The Animal Crossing: New Horizons 3.0 update is almost here (launching January 15, 2026!), and it’s packed with exciting new content – from Captain’s Family Hotel and Slumber Islands to Zelda/Splatoon collaborations and quality-of-life upgrades. But to make the most of release day, you need to prepare smartly. Plus, there are key limitations you should know about to avoid disappointment. This guide breaks down everything to do before ACNH 3.0 drops and what you can’t do with the new update. Let’s get ready!
Must-Do Prep Before ACNH 3.0 Releases
To hit the ground running when the update launches, follow these steps. They’ll help you unlock new features fast, grab exclusive Animal Crossing items, and avoid running out of resources.
Stock Up on Amiibos for Zelda/Splatoon Collaborations
ACNH 3.0 brings amazing new villagers (Chulin, Minu from Zelda; CC, Viche from Splatoon) and exclusive Animal Crossing items tied to these franchises. The only way to get these villagers permanently is by scanning specific amiibos – and Nintendo has finally revealed which ones work!
| Collaboration | New Villagers | Required Amiibos | What You Get |
| The Legend of Zelda | Chulin (bird) | Any Zelda amiibo from the list shown in trailers (e.g., Link, Zelda, Ganon) | Chulin visits your campsite; unlocks Zelda-themed furniture (glowing flowers, statues) and clothing |
| The Legend of Zelda | Minu (deer) | Any Zelda amiibo (same as above) | Minu visits your campsite; access to all Zelda Animal Crossing items |
| Splatoon | CC (squirrel) | Any Splatoon amiibo (e.g., Inkling Boy/Girl, Octoling) | CC visits your campsite; unlocks Splatoon furniture (ink tanks, DJ booths) and clothes |
| Splatoon | Viche (squirrel) | Any Splatoon amiibo (same as above) | Viche visits your campsite; all Splatoon Animal Crossing items available |
| Splatoon | Bonus: CC/Viche | Big Man amiibo (Splatoon) | Choose either CC or Viche to unlock – no need for separate amiibos! |
Important Note: The collaborations are NOT limited-time, so you don’t have to rush. But if you want these villagers and ACNH 3.0 furniture on day one, grab the amiibos now. You can find them online or at game stores – start looking early to avoid sold-out stock!
Gather Tons of Crafting Materials
Captain’s Family Hotel introduces a new currency: Hotel Tickets. You earn these by decorating hotel rooms (once per day) and crafting items for Kappen (Captain’s family member) via the hotel’s dropbox. The crafting tasks often require 3+ items at a time, so you’ll need a surplus of materials.
Focus on collecting:
- Basic materials: Wood (all types), stone, iron nuggets, clay, and hardwood. These are used for most ACNH 3.0 furniture and DIYs.
- Rare materials: Gold nuggets, star fragments, and iron nuggets (they’re harder to farm, so stock up now).
- Plants: Flowers, shrubs, and saplings – you’ll need them for hotel room designs and decorating Slumber Islands.
Pro Tip: Don’t craft anything major before the update! ACNH 3.0 adds bulk crafting (make multiple items at once) and the ability to use materials directly from storage. Save your resources for new DIY recipes – Nintendo might add exclusive ones for the hotel or collaborations!
Save Millions of Bells for Storage Upgrades
One of the most requested ACNH 3.0 features is storage expansion: from 5,000 items to 9,000 (with two upgrades). But these upgrades are expensive – you’ll need millions of Animal Crossing New Horizons bells to buy them. Don’t wait until launch day to farm Bells!
Easy ways to make Bells fast:
- Stalk Market: Buy turnips on Sunday and sell them for a profit during the week (check prices at Nook’s Cranny daily).
- Dive for Sea Creatures: Rare sea creatures (like coelacanths) sell for 10,000+ Bells each.
- Sell Excess Items: Clear out your storage of duplicate furniture, clothes, or fruit – you won’t miss them, and they’ll boost your Bell count.
- Fruit Farming: Plant non-native fruit trees (e.g., oranges on a cherry island) – each non-native fruit sells for 500 Bells.
Renew Nintendo Switch Online (If You Want Slumber Islands & Mini Games)
Slumber Islands (ACNH 3.0’s multiple-island feature) requires a Nintendo Switch Online subscription to use. You’ll also need it to play classic Nintendo games on the retro consoles (NES, Game Boy) from the hotel’s souvenir shop.
If your subscription is expired:
- Renew it before January 15 to access Slumber Islands and multiplayer building on day one.
- Use a free trial: Check the Nintendo Rewards website – you might have an unused trial to redeem for launch week.
Stock Up on Nook Miles (Just in Case!)
Nintendo has added new Nook Mile redemption items with almost every ACNH update. While they haven’t confirmed it for 3.0, it’s safe to save Nook Miles. You can earn them by:
- Completing daily tasks (e.g., catching fish, planting flowers).
- Doing island challenges (e.g., decorating your town square, helping villagers).
- Traveling to mystery islands (collect resources and complete tasks there).
You might need Nook Miles for new tools, ACNH 3.0 furniture, or Slumber Island upgrades – better to be prepared than stuck waiting!
What You CAN’T Do in ACNH 3.0 – Key Limitations
The 3.0 update is amazing, but it has rules and restrictions. Knowing these now will save you frustration later.
You Can’t Catalog Zelda/Splatoon Items Without Amiibos
You can visit a friend’s island and pick up Zelda/Splatoon Animal Crossing items (e.g., a Splatoon ink tank or Zelda statue) to display on your island. But they won’t be added to your catalog – that means you can’t buy more of them from Nook Shopping later.
To catalog these exclusive ACNH 3.0 furniture and items, you need to scan the required amiibos yourself. Trading with friends is great for one-time use, but amiibos are the only way to have unlimited access.
You Can’t Adopt Collaboration Villagers From Other Islands
Even if a friend has Chulin, Minu, CC, or Viche in boxes (ready to move), you can’t adopt them by visiting their island. This is the same rule as San Rio collaboration villagers – these special characters are tied to amiibos, not island transfers.
The only way to get them on your island is by scanning the correct amiibo and inviting them from the campsite. No workarounds here!
You Can’t Farm Unlimited Hotel Tickets by Decorating Rooms
You can design as many hotel rooms as you want per day, but you’ll only earn Hotel Tickets once per day from room designs. This is a Nintendo-confirmed limitation to encourage long-term play (not rushing through all content on day one).
Thankfully, you can earn more tickets by crafting items for Kappen via the hotel’s dropbox. The exact daily limit for Kappen’s tasks is unknown, but it’s more than the single room-design reward – so focus on that if you need extra tickets fast.
You Can’t Invite Special Characters to the Hotel Right Away
The hotel has a progression system (like Happy Home Paradise). You can’t unlock the amiibo scanner for special characters (e.g., Isabelle, Brewster) until you’ve designed a few rooms and unlocked more hotel features.
You also can’t invite island workers to stay at the hotel. This includes Tom Nook, Timmy & Tommy, Able Sisters (except Label), Brewster, and Captain’s family – they already live and work on your island! You also can’t invite your current villagers (why would they stay at a hotel when they have a home?).
You Can’t Use Slumber Islands Without Nintendo Switch Online
As mentioned earlier, Slumber Islands (the ability to create 3 extra islands) requires a Nintendo Switch Online subscription. If you don’t have one, you’ll miss out on multiplayer building, visiting friends’ Slumber Islands, and sharing your own.
Offline play on Slumber Islands might be possible, but the best features (multiplayer, sharing) need online access.
You Can’t Skip Hotel Progression
The hotel won’t unlock all features at once. You’ll need to:
- Design rooms for tourists to unlock new Hotel Tickets items.
- Complete Kappen’s crafting tasks to unlock more DIY recipes.
- Progress through the hotel’s story to get the amiibo scanner for special characters.
This is good for long-term fun (no burnout!), but don’t expect to decorate a room for your favorite special character on day one.
Final Tips for ACNH 3.0 Launch Day
- Don’t rush: The update is permanent, so take your time. You don’t have to unlock everything in one week.
- Explore first: Spend launch day checking out Captain’s Family Hotel, Slumber Islands, and the new collaborations – then focus on grinding for items.
- Play with friends: Multiplayer building on Slumber Islands is a big feature – invite friends to design an island together!
- Be patient: Some features (like hotel progression or storage upgrades) take time. Enjoy the journey, not just the end goal.
Get Ready to Enjoy ACNH 3.0!
The ACNH 3.0 update is a dream come true for Animal Crossing fans, but preparation is key. Stock up on amiibos, crafting materials, and Bells, renew your online subscription, and remember the limitations to avoid disappointment. Whether you’re excited for the new Animal Crossing items, Slumber Islands, or Zelda/Splatoon collaborations, January 15 can’t come soon enough.
What are you doing to prepare for ACNH 3.0? Are you excited about the hotel, the collaborations, or something else? Let us know in the comments! Happy prepping, and see you on your island soon.
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