With the Animal Crossing: New Horizons 3.0 update arriving on January 15, excitement across the community is at an all-time high. New features, returning characters, and long-awaited content are finally on the way. But as amazing as this update looks, it’s not without its limits.
Here are five things you can’t do in the Animal Crossing: New Horizons 3.0 update, explained simply and without spoilers.
1. You Can’t Catalog Zelda or Splatoon Items From Other Islands
One of the biggest highlights of the 3.0 update is the return of Nintendo crossover content, especially items themed around The Legend of Zelda and Splatoon.
Naturally, many players assumed these items would work like normal furniture, pick them up on a friend’s island, and they’d be added to your catalog forever.
Unfortunately, that’s not how it works.
While you can visit another player’s island and physically pick up Zelda or Splatoon items, they will not register in your catalog. That means you won’t be able to reorder them later from Nook Shopping.
This restriction isn’t new. It applies to all collaboration items in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, including:
- Sanrio furniture
- Pocket Camp crossover items
- Past Nintendo collaboration content
To officially catalog Zelda or Splatoon items, you must scan the correct amiibo tied to that franchise. Simply touching the item, even holding it in your inventory, is not enough.
That said, there is a small silver lining. If you don’t care about reordering items and just want them for decoration, trading still works. A friend with the amiibo can give you the item directly, and you’re free to place it anywhere on your island. You just won’t be able to buy more later unless you have the amiibo yourself.
2. You Can’t Adopt Zelda or Splatoon Villagers From Another Player
With Zelda and Splatoon villagers returning in the 3.0 update, many players hoped they could pick them up the same way they do normal villagers, by visiting a friend’s island and inviting them over when they’re packed up in boxes.
Unfortunately, that’s not possible.
Even if a Zelda or Splatoon villager is in boxes on another player’s island, you cannot invite them to move to your island. These villagers are classified as collaboration characters, and just like the Sanrio villagers before them, they are locked behind amiibo-only access.
This isn’t a new rule. It worked the same way in Animal Crossing: New Leaf, and Nintendo has kept that system in New Horizons as well. No matter the situation:
- You can’t recruit them naturally
- You can’t adopt them from friends
- You must use the correct amiibo to invite them via the campsite
While this can be frustrating, especially if you don’t own amiibo, it’s intentional. Collaboration villagers are designed to feel extra special and exclusive, rather than something you can easily trade between islands.
On the bright side, once you do have the amiibo, inviting these villagers works just like any other campsite visitor. Until then, there’s no workaround or shortcut, you’ll need the amiibo to bring Zelda or Splatoon villagers home.
3. You Can’t Farm Unlimited Hotel Currency in One Day
The new hotel feature is one of the standout additions in the 3.0 update. Designing rooms, welcoming guests, and earning a special currency adds a fresh gameplay loop that many players are excited to explore.
But there’s a daily cap.
Nintendo has confirmed that you can only earn hotel currency once per day through room design. Even if you redesign multiple rooms in a single session, only the first completed design counts toward your daily reward.
This means:
- No unlimited currency farming
- No speed-running the entire shop in one day
- Slower, long-term progression is encouraged
Thankfully, hotel design isn’t the only way to earn this currency. Outside of the hotel, Kapp’n offers crafting-related options that let you earn additional currency through regular gameplay.
While there’s still likely a daily cap, these extra methods help balance things out and make progress feel steady rather than stalled.
4. You Can’t Invite Special Characters to the Hotel Right Away
Although the hotel allows you to eventually invite special characters, this feature is not unlocked immediately.
Just like Happy Home Paradise, the hotel includes a progression system. Certain features, such as the amiibo scanner, only become available after you’ve designed enough rooms and advanced far enough.
At the start:
- The amiibo scanner is locked
- Special character invites are unavailable
- You must play naturally to unlock them
This means you can’t walk in on day one and instantly invite your favorite NPCs. You’ll need to earn access over time, which keeps the experience feeling rewarding rather than overwhelming.
5. You Can’t Invite Island Staff or Current Villagers to Stay at the Hotel
Even after unlocking special character invitations, not every character is eligible.
Characters who already live or work on your island cannot stay at the hotel. This includes:
- Tom Nook
- Isabelle
- Timmy & Tommy
- Brewster
- Kapp’n and his family
- The Able Sisters (excluding Label)
It also likely applies to villagers who currently live on your island. Since they already have homes nearby, it wouldn’t make much sense for them to book a hotel room next door.
While this may be disappointing for players who wanted to design rooms for Tom Nook or Isabelle, you can still do this freely in Happy Home Paradise, where there are far fewer restrictions.
Overall, the update still offers plenty to explore, customize, and enjoy. And for many players, the sense of progression may actually make the experience even more satisfying in the long run.
