Carbon–nitrogen coupling is a critical constraint for improving carbon cycle and climate simulations in Earth system models (ESMs), yet large uncertainties hinder inter-model comparisons. Here, we present CNit v2.0, an updated representation of the carbon–nitrogen cycle in MAGICC—a widely used reduced-complexity model (RCM). CNit v2.0 is calibrated to emulate carbon–nitrogen cycle dynamics in various ESMs across historical, idealized (1pctCO2, 1pctCO2-bgc), and multiple Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP) experiments, demonstrating strong emulation performance. The global annual-mean emulation from historical to SSP5-8.5 (1850–2100) reveals increasing nitrogen limitation on net primary production (NPP), with a multi-model mean inhibition of 10.2 ± 5.6% by 2100 due to nitrogen deficits limiting plant uptake. The stronger CO2 fertilization effect in carbon-only (C-only) ESMs exceeds the mitigating influence of nitrogen limitation in CN-coupled ESMs, implying a risk of continued NPP overestimation in C-only ESMs—even if a nitrogen cycle is later added—due to insufficient constraints on CO2 sensitivity. The climate response of litter production is sign-changing between C-only (inhibition) and CN-coupled (enhancement) ESMs, suggesting nitrogen effects may be misattributed as climate effects in C-only ESMs. Divergent climate responses and nitrogen effects on litter decomposition—particularly litter respiration and labile soil organic matter decomposition—are the primary drivers of total heterotrophic respiration differences between C-only and CN-coupled ESMs. Alongside NPP, these factors shape distinct carbon cycle dynamics. While nitrogen pools and fluxes generally follow carbon trends, they exhibit greater inter-model spread. In light of the calibration updates, we propose practical strategies to improve carbon cycle calibration in future RCMs.