Animal Crossing patch drops

Animal Crossing: New Horizons got a Version 3.0.2 update on April 13, 2026, adding a 25th-anniversary item and a round of bug fixes. (nintendolife.com) Nintendo’s patch notes, as reproduced by outlets citing Nintendo support pages, say the update applies to both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 versions of the game. The listed changes are short: one commemorative item for the series’ 25th anniversary and fixes for “several issues” to improve play. (nintendolife.com) Players who install Version 3.0.2 can collect the anniversary gift from the in-home mailbox. Multiple reports identifying the item from Nintendo’s rollout describe it as a Leaf Statue tied to the franchise milestone. (videogameschronicle.com) The date matters because Animal Crossing first launched in Japan as Dōbutsu no Mori on April 14, 2001. That makes Tuesday, April 14, 2026, the series’ 25th anniversary. (videogameschronicle.com) This is also another sign that New Horizons is still getting active support in 2026. Nintendo’s official Animal Crossing site says the “most recent update” adds new surprises, and the current Version 3.0 page says the free update works on both Switch and Switch 2 systems. (animalcrossing.nintendo.com, animalcrossing.nintendo.com) That support now spans Nintendo’s new hardware cycle. Nintendo’s store page for the Switch 2 upgrade says the newer edition adds enhanced resolution, mouse control support for decorating, a megaphone feature using the system microphone, and 12-player online sessions when everyone has the Switch 2 Edition. (nintendo.com) Nintendo support pages now reflect that broader setup. Current support articles for New Horizons cover updating the game on Nintendo Switch 2 as well as Nintendo Switch, and separate support pages say Version 3.0.0 or later is required for newer features such as Slumber Island. (en-americas-support.nintendo.com, en-americas-support.nintendo.com) New Horizons remains one of Nintendo’s biggest games by sales. Nintendo’s investor relations page lists lifetime sales at 49.32 million units as of December 31, 2025, with packaged Switch 2 Edition copies counted in Switch 2 software totals and downloadable versions counted in Switch software totals. (nintendo.co.jp) For players, Version 3.0.2 is a small patch with a clear purpose: mark 25 years of Animal Crossing and keep New Horizons running across two generations of Nintendo hardware. (nintendolife.com, animalcrossing.nintendo.com)