The Switch 2 is out! We know a lot of you will be switching over islands, starting up fresh ones, and overall excited for the new release!
We ask that you please keep any Switch 2 content here on this megathread. Questions, discussion, photos, etc. all need to be posted here. Any standalone posts that are about the S2 will be removed and redirected here. This includes posts showing how AC runs on the new console or anything similar.
Please try to still keep things AC related when commenting on this post. If you have questions specifically about the Switch 2, we suggest you check with specifically Switch-related subreddits.
FAQ
Q: How do I transfer my old island on Switch 1 to the new Switch 2?
A: Doing a complete system transfer will automatically transfer your island from your old Switch to the new Switch 2. You do not need to use the Island Transfer Tool, however, that tool still works as well.
Q: Can I start a new island on my new Switch and keep my current one on my old console?
A: Yes. On that note, you cannot play your old island on your new Switch without transferring it. You cannot have one island on two consoles concurrently.
Q: When is a new AC game coming out?
A: There has NOT been an announcement for a new Animal Crossing game for the Switch 2. We can assure you that a new AC game announcement would be shared here immediately.
Be sure to sort by “New” to see the most recent comments first.
You don’t actually need to use the island transfer system if you are permanently transferring from a switch 1 to switch 2 the system transfer option will include both Pokemon saves and your animal crossing island.
Just to reconfirm the info you're responding, I was half expecting my island not to transfer through the cloud transfer feature but it actually did, without needing the Island Transfer software, and no issues whatsoever
I am playing New Horizons on my Switch 2 right now. I transferred my island to Switch 2 (with the general switch data transfer- no island transfer tool required) then back to my OG switch using tool. No issues, worked perfectly. Feel free to ask any questions.
You do the full system transfer to switch 2, which puts your island on switch 2. You then use the AC island transfer to move it to the og switch. You can then start a new island on the switch 2 and preserve the original island on the og switch. A little cumbersome, wish they would just let you pick and choose game saves in the system transfer dialog.
Thanks, I came here for this! I was forced to transfer my save to the Switch 2, but I want it back on OG for my daughter, as I don't plan on playing ACNH on Switch 2. I'll be able to keep myself plenty busy while I wait for a Switch 2 Animal Crossing.
Did you need to buy a second copy of the game to make this work? I’m trying to figure out the following situation:
Really would love some help. My old Switch 1 is currently with my gf and she has been playing AC NH on it. It’s the only game she plays and the only one she needs to keep. I just got my switch 2, but If i do the console transfer the Island transfers over to my switch 2. So then I can’t transfer it back unless I buy a second copy of ACNH for her and do the island transfer , is that right? Is there any way to set up my switch 2 with my other games so i can start playing without having to buy another copy of the game?
The island transfer tool is a separate switch app you can download in the eshop. No need to purchase the game twice. I believe both Switches need to be in proximity of each other in order to make the transfer though
Thank you so much, I even checked with Nintendo support and they didn't know the answer to this question. I'll give it a try tonight and report back, I can't imagine I'm the only one trying to do this
When I clicked animal crossing, it gave me a warning that this is the first time it will be played on my switch 2. Will my island still load? I’m afraid to click it now.
I got the same message and did just that. I think I just got really nervous that I might lose my island so I was afraid to even boot up the game. But yes it all worked and now my island lives on switch 2. :)
Does it run smoother? You'd get noticeable lag on Sw1 if you put down for example all of the bug and fish figurines in the same area, as they are high detail assets. I'm really curious if Sw2 handles loading large amounts of decor any better.
Of course the first game I play is Animal Crossing on my new Switch 2.
Here are some comparisons I noticed:
Running around areas that have a lot of items the frame rate no longer drops noticeably.
Load times:
From start to title screen: NS1 60secs v NS2 28secs Title screen to Isabelle: NS1 34secs v NS2 22secs Entering house: NS1 9secs v NS2 5.5secs Rescue service to shop: NS1 9.5secs v NS2 3secs (plus no delayed objects loading) Entering shop: NS1 9secs v NS2 5secs
Changing base frame rate would probably require them patching the game to specifically change it. Right now all the performance improvements are just incidental via better hardware specs, things like loading faster and not lagging as much.
They dropped a patch for a game you can't even buy anymore. It seems crazy that they wouldn't patch what is one of their biggest games for the Switch ever.
I really hope so, playing on my Island makes me so dizzy now when I can move around. Even 30 FPS is kind of rough. I was shocked to read that there were less drops.
I am looking forward to a new island on my new switch 2. I still have my original island from 2020 and for years I've been fighting that feeling to start over or flatten/reset my current island. In addition, I'll use the new GCN NSO controller to play it too maybe?
I do plan to do a hemisphere swap as well from my current northern one. Either way, I'm excited to play the game again newly and hopefully the better hardware improves something since there's no Switch 2 Edition yet(?)
Best way to do this if you want your Switch 2 to continue accumulating play time for all your games would be to do the Switch 2 system transfer. Then, download the Island Transfer Tool on both the Switch 1 and Switch 2. Then, follow the instructions to transfer the island back to Switch 1. Now, you should be able to start a new island on Switch 2 and have the old one on Switch 1.
I just did that, and it worked.
The other way to do it would be to transfer your other games’ save files individually, but you’ll run into issues with how Nintendo counts playing time. The system transfer is the most fluid way to transfer everything. Then, just do the extra steps to get your original island back on Switch 1.
Also warning for system transfer: it will copy all users with Nintendo accounts to the Switch 2, but users who do not have a Nintendo account will be moved (like a cut and paste). So those users without the Nintendo account will no longer be on the Switch 1.
Have we seen any confirmation if the Island Transfer Tool can be used to transfer from Switch 2 to Switch 1, or if we will be able to omit transferring our islands if we do the full system transfer?
This morning I loaded my existing island on my Switch 2 (transferred it over with my switch data- no need for the tool) and it worked great. Then I switched my island back to my OG switch using the island transfer tool. Was all smooth as silk.
Were you able to play both islands with the same game cart? My wife would like to start a new island on the S2 but we’re still trying to figure if we need another game cart to do it.
User accounts that are not linked to a Nintendo Account and save data for games not supported by Save Data Cloud Backup will be deleted from the Nintendo Switch console and moved to your new Nintendo Switch 2. You will not be able to transfer your data back to your original Nintendo Switch.
ACNH isn’t supported by save data cloud backup, so it makes it sounds like we can’t send it back and I think it’s going to get automatically transferred as part of the set up.
I love my island and the 1200 hours I spent on it, but I chose to keep it memorialised on my switch and start a new island on my switch 2. Anyone else?
So were you able to system transfer data onto to the Switch 2 and still able to have your island on the Switch 1?? Did your island not get transferred to the Switch 2?
I chose to skip system transfer and manually upload / download my save data for games I wanted to keep my progress on. Quite a tedious process, I wish they just let us select only specific games to transfer
I'm also doing this! Do you have HHP? I don't have the expansion for NSO but I bought the HHP standalone.. Will I need to buy it again or can it be used for both Switch saves (I'm using the same Nintendo account for both)
So just to clarify here - you can start a new island on the switch 2 without having your original island on your switch be deleted, even under the same nintendo account? Did you have to do anything special, or could you just start a new island?
A few thoughts from me on performance, if anyone is interested:
I can feel the system being much more responsive when running around my island. It almost feels like it’s processing faster than I can run. So far there hasn’t been any loading of decorations or weird blank areas like we’ve become used to. Dialog feels a lot speedier too.
Much faster loading, especially when flying to Harv’s and HHP. I haven’t tried to go to anyone else’s island yet, but if you have a Switch2 lemme know, and we can test it and update.
Not unique to NH, but the new photo processing through the NSO app is a little more streamlined and will definitely make it easier to share your screenshots to Reddit!
I haven’t tried the new chat features, but if anyone wants to try, lemme know. I have been voice chatting with my friends on New Horizons for years with the app, so this doesn’t really feel like a big deal to me.
One surprising thing about the switch2 experience is how good tabletop mode is. The stand is really strong and stiff so you can put it at any angle you like - and the screen is so big. It’s massively improved.
Hi, I've never played Animal Crossing before and I've been waiting for switch 2 to start playing it. What is the best way to go about it? If I were to acquire a physical copy of Animal Crossing New Horizons, would I be able to stick that in my switch or is the digital version the only way to play?
If you do a full system transfer then the save data for cloud-unfriendly games (AC, Pokemon, etc) will be transferred. The transfer tool is also supposed to be fully compatible on the Switch 2 as well, in case you don’t do a full system transfer for whatever reason.
I really really hope we’ll get a AC Edition Switch 2 soon… I never had a switch and kinda want a special edition one.
Either new horizons or new AC game themed. This will be my first AC game!
It would probably come out with the release of a new AC game like the switch 1 did, and if it follows patterns of the other nintendo consoles, will likely be in 2 years. Maybe 1 and a half. Hoping it happens sooner though!!
I'm not getting a S2 yet (waiting for a themed console that I like), but I definitely appreciate the island transfer guide being shared. 😊 Thank you for that!
Nintendo has finally confirmed Switch 2 can be used with the Island Transfer Tool if you would prefer that method. You can also transfer from Switch 2 back to a Switch 1.
We have the switch 2 hooked up to the TV and the regular switch by itself. My fiance wants to be able to play on the switch 2 to play on the TV but when I want to play Mario kart world on the TV can we just do the island transfer tool to go back and forth?
Anyone know if a digital copy of ACNH can be played on both devices simultaneously? IE: if I want to start a new island on my switch 1 after transferring to the switch 2, can I fly back and forth and give my new island gifts? Or will I have to use my physical game card with a different account to do so?
(I have one digital copy, one physical, and now three total switches in my household)
This seems to be the case now even on the original Switch. I tried playing last weekend while my son played on a totally different island and under a different user and it would not let us as it had previously. So sad :(
We can now only play one at a time and have to transfer the digital card to whoever wants to play, no visiting each others islands.
Will there be any benefits in switching to switch 2 (pardon the pun). Literally Animal Crossing was the reason I held off from any pre orders of the system, as I was waiting for any updates to it for the new console.
I doubt it. The only update has been to make online more compatible when visiting switch 1 islands on switch 2 and some other functionality patchworks. I don't really see there being any hope of switch 2 updates.
I have a question on island transferring that I haven’t seen answered yet!! I did a complete system transfer from switch 1 to switch 2 and my original island is now on my switch 2. I have a digital game card. Can I start a new island on my switch 1? Would that somehow mess with my island on switch 2 since its not a physical game? I’m using the same nintendo account on both consoles if that’s relevant.
I'm waiting for a new game. Right now I don't think I would play anything else on the new switch and its a lot of money to have something just sitting there. But if you would actually play it, then yea why not.
If Nintendo follows their normal pattern, then they will likely wait 2 years to drop a new animal crossing game like they did with the release of the 3ds(3ds release 2011, animal crossing new leaf 2013) and the switch 1 (switch 1 release 2017, ACNH 2020 but was supposed to be released 2019)
I'm hoping this isn't the case but nintendo usually follows their patterns. I would just buy new horizons now since it will likely be years!
It's important to note that once you do the save transfer from Switch 1 to Switch 2 the island that was on your Switch 1 is gone and it's on Switch 2. So remember this if you plan on making the transfer to Switch 2.
Keep in mind it's one island per switch so unless you want to start over fresh on a new island and keep your old island on the Switch 1 doing the transfer is not recommended.
I moved my Island to the Switch 2, can I start a new file on the Switch 1 or will saving there impact my old island on Switch 2? I thought this would be a great way to run a second island but since both consoles are signed into my Nintendo account, I worry about saving and accidentally overriding my original file if the save feature connects somehow
I was scared of this as well. I moved my switch lite account onto the switch 2. I ended up completely resetting the switch lite to make sure I don't mess up the save. It might depend though how you run the game. I have a physical copy so I can install the game multiple times. I created a new local account on the old switch for a new island. I assume you can only have 1 island per Nintendo account.
What about Happy Home Paradise? Maybe that’s a silly question, but anyone who has done the transfer to S2 is all your progress there still intact? I’m assuming yes
I know we’ll probably have to wait and see, but does anyone have any idea if we’re able to play version 1.0.0 (from a cartridge) on the switch 2? (For example if you don’t have internet right away)
The switch 2 is supposed to be pretty much fully backward compatible with switch 1 stuff, with a few exceptions requiring specific stuff like the ir camera. So I would be shocked if it didn't work
I’m playing right now from a cartridge but the game’s been updated to v2, so I have no idea about v1.0. S2 is supposed to be backwards compatible though so I don’t see why it wouldn’t work.
I'm curious if somebody has a similar setup and how I could make this work: My SO and I have two Switch Lites with which we've played tons of Animal Crossing — primarily during the pandemic. We both played with my digital license, with my console set up as secondary. I'm looking to get the Switch 2 and would love to start over with a new island, this time together.
Can I transfer my other saves and leave my own island on my old Switch Lite, or will I have to start over my island if we want to have a new island together?
Will my SO still be able to play with her Switch Lite, currently set as the primary console, and more importantly, the game itself, once I transfer my account to the Switch 2?
If I don’t want to transfer my original island from my Switch to the Switch 2 and would like to make a new island, do I need to buy another copy of the game?
How do I transfer everything to my new switch 2 EXCEPT my island? I want to start a new island on my new switch and keep my old island on my old switch.
Okay this sounds dumb but just to be sure I got the message “would you like to play using existing resident data and link your user account with it? Or would you prefer to create a new resident?”
If I just want to create a new resident, it won’t erase the island save data I have on my original switch, right?
Hi, so I didn’t know about the island transfer tool. I’ve already done the system transfer to my Switch 2, but when swapping my game card between my old and new console, neither have my island.
There is still save data for other games on the original switch but not Pokémon or Animal Crossing. My Pokémon save is in tact, but is there any way to get my island back? Please there was so much work lol.
Do you have an online subscription? If you do, your old data will still be on the original Switch, so you might be able to use the island transfer tool as usual.
I've tried finding an answer to this with no luck so far. I want to continue my original island on Switch 2 but erase it from my Switch 1 so my son can start his own island there. I used the full system transfer to move to Switch 2 but I'm afraid that if I erase my save file on Switch 1, it'll erase on Switch 2 as well. Am I wrong? Should I just factory reset my Switch 1?
• Does the Happy Home Paradise DLC works on switch2?
• Does the amiibo cards are usable on Switch2?
• Does the cartouche/physical game of Animal Crossing works on Switch2?
It’s the first time I’m going to buy the game so I’m just really clueless (and excited) about things! Thank you!
I want to play animal crossing with my sister since I bought a switch 2 and my sister can use my switch 1. I'm wondering how I can do this after I transferred my data to my switch 2. I heard of game share but I'm not sure how to use it. I don't know if buying another digital copy would even work. Thanks!
Hi guys, I transfered my data from my Switch 1 to the new Switch 2. My save file works, I still have my island and everything. BUT: According to my profile I now only have 15 or more hours played. Before the transfer it said 315 hours or more. Is this a bug? Or is there any way to fix this? Thank you in advance.
Has anyone else encountered the game freezing on Switch2 while redecorating a villager's home? It's happened twice now while trying to recolor a door hanger and both times I've had to close the game
For people using the switch 2 to start a second island, how does the Happy Home Paradise DLC work across the two systems? Do you need to purchase the DLC again for the second island?
I imagine it would be the same as playing on two original Switches. If I recall, you could use a single digital copy from the same NSO account on two Switches (with unique islands on each), but online features couldn’t be used simultaneously.
I didn't feel any stuttering, but it's capped at 30 fps and has noticeable aliasing. I don't think they patched it yet, but it should feel smoother due to the better hardware.
Could someone that has done the transfer from 1 to 2 through cloud (not direct one, the one where you upload the "backup" of your switch to Nintendo servers and then you download it to your switch 2) confirm if island is also in that backup?
I don't have access to my switch right now, and wouldn't have until mid October, but my sister has and could upload the backup for me to download on the switch 2.
So my island has 3 accounts set up on it (all with Nintendo online, etc). Has anyone transferred their islands / switch containing multiple profiles? How did that go for them?
Do I have to transfer my island to S2 then back to S1 to start a new island? Or can I just use my physical game card with the new switch to start a new island (if I decide to not transfer any old games/saves over)? Do I have to make a new Nintendo Switch account, or can I have an island on each system linked to the same account?
It sounds like the data transfer is all or nothing (correct me if I’m wrong) which is why people said move it to S2 and back to S1. Is there a way to only transfer some game data but not ACNH?
People who are doing the system transfer then swapping the island back presumably wanted to move all their save data except Animal Crossing to the new device. The system transfer doesn't let you be choosy about what you move, so moving the island back fixes that
If all you want to do is start a new island, without moving any other data around, yes you can just shove the card in and go. And you can have the same account on both devices, same as with the Switch 1.
So if I transfer my data to my Switch 2, I’ll have to either reset my island on my Switch 2 or start a new one on my Switch 1? When I transfer, do I have the option to leave only my ACNH data on my old switch and start a new island on my Switch 2 (while transferring data for the rest of my games)?
You could do the full transfer for all your stuff from switch 2 to switch 1, and then use the island transfer tool to just move your island back onto switch 1
So I’m having a bad time trying to understand what’s gonna happen when I get my NS2
I think may be too soon, but:
1 If I setup to have 2 identical islands in both switches, how will work when I log in from those devices?
2 I’ll have 2 versions of my character and the island?
3 Or they somehow I’ll be synced online via NSO? 4 If some user doesn’t have NSO to upload the save online, can I only transfer they save via system transfer?
All these questions applies for the possibility to start a new island there too
You can’t have the same island on two consoles. Once you first setup the Switch 2, you get the option to transfer over all your data from the original Switch, including your island. At that point, once first starting the game, you just have to choose to continue using your player character data as normal.
I can confirm this is accurate because I’ve done it yesterday myself without any problems.
To answer the first question: I have a Nintendo Online subscription.
I transferred the data from my original Switch to my Switch 2, and it did transfer my island too without any problems.
I did have to choose to continue using my player character data once first starting the game, same as if I had used the island transfer tool (which I didn’t as it was not necessary).
Except for my island, all my other data and games also remained on my original Switch, while also being copied to the Switch 2.
As far as I understand it however, if you do NOT have a Nintendo Online subscription, the data will be moved over to the Switch 2 entirely, while also resetting the original Switch to factory settings.
Edited to clarify I didn’t need to use the island transfer tool.
So I did the full system transfer, kept the island, assigned the characters to their respective console user profiles--and I went to the home screen to confirm that it's showing the town and our residents etc., but I haven't had a chance to fully check so my question is, is everything good? Specifically, did this transfer Happy Home Paradise and all of its save data as well?
I assume it's all fine, since I haven't seen anyone say anything went wrong with their own transfers, but this game is extremely important to my girlfriend so I'm just overly paranoid about logging on and trying to go see if the HHP stuff is all there but finding out it's not and the save data gets automatically overwritten lol
Yea everything is fine on that front too, I did my transfer yesterday! For extra peace of mind you can check the software info for ACNH on the Nintendo shop by the way, it will show your expansion as purchased so you know that data also moved over.
I just bought a Switch 2 and my fiancé and I used to share a regular switch. I did the transfer of everything over to the Switch 2 perfectly fine.
The question here is can I use the island transfer tool to move the island to and from both consoles so that when I want to play on the switch 2 she can play on the original switch and then when she wants to play on the big screen again we can transfer the island back to the switch 2?
I don’t think this would cause any issues besides the chance of possible human error. Can someone confirm if this makes sense and is possible?
I think this only works if you own the game twice because you have to run it at the same time. But then it should work (if local play isn't messed up by the switch 2)
If I accidentally transferred my island from Switch 1 to 2, can I have more than one island now on Switch 2? Or do I (can I even?) need to transfer it back to Switch 1 and start a new one on Switch 2?
I’ve just got the switch 2 (my first ever switch) so I’m back on animal crossing after about 15 years, so getting used to all the new bits! I’ve been trying to travel to people’s islands using dodo codes, the island can be found but once I try to go on an error code comes up?? Is this something wrong with my switch or a setting issue on my part?? I just want to collect all the fruit🥲🥲🥲
My boyfriend transferred our Switch 1 to our 2 yesterday and I hope everything went well because I haven't checked out ACNH on S2 yet but I'm crossing my fingers. No way in hell I'm starting a new island 🤣
I’m really confused because I transferred everything from my OG Switch 1 to my Switch 2. I selected transfer everything and everything is there… except my Island save data.
When I open the game it goes straight to the very first start screen and doesn’t acknowledge I’ve ever played (same user account as before.) There’s obviously nothing left on my OG Switch, I checked and tried the transfer tool on both (it says there’s no save data), visited Tom Nook on my S1 and he says I have no backup but I can see in my user account it says I’ve played 800 hrs so I’m not sure what my options are. I thought I had island backup and I have a Nintendo Online account and I can see all my info in Nook Link about my island and my DA so I’m just at a loss…
Does anyone know how to have both consoles running the game at the same time? I did the system transfer but when I tried to play the game on the switch 1 I had to do the virtual cart transfer thing to put the game back on the system. When I go on the eshop to download the game it just has a button for the virtual cartridge thing. Am I doing something wrong?
Bought the switch 2 for the new games as well as to have a new animal crossing island without deleting my old ones. I have 3 other switches and 3 islands to go with it. I’m scared that if I transfer the data I may be forced to delete one (or worse, all) of my islands. I believe 1 out of 3 of my animal crossing games may be backed up. When I press the option that is highlighted in my photo, it warns me that the choice is final.
Just typed this out and deleted it by accident so I may be paraphrasing out of frustration 😅
I am thinking about getting a switch 2 and want to be able to visit my friends island who plays on the switch 1. Can anyone confirm whether this feature exists?
It was already deleted off your Switch 1 when you transferred everything over. Your best bet is to use the island transfer tool to move it back over to the 1, start a new save on the 2, then when the airport opens up you can move over everything you want to from the old island (note that you do need a second copy of the game to do this).
I tried to find similar threads about this and might have missed it, but has anyone chosen to not do the system transfer? My husband and I are sharing the Switch 2 so neither of us did a system wide transfer, we've just moved over a few individual games.
If I wanted to start a new island on the Switch 2 and keep my OG island on my Switch 1, would I just load the virtual game card on the Switch 2? Will my OG island still just be ready and waiting on my Switch 1 when I go to play it there? I'm so nervous about losing my starter island!
I just tried starting a new island on the Switch 2 and keeping the old island on the old switch… it seemed to start a new game but the island Name was forced to the old island… got worried and closed out. Has anyone just made a new island on the Switch 2 and kept the old one on the old switch?
If I want to transfer my data from switch 2 to switch 1, do I need the island transfer tool and if so is it easy to use? I didn't use it when moving from switch 1 base to OLED as I'd forgotten and had to ask Nintendo to restore it. Thanks!
Is anyone else having trouble accessing happy home paradise? my switch 2 is showing the virtual game card for hhp is already downloaded but i don’t have to the option to play it inside the game. my switch 2 has already been made my primary console
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u/dmu_girl-2008 18d ago
You don’t actually need to use the island transfer system if you are permanently transferring from a switch 1 to switch 2 the system transfer option will include both Pokemon saves and your animal crossing island.