Unfortunately, it is not possible to switch island owners in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. The game designates the first player who moves to the island as the Resident Representative, and this role cannot be changed or transferred to another player.
This means that the Resident Representative has certain privileges and responsibilities that other residents on the island do not have. For example, only the Resident Representative can initiate certain island-wide activities such as infrastructure development and progressing the main storyline. They also have the ability to make important decisions that affect the entire island, such as choosing the location for new buildings or bridges.
While other residents on the island have their own unique roles and can contribute to the development of the island, they do not have the same level of control and decision-making power as the Resident Representative.
If you want to change the Resident Representative, the only way to do so is to start a new game on a different Nintendo Switch system. Each Nintendo Switch console can only have one island, so if you want a different player to be the Resident Representative, they would need to start their own game on a different console.
This limitation can be frustrating for players who may want to change the Resident Representative for various reasons. Perhaps the initial Resident Representative is not as actively playing the game or has lost interest, while another player on the island is more engaged and wants to take on a leadership role. However, the game does not provide an option to transfer or change the Resident Representative, so players will need to either accept this limitation or consider starting a new game on a different console.
It’s worth noting that Animal Crossing: New Horizons emphasizes cooperative play and encourages players to work together to create and develop their island. While the Resident Representative has certain privileges, it’s important to remember that all players on the island can contribute and have their own unique experiences in the game.
The ability to switch island owners in Animal Crossing: New Horizons is not available within the game itself. The Resident Representative is determined by the first player who moves to the island and this role cannot be changed. To have a different Resident Representative, players would need to start a new game on a different Nintendo Switch system.