Ahead Of Switch 2's Launch, Animal Crossing: New Horizons Gets First Update In Years

Animal Crossing: New Horizons has just received its first patch in nearly three years, ahead of Switch 2's launch on June 5. The update makes New Horizons more stable in multiplayer sessions with players on both Switch and Switch 2, part of Nintendo's effort to make sure some of its tentpole games from the original Switch are compatible with the new console.

According to Nintendo's patch notes, the New Horizons update "improve[s] the compatibility for multiplayer sessions between Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch." While no other details are provided, the update's timing and focus suggest that Nintendo is emphasizing cross-platform performance and backwards compatibility to ensure a smooth console transition.

Prior to this, its last update came back in November 2022, when Nintendo wrapped up its ongoing support for the game. New Horizons originally launched in March 2020 at the onset of widespread lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic, which supercharged its popularity. However, despite its adoption rate by Switch owners, Nintendo has not announced plans for a specific Switch 2 version of the game, unlike other headliners such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.

Ahead of the hotly anticipated launch of Switch 2 next week, a steady stream of news about the console has emerged. For example, Nintendo has gradually revealed the cross-platform games that are getting Switch 2 enhanced editions. Relatedly, Pokemon Legends: Z-A comes out in October for both consoles, and the Switch 2 version will have improved graphics and performance.