Quick update: the cup is live
Good news for line-clearers and island lovers: the Maximus Cup is happening right now. The event runs from January 8 to January 12, 2026, and as of January 11 it’s in full swing. If you want that adorable Animal Crossing-themed makeover for your Tetriminos, now’s the time to jump in.
How to earn the theme (no fishing required)
It isn’t complicated—just play the Maximus Cup and collect a total of 100 event points. Rack up wins, survive long enough to annoy your opponents, or simply play enough matches: once you hit 100 points you unlock a new theme that swaps in Animal Crossing-inspired art, music, and Tetrimino skins. Cute blocks, confirmed.
Why the crossover? Because Animal Crossing is having a glow-up
This Cup celebrates the upcoming Animal Crossing: New Horizons — Switch 2 Edition and the free 3.0 update. That release lands on January 15, 2026, and brings a bunch of stuff fans have been clamoring for: a Resort Hotel, bigger home storage, the return of Resetti, special collabs, and other little bells and whistles. The Switch 2 version also bumps up visuals and adds features like mouse controls, a megaphone, and larger online play lobbies—so the island life is getting a power-up.
Other tiny freebies and odds-and-ends
Nintendo also rolled out Animal Crossing-themed icons for Switch Online players — those are available through February 2, 2026, if you want to deck out your profile with some island flair. No screenshots here, sorry — go check your console.
So, are you in?
Are you hopping back to your island next week, or are you stacking lines in Tetris 99 this weekend? Whether you’re chasing that theme or just procrastinating responsibility in style, let us know what you’re planning.
