Though you may already know about everything new in the Animal Crossing: New Horizons 3.0 update, that doesn't mean you're ready to jump into it from the moment it's launched on January 15, 2026. Especially if you've been away from the game for a good while, there are likely a few steps you'll want to take to prepare your island for the major update. In this guide, we'll walk you through 12 important steps to take in order to get ready for the big Animal Crossing Switch 2 update.