Animal Crossing: New Horizons Only Lets You Have One Island Per Switch Console

Animal Crossing: New Horizons launches on Nintendo Switch in only a few weeks, and for the first time in the series, up to eight players will be able to live together on the same island. However, if other players who share your system would like to have their own island, it appears they’ll be out of luck.

As AC Pocket News has spotted, Nintendo of Australia’s website notes that only one Animal Crossing: New Horizons island can be exist per Nintendo Switch console, even if you have multiple copies of the game. That means in order for another player who shares your system to create their own island, they’ll need to have their own Switch and game. The disclaimer reads:

“Up to 8 players with registered accounts on a Nintendo Switch console can live on one shared island, and up to four residents of one island can play simultaneously on one console. Please note: only one island can exist per Nintendo Switch console, irrespective of the number of user accounts registered to or copies of the game used on one console. One Nintendo Switch and one copy of the game is required for each unique island.”

In other Animal Crossing news, Nintendo recently announced an Animal Crossing-themed Nintendo Switch, which launches on March 13 and includes pastel green and blue Joy-Cons as well as a white dock featuring an image of the Nooks on an island. The dock and Joy-Cons will also be sold separately through Nintendo’s store in Japan, but it’s unclear if they’ll be available to purchase individually in the West.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons launches on March 20. A handful of pre-order bonuses have been announced for the game at different retailers; you can see what they all are in our New Horizons pre-order guide. For more on the title, check out our roundup of everything we know about New Horizons.