Nintendo has brought Animal Crossing: New Horizons back into the big time with a Switch 2 Edition and a free update to the base game. Both launch January 15, 2026, with preorders coming soon, Nintendo said. Max has all the details on the Daily Fix.

Nintendo revealed that Animal Crossing New Horizons will receive an enhanced edition for the upcoming Switch 2 console, as well as a free content update for both the new and original Switch versions. The Switch 2 edition will feature up to 4K resolution, mouse controls, a new megaphone item, expanded online multiplayer for up to 12 players, and camera integration, with a paid upgrade available for existing owners.

The free update, launching simultaneously, adds new content including a reset service, expanded storage, a new resort hotel, collaborative island design, and crossovers with other Nintendo properties. Pre-orders are available now, with the release set for January 15. Additional gaming news included updates on Resident Evil Requiem and concerns about Amazon's Lord of the Rings MMO following company layoffs.

New features in Animal Crossing New Horizons

Happy Hallow's Eve Eve, everybody! Max here with your fix of gaming news. Coming up, Animal Crossing New Horizons is getting features on Nintendo Switch 1 and 2, Resident Evil Requiem's Deluxe Edition will make Grace a bit more ladylike, and Amazon's recent layoffs do not bode well for that unreleased Lord of the Rings MMO. Let's get into it. This morning in Tokyo, we're going to take a look at some of the latest and most recent releases of the Lord of the Rings MMO. This morning, Nintendo dropped some major news for Animal Crossing fans. Not only will New Horizons be getting an enhanced Switch 2 edition, but it'll also be getting a free update for players still on the original Switch. For starters, here's what's coming exclusively to Switch 2. There's improved resolution with up to 4K in TV mode. You can now use mouse controls with the right joy-con to decorate indoors, create custom designs, and even composed handwritten bulletin board messages, which I'm sure nobody will abuse. There's an in-game megaphone item, which can be used to locate villagers on your island who've wandered off, and you can interact with it by yelling into the Switch 2's built-in microphone, which is kind of fun. Online sessions now support up to 12 players, assuming they're also playing the Switch 2 version of the game. And if you've got a USB camera hooked up, you can see their adorable little faces in-game with camera play. Unlike some of Nintendo's pricier next-gen re-releases, New Horizons Switch 2 Edition will sell physically and digitally for $64.99. And if you're one of the 48 million people who already own the game, a paid upgrade pack will be available for the paltry sum of just $4.99, which is totally reasonable. But wait, there's more! A free update will be coming to both versions of the game that adds a bunch of new content. If any lapsed players want a fresh start, Mr. Resetti will be offering a convenient reset service to help tidy up your island, and home storage can now be upgraded to hold up to 9,000 items, including plant life. As far as story content is concerned, Kapp'n and his family will be opening a new resort hotel on the pier in your island, and you'll be able to lend a hand decorating the guest rooms. Plus, there'll be new furniture and clothing available in the souvenir shop. A new location is being added called Slumber Island, which allows multiple players to design, build, and decorate collaboratively. A Nintendo Switch Online membership is required, and players can save up to three islands at a time. Speaking of collaborations, a bunch of new Nintendo items will be showing up in-game, including replicas of classic consoles, which can be installed on your island, and then when you interact with them, they're gonna launch select Nintendo games through Nintendo Switch Online, which is pretty clever. LEGO has a line of Animal Crossing sets, so it's only fitting that Animal Crossing gets some LEGO items as well. And finally, there are gonna be some crossovers with other Nintendo properties, like The Legend of Zelda and Splatoon, so if you've got Amiibo from them laying around, you'll be able to use those to unlock some in-game items. Both the Switch 2 version and this new update launch on January 15th, with pre-orders live now. Speaking of Amiibo, yesterday Capcom dropped some updates about Resident Evil Requiem, and announced that the Switch 2 version will be getting its own dedicated Amiibo of the new protagonist, Grace Ashcroft. That's slated for release sometime next summer, and they didn't reveal the Amiibo, but they did show off a bunch of bonus content that's included with the deluxe version of the game on all platforms. In addition to the game itself, the deluxe edition will include five in-game costumes, including one that allows Grace to cosplay as Resident Evil's iconic Amazonian vampire, Lady Dimitrescu. Presumably, this won't make Grace any taller, though I am curious if that enormous hat is gonna be visible in first person, and if so, will it obstruct her view at all? I feel like wearing that big hat around is gonna be kinda clumsy, but we'll have to wait and find out. On top of that, the deluxe edition has some filters that'll affect how the game looks, an audio pack that'll affect how Raccoon City sounds, and a Mr. Raccoon charm, among other digital tchotchkes. Players who pre-order any version of the game will unlock an Apocalypse costume for Grace that doesn't appear to have any connection to the 2004 film Resident Evil Apocalypse, and is just generic Wasteland Survivor attire, which, you know, that works too. Now the big question, will any of these costumes be for Leon S. Kennedy? Is Leon S. Kennedy even in this game? Capcom, please, tell us already. Is anyone still listening to me? Well, if you are, Resident Evil Requiem is hitting Nintendo Switch 2, as well as PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series on February 27th. I can't wait, even if Leon isn't in it. Earlier this week, Amazon laid off more than 14,000 employees and to put it plainly, there is no curse in elvish, entish, or the tongues of men for this treachery. Amazon's game development wing saw significant cuts, which isn't too promising for the Lord of the Rings MMO that's in development, assuming that it's even still in development. Bloomberg reported that Amazon Games would soon stop developing new content for its existing MMO, The New World, which launched on PC back in 2021. This sparked some concern about plans for the publisher's next MMORPG based in the Lord of the Rings universe, which has been kept under wrap since it was announced back in 2023. In a since-deleted post on LinkedIn, an ex-Amazon Games developer wrote, This morning, I was part of the layoffs at Amazon Games alongside my incredibly talented peers on New World and our fledgling Lord of the Rings game. Y'all would've loved it. It's always tough to see such a strong team go through something like this. I've been lucky to work with some of the most skilled, creative, and kind developers I've ever met here. Now, this is far from an official cancellation, but the y'all would've loved it seems to suggest as much, and with Amazon cutting jobs in the gaming department, it doesn't seem like it's the kind of project the company is investing in right now. What's it investing in? Well, as we reported yesterday, casual and AI-focused games for its cloud gaming service, Luna, are currently a priority. Keep an eye on IGN for more updates on whether or not this Lord of the Rings game is ever gonna come out. And that is your Daily Fix for Thursday, October 30th. If you are looking for something to play right now that helps support a great cause, head over to Humble. Live now through Tuesday, November 4th, you can grab eight incredible games for just $14.99, including Atomic Heart, V Rising, System Shock, Story of Seasons, Pioneers of Olive Town, Crypt Master, Pharaoh, A New Era, Hotel Renovator, and Caravan Sandwich. Every purchase supports the Whale and Dolphin Conservation, the leading global charity dedicated to protecting, you guessed it, whales and dolphins through research, rescue, and advocacy. By joining in, you're not just building your library, you are helping create a world where every whale and dolphin is safe and free. I'm Max Scoville, and as always, for all of your gaming news, keep it locked to IGN. I'll see you next time, everybody. Have a great Thursday.

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Breakdown