The 3.0 update for Animal Crossing: New Horizons is designed to bring players back with new systems, expanded customization, and quality-of-life improvements. Whether you are returning after a long break or actively playing every day, a bit of preparation will help you enjoy the update immediately instead of spending the first few days catching up.
This guide walks through all in-game steps you can take now so your island is ready the moment the update goes live.
Make Sure Your Island Is Progress-Ready
Before focusing on decoration or resources, it helps to confirm that your island meets the basic progression requirements that major features usually depend on.
Check in with Isabelle to confirm your island rating. A three-star island has historically been the gateway to large-scale features, and being below that can slow your access to new content. If you recently restarted or flattened your island, place furniture outdoors, plant flowers, and keep your island clean to raise the rating in advance.
Also ensure Resident Services is fully upgraded into a building. Many expansions and systems in New Horizons only unlock once this milestone is reached, so it is worth confirming now instead of after the update.
Save Bells for Island Changes and Storage Upgrades
The 3.0 update encourages island remodeling. Moving buildings, demolishing and rebuilding bridges or inclines, and purchasing new decorations all require Bells.
On top of that, home storage is expanded significantly in this update. Storage upgrades are paid, and each one takes a full day to complete after speaking with Tom Nook. Having enough Bells ready means you can unlock the extra space immediately instead of waiting several real-time days.
Fishing, bug catching, selling high-value shells, and using money trees are reliable ways to build up a cushion before the update arrives.
Stockpile Crafting Materials Ahead of Time
Bulk crafting is one of the most impactful quality-of-life additions in version 3.0, but it is only useful if you already have materials on hand.
Start collecting common resources like all types of wood, iron nuggets, clay, stone, tree branches, and Manila Clams. These materials are used across furniture crafting, Fish Bait creation, and new exchange systems tied to crafting progress.
Having a full storage of resources lets you take advantage of bulk crafting immediately, rather than stopping to farm materials when you want to experiment or complete tasks quickly.
Expand Your Furniture Catalog
New decorating features place more value on the furniture you already own or have cataloged. A wider catalog gives you more flexibility when creating themed rooms or experimenting with layouts.
Buy furniture from Nook’s Cranny daily, order items from Nook Shopping, and hold onto seasonal or variant items instead of selling them off. Even if you do not plan to use certain pieces right away, having them registered in your catalog makes them available for future decorating options.
This is especially helpful if you enjoy interior design or themed builds rather than sticking to a single aesthetic.
Refresh and Organize Your Wardrobe
Outfits are no longer just cosmetic for your own character. Certain update features allow visitors and guests to interact with clothing displays, making your wardrobe part of the overall island experience.
Check your storage for clothing gaps and visit the Able Sisters regularly before the update to fill them. Mixing casual wear, themed outfits, and fun costumes gives you more flexibility when setting up displays or responding to themed requests.
There is no need to chase perfection here, but variety matters more than having duplicates of similar items.
Prepare Amiibo and Amiibo Cards
Amiibo functionality plays a bigger role in the 3.0 update, from inviting villagers to unlocking crossover content and themed furniture.
If you own Amiibo figures or cards, gather them now so they are ready to use. This includes both standard Animal Crossing villagers and crossover Amiibo tied to other Nintendo series.
Having them ready saves time and allows you to test new features right away instead of searching for compatible Amiibo later.
Hold Off on Major Island Cleanups
It may be tempting to flatten your island or remove excess flowers and furniture before the update, but waiting can actually save time.
The 3.0 update improves cleanup and management tools, allowing bulk removal and better storage handling. Clearing areas manually before the update can lead to unnecessary back-and-forth trips and wasted effort.
If your island is cluttered, it is usually better to wait and use the improved systems once they are available.
Organize Custom Design Slots
Custom design slots do not increase with new island features, so managing them now prevents frustration later.
Delete patterns you no longer use and keep versatile designs that work across paths, signs, or simple decorations. This makes it easier to adapt designs for new areas without running out of space.
If you enjoy creating your own designs, keeping slots flexible is more useful than filling them with single-use patterns.
Add Friends and Check Online Access
Some features introduced in version 3.0 benefit greatly from multiplayer. The update supports more players on a single island at once, making group decorating sessions and events more practical.
Make sure you have added friends you want to play with and confirm your Nintendo Switch Online membership is active. Doing this ahead of time ensures you can jump straight into shared activities without dealing with setup delays.
FAQs
What should I do before the Animal Crossing New Horizons 3.0 update?
Before the Animal Crossing New Horizons 3.0 update, players should save Bells, stockpile crafting materials, expand their furniture catalog, organize storage, and ensure their island has reached key progression milestones like a three-star rating and upgraded Resident Services to unlock new features faster.
Do I need a three-star island for Animal Crossing New Horizons 3.0?
While Nintendo does not always list exact requirements in advance, most major features in Animal Crossing New Horizons, including large updates, traditionally require a three-star island rating, making it strongly recommended to reach this milestone before the 3.0 update arrives.
Should I flatten or redesign my island before ACNH 3.0?
It is better to wait before fully redesigning your island, as Animal Crossing New Horizons 3.0 introduces improved cleanup and management tools that make removing furniture, flowers, and landscaping much faster than manual pre-update work.
Why should I save Bells before the ACNH 3.0 update?
Saving Bells before the Animal Crossing New Horizons 3.0 update is important because moving buildings, building bridges or inclines, upgrading storage, and buying new items all require significant Bell investments that can slow progress if you are unprepared.
What crafting materials should I stockpile for Animal Crossing 3.0?
Players should stockpile wood, hardwood, softwood, iron nuggets, clay, stone, tree branches, and Manila Clams, as Animal Crossing New Horizons 3.0 introduces bulk crafting and new systems that rely heavily on crafting progress and material availability.
Does Animal Crossing New Horizons 3.0 increase storage?
Yes, Animal Crossing New Horizons 3.0 significantly expands home storage capacity, allowing players to upgrade beyond previous limits and store more items, including plants, making it useful to prepare Bells in advance for these paid upgrades.
Are Amiibo important for Animal Crossing New Horizons 3.0?
Amiibo and Amiibo cards are important for Animal Crossing New Horizons 3.0 because they allow players to invite specific villagers, unlock crossover content, and access themed furniture that cannot be obtained through normal gameplay alone.
Should I organize custom designs before the 3.0 update?
Yes, organizing custom design slots before the Animal Crossing New Horizons 3.0 update helps avoid running out of space, since new islands and decorating features do not add extra design slots and rely on your existing pattern storage.
Is Nintendo Switch Online required for ACNH 3.0 features?
Some Animal Crossing New Horizons 3.0 features, especially multiplayer and additional island content, require an active Nintendo Switch Online membership, so it is best to confirm your subscription before the update launches.
Is Animal Crossing New Horizons 3.0 good for returning players?
Animal Crossing New Horizons 3.0 is ideal for returning players because it adds new activities, improves crafting and storage systems, and introduces features that reduce grind, making it easier to re-enter the game without restarting progress.
Preparing for Animal Crossing: New Horizons 3.0 is less about rushing and more about removing friction. By saving Bells, gathering materials, expanding your catalog, and holding off on major cleanup, you set yourself up to enjoy the update at your own pace.
Think of this preparation as clearing your schedule rather than finishing a checklist. When the update arrives, your island will be ready to grow naturally alongside the new features instead of feeling like a chore you need to catch up on. Play Now!
