in development, but there have been some rumors as of late that point toward a 2026 release for the series' next installment. The Nintendo YouTuber Wood Hawker, in fact, recently claimed that the follow-up toNew Horizonswill be announced at an as-of-yet unconfirmedNintendo Direct scheduled for July. If the nextAnimal Crossinggame is really going to be revealed so soon, adding promotional content for the game toAnimal Crossing: New Horizonswould be a great way to advertise it and attract the attention of millions of fans.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
WHERE TO PLAY
Escape to a deserted island and create your own paradise as you explore, create, and customize in the Animal Crossing: New Horizons game. Your island getaway has a wealth of natural resources that can be used to craft everything from tools to creature comforts. you’re able to hunt down insects at the crack of dawn, decorate your paradise throughout the day, or enjoy sunset on the beach while fishing in the ocean. The time of day and season match real life, so each day on your island is a chance to check in and find new surprises all year round.Show off your island utopia to family and friends—or pack your bags and visit theirs. Whether playing online** or with others beside you***, island living is even better when you can share it. Even without hopping on a flight, you’ll meet a cast of charming animal residents bursting with personality. Friendly faces like Tom Nook and Isabelle will lend their services and happily help you grow your budding community. Escape to your island getaway—however, whenever, and wherever you want.
