Animal Crossing adds Slumber Island reunions with Switch 2 Edition

Nintendo rolled out Animal Crossing: New Horizons Update 3.0 on January 15, 2026, alongside a paid Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. The free 3.0 update introduces Slumber Island, a headline feature that gives each player up to three separate "dream" islands to fully design and populate. Crucially, Slumber Island lets you add villagers who previously lived on your island, including characters moved out years ago, which has triggered a flood of reactions across the community.

Slumber Island is built around player creativity and memory. Instead of being limited to the current resident roster, islanders can curate three distinct fantasy islands where old neighbors can return to local life. For many players this has been a joyful reunion, a chance to bring back favorites and re-stage lost layouts. For others it has produced amused horror as long-departed villagers show up again — the kind of small, chaotic storytelling that keeps Animal Crossing communities buzzing.

The free update also leans into resort-style play and practical improvements. Batch crafting and storage tweaks address common grind points, helping players move faster through crafting loops and manage inventories more smoothly. Expanded online functionality broadens chances to visit, showcase, and trade between islands, feeding the game's social engine and keeping community events lively.

The Switch 2 Edition is a paid, separate purchase for the new console or a $4.99 upgrade for existing Switch owners. It focuses on technical and control enhancements, targeting higher-resolution TV output and adding Joy-Con 2 mouse-style controls for a different play feel. Those upgrades are aimed at players who want a sharper look and alternative input options on the newer hardware, while the free 3.0 content brings meaningful new gameplay to everyone.

Community reaction landed quickly on social media, with screenshots and walkthroughs highlighting both carefully manicured Slumber Islands and the comic surprise of unwelcome old neighbors reappearing. That chatter matters because it shapes how players use the new tools: some will catalog villagers and set up nostalgia archives, others will build themed resorts or test islands for seasonal events.

For returning players, Update 3.0 is a direct hit of nostalgia and convenience; for newcomers, the resort content and quality-of-life fixes lower the barrier to crafting and online play. The Switch 2 Edition offers a tangible hardware upgrade path for players prioritizing visuals and refined controls.

Expect Slumber Island to become a new showcase format for screenshots, tours, and trading posts, and watch for community-led showcases and competitions as players take these dream islands out of sleep mode and back into the spotlight.