ACNH 3.0 Prep Guide - What To Do Before Animal Crossing 3.0 Update

With the Animal Crossing: New Horizons (ACNH) 3.0 update just around the corner, long-time fans and new players alike are buzzing with excitement. Nintendo's surprise announcement of both the 3.0 update and the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of New Horizons has left the community eager to make sure they're set for launch day. Preparing well means you’ll be able to jump straight into new features, collect exclusive items, and enjoy the latest gameplay elements without any hiccups.

This guide lays out everything you should do before the 3.0 update hits. Following this checklist will help ensure your island and your inventory are in top shape, so you won’t miss out on any new content when the update arrives.

What's Coming in Animal Crossing: New Horizons 3.0?

The 3.0 update brings a wealth of new content to ACNH. There’s a brand-new facility: the resort hotel, which expands your dock and opens up fresh gameplay possibilities. A slew of new features and crossover items are coming, including collaborations with LEGO, Zelda, and Splatoon, all available through the Nooktop and requiring plenty of bells. The update also lets you further expand your storage, with increases up to 9,000 items, though each upgrade comes with a hefty price tag.

Nintendo has also revealed the addition of hotel tickets as a new currency earned by donating furniture and decorating hotel rooms. With these tickets, you’ll be able to purchase various items from the hotel itself. Other highlights include bulk crafting directly from storage, expanded online features (especially on Switch 2), new villagers via amiibo, and a focus on cataloging and decorating both your island and the new slumber islands. With so much new content, it’s important to get ready so you don’t miss any opportunities on day one.

Why Prepare Your Island for the ACNH 3.0 Update?

Getting prepared ahead of time means you’ll avoid missing out on limited-time items and features as soon as the update lands. Many of the new mechanics, like the resort hotel and ticket system, are designed to reward players who have built up resources and progressed their islands. Some features, such as expanded storage or the ability to buy crossover items, require millions of bells, while others may need specific amiibo or Nook Miles. If you don’t prepare, you might find yourself scrambling to catch up while others are already enjoying the new content.

Furthermore, Nintendo has a habit of tying major content behind progression milestones—such as unlocking Kapp’n or achieving a certain star rating for your island. Being ready on all fronts will let you focus on enjoying the update, rather than playing catch-up with prerequisites.

How To Prepare for ACNH 0.3 Update - Things To Do Before Animal Crossing 3.0 Release?

So, below we're breaking down everything you should do before the ACNH 3.0 update is released so you can make the most of the update on day one:

1. Stockpile Bells (Millions Needed!)

A top priority is saving up as many bells as possible. The update introduces new collaboration items, LEGO, Zelda, and Splatoon, that are all bought with bells. Storage expansions to 7,000 and then 9,000 items will each likely cost millions, with previous max expansions already costing around 1.2 million bells. There are also new hotel items to shop for, so “start stockpiling up money.” Dive for sea creatures, play the stalk market, shake trees, and do whatever you can to build a big savings buffer before launch.

2. Unlock Kapp’n and Progress Your Island

A large portion of the new content is centered around Kapp’n and the pier. Make sure you’ve unlocked Kapp’n by completing the main story: upgrade Resident Services, get your island to a three-star rating, and enjoy KK Slider's first concert. Once you’ve completed Project KK, Kapp’n will appear and open up the new hotel content. For those starting over, prioritize these steps. It’s also smart to find Brewster, just in case, and aim for a five-star island rating to maximize your chances of accessing all features, some believe the hotel could require a fully developed island to unlock.

3. Gather Crafting Materials & DIY Recipes

The 3.0 update puts a fresh emphasis on crafting. A new furniture box outside the hotel lets you fulfill requests by donating crafted items, which earns you hotel tickets for exclusive purchases. Hoard as many crafting materials as you can—wood, iron, clay, shells, fruit, and more. Fill your storage with everything you might need, because “you can actually craft things and bulk craft things using materials from in your storage” after the update. This makes resource gathering now much more convenient later. Don’t forget to keep learning new DIY recipes and crafting every one you get, including food items, as you may need to have crafted items for slumber island decorating.

4. Expand and Organize Your Item Catalog

Decorating the resort hotel rooms, slumber islands, and possibly villagers’ houses will draw from your item catalog. Work on collecting as many in-game items as possible—buy everything from Nook’s Cranny daily, including all color variants, and customize them at Cyrus. Visit other players’ islands or Treasure Islands if you want to speed up catalog completion. Also, buy and catalog as many clothing items as you can from Able Sisters, since hotel outfits might pull from your wardrobe.

5. Tidy Your Dock and Beaches

With the hotel taking over the dock, clear away any items or custom designs from the area. This helps prevent any issues with unlocking or upgrading the dock and ensures nothing is lost or sent to the Lost & Found. Also, make beaches accessible, especially the one near Kapp’n’s dock, since this is set for a major makeover. Consider moving unwanted flowers or bushes to the beach if you want to use Recetti’s new cleanup service.

6. Collect Nook Miles

While exact uses aren’t confirmed, it’s very likely that new Nook Miles items, hairstyles, emotes, or pathing options will arrive with 3.0. Past updates required tens of thousands of Nook Miles to unlock everything, so aim for at least 50,000 to cover any surprises. Keep finishing Nook Miles goals and consider time traveling to complete seasonal events and maximize your haul.

7. Prepare Amiibo (and/or NFC Cards) for New Villagers & Items

To get the four new villagers—Tulin and Minu (Zelda) and Cece and Vichi (Splatoon)—and their crossover items, you’ll need corresponding amiibo. The Tulin and Mineru Construct amiibo will unlock Zelda villagers, while Shiver and Fry amiibo are expected to unlock Splatoon villagers. If you want instant access to these villagers and their items, secure the amiibo or NFC mini cards ahead of time. Some of the best items will only be available after scanning these amiibo, and similar logic applies to other Animal Crossing amiibo for hotel invites.

8. Become a Nintendo Switch Online (NSO) Member

Many 3.0 features, such as Luna’s Dream World and multi-slumber islands, are only accessible with an active Nintendo Switch Online subscription. Some Nintendo console collaboration minigames and the new camera feature also require NSO. Make sure your membership is active so you can experience everything available in the update.

9. Upgrade to Nintendo Switch 2 & Consider the Switch 2 Edition (Optional)

If you want the best experience, think about upgrading to Switch 2 and its edition of New Horizons. Benefits include faster load times, better performance even on crowded islands, improved graphics (especially on 4K displays), mouse controls for pattern creation, a megaphone item, expanded online play (up to 12 players), and new camera features. While you don’t have to upgrade to enjoy the main content, these features can make gameplay smoother and more enjoyable. Switch 2 systems are easier to find now, but may become scarce during the holidays, so act soon if you want one.

10. Complete Nook Miles Goals, Museum, and Critterpedia (Optional, but Rewarding)

Finish up ongoing Nook Miles goals, fill out your museum, and complete your Critterpedia. This lets you focus on new update content without distractions. Time-traveling through the year can help you catch missed bugs and fish or participate in seasonal events for unique DIYs.

11. Decorate and Finalize Your Island

Work toward your vision for your island’s design so you can devote your attention to the new hotel and slumber islands when the update lands. Hybrid your flowers, upload your dream address, and make sure your island is functional and looks good in every season. Consider finishing Happy Home Paradise to unlock house customization and catalog more items.