Animal Crossing Switch 2 Edition Headlines This Weeks Japanese Game Releases
The gaming world kicks off the week of January 11, 2026, with a focus on a major platform debut and a multitude of digital titles landing on Japanese shores.
Nintendo’s Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is the undisputed highlight, launching worldwide on Tuesday, January 15, 2026, and standing as the week’s sole retail release.
This new edition for the Nintendo Switch 2 is highly anticipated, offering enhancements such as 4K visuals in TV Mode, Joy-Con 2 mouse controls to assist with decorating, and a megaphone function to find villagers quickly.
Owners of the original game will be able to access the new features via an upgrade pack, and a free Version 3.0 update with new features and improvements is also scheduled to arrive for both the original Switch and Switch 2 versions on January 15, 2026.
Elsewhere on the release calendar, the action is heavily weighted towards digital-only titles.
On Monday, January 12, 2026, the 3D platformer Big Hops will launch worldwide on PlayStation 5, Switch, and PC via Steam.
Developed by Luckshot Games, this action-adventure centers on a frog using its versatile tongue for movement and puzzle-solving across four expansive worlds: Hop’s Forest, the Red Desert, the Ocean Rigs, and Shattered Mountain.
A new puzzle action role-playing game, CASSETTE BOY, will also see a worldwide release across a wide range of platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC via Steam.
The side-scrolling action game Kotama & Academy Citadel is due this week for PC via Steam.
The full list of digital-only releases for the week beginning January 11, 2026, includes
- BrokenLore: UNFOLLOW (PS5, Xbox Series, PC [Steam]),
- DreadOut Remastered Collection (Xbox One),
- EGGCONSOLE Mad Rider MSX2 (Switch),
- God Bless, or Goddess (PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, Xbox One),
- Kejora (PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC [Steam]),
- Magical Magic World (Switch),
- My Little Haven (Switch),
- One Turn Kill (PC [Steam]),
- Quarantine Zone: The Last Check (PC [Steam]),
- Streetdog BMX (PC [Steam]).
The week’s lineup underscores the industry’s continued shift, as digital releases now dominate the landscape.
Consumers can purchase PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Switch titles through the Japanese PlayStation Network and Nintendo accounts using prepaid cards.
PlayStation Store cards are available in yen denominations of 1,100, 3,000, 5,000, and 10,000, while Nintendo eShop cards are available in 1,000, 1,500, 3,000, 5,000, and 9,000 yen.
Finally, several ongoing games are receiving new content updates.
Genshin Impact will receive the Version Luna IV Update “Song of the Welkin Moon: Postlude – A Traveler on a Winter’s Night” for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series, PC, iOS, and Android.
Marvel Rivals is getting its Season 6 Update: “Night at the Museum” for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series, and PC, and SANABI will release Free Downloadable Content, “Haunted Day” for Switch.
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