Animal Crossing: New Horizons Update Adds Zelda and Splatoon Villagers, Unlockable via amiibo

Nintendo has announced a significant content update coming to Animal Crossing: New Horizons for Nintendo Switch in January.

This highly anticipated software update will introduce four new villagers, each inspired by iconic characters from The Legend of Zelda and Splatoon franchises—a move that continues Nintendo’s tradition of integrating its most beloved universes within its leading titles. The upcoming Animal Crossing: New Horizons update will allow players to invite these special crossover villagers to their islands by scanning select amiibo figures.

Nintendo detailed the full list of compatible amiibo, specifying which figures are needed to unlock each new game-themed villager. For fans of The Legend of Zelda, two new villagers—Tulin and Mineru—can be welcomed to your island.

Tulin, based on his appearances in Tears of the Kingdom, can be unlocked using a diverse lineup of Zelda series amiibo, including figures such as Bokoblin, Daruk, Ganondorf (from Tears of the Kingdom), various versions of Link (including Archer, Majora’s Mask, Smash Bros, Skyward Sword, and more), Revali, Toon Link, Young Link, Yunobo, and several versions of Zelda herself.

Specific amiibo like Tulin (Tears of the Kingdom) and Zelda and Loftbird (Skyward Sword) are also compatible, giving collectors and series enthusiasts a broad array of options. Mineru, another Zelda villager debuting in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, is unlockable through even more amiibo, with supported figures including Ganondorf (Smash Bros), Guardian (Breath of the Wild), several classic and modern iterations of Link (8-Bit, Link’s Awakening, Ocarina of Time, Rider, Twilight Princess), Mipha, Riju, Sheik, Sidon, Urbosa, Wolf Link, and multiple Zelda incarnations such as those from Breath of the Wild, Smash Bros, and Tears of the Kingdom. The Splatoon universe is also making a vibrant splash onto players’ islands.

Two exclusive villagers, Cece and Viché, bring the ink-fueled spirit of Splatoon to Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

To unlock Cece, players must scan Splatoon series amiibo like Big Man, Callie, Marina, Octoling Boy, Octoling Girl, Shiver, Smallfry, and other select figures.

Viché can be invited with compatible amiibo including Big Man, Frye, multiple Inkling Boy and Inkling Girl variants, Inkling Squid, Marie, and Pearl—covering both Splatoon mainline and side order releases. A Nintendo spokesperson explained that this update is part of the company's ongoing commitment to supporting Animal Crossing: New Horizons with engaging, cross-franchise content that rewards fans and collectors alike.

"We’re excited to bring even more Nintendo characters to our vibrant community of Animal Crossing players through this special amiibo collaboration," they stated, highlighting the synergy between the company’s acclaimed franchises. Animal Crossing: New Horizons has continually been a standout title on the Nintendo Switch, achieving over 40 million units sold worldwide since its 2020 launch and earning a reputation as a cornerstone of the eShop’s digital offerings.

Updates like these have kept the player base engaged, with Nintendo leveraging regular content expansions and partnerships unveiled during high-profile Nintendo Direct presentations. To participate in this update, players simply need to scan the compatible amiibo figures using their Nintendo Switch system’s NFC reader.

The selected Zelda or Splatoon characters will appear as new villagers, ready to join and interact on your island.

The update will be available to download in January directly from the eShop, ensuring a seamless integration of this unique crossover into Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ ever-growing world. For the full list of supported amiibo and further details, visit Nintendo’s official website or the Animal Crossing: New Horizons support page.

Zelda Nintendo Switch Splatoon Animal Crossing Nintendo The Legend of Zelda amiibo Legend of Zelda Animal Crossing: New Horizons Switch amiibo figures Legend New Horizons Animal Crossing New Horizons eShop Nintendo Direct