With the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 finally getting a release date and tech specs, along with insights into how much first-party Nintendo games cost on the new console, the spotlight now shifts to the cost of the system itself. Although no prices were disclosed during the Nintendo Direct presentation, regional pricing has emerged on Nintendo's country-specific websites, revealing that the most economical way to own the new hardware is in Japan.
A playful tweet from Duolingo, the language learning app, highlighted that Japan offers two versions of the Switch 2: a multi-language model priced at 69,980 yen (around $477) and a Japanese language-only edition for 49,980 yen (about $341). This means that gamers willing to play in Japanese can save over $100 compared to the international version, which is priced at $449.99 in the U.S.
Gamers, learn Japanese to save $133! https://t.co/misNmSstIf
— Duolingo (@duolingo) April 3, 2025
Japan being the only country offering a mono-language console at a lower price underscores the unique market dynamics at play. Experts' opinions suggest that the higher international prices might be influenced by factors such as U.S. President Donald Trump's recently announced international tariffs.
"Nintendo probably factored in possible tariffs, the current inflationary climate in the world, and the $700 Sony dared to charge for the PlayStation 5 Pro last year," noted Dr. Serkan Toto, CEO of Kantan Games. Japan's significance as a key market for Nintendo, where the country accounted for 24% of the Nintendo Switch installed base in 2024 (compared to 2% for Xbox Series X/S and 9% for PlayStation 5), also plays a role in this pricing strategy.
"If Switch 2 pricing in Japanese Yen was aligned with the U.S. Dollar price, it would dramatically weaken Nintendo's position in Japan, representing a doubling in the list price over the classic LCD Nintendo Switch model," explained James McWhirter, analyst at Omdia. "Yet if Nintendo continued to rely on region-specific pricing that is significantly cheaper in USD terms, they would face an issue with grey imports to other territories."
Even for those fluent in Japanese, obtaining the more affordable system presents challenges. "The Japanese-Language System (Japan only) is designed for use in Japan only," states Nintendo's website. "Only Japanese is available as the system language, and only Nintendo accounts with the country/region set to Japan can be linked to this system." This, along with the fact that the Japanese-only variant is exclusively available from the Japanese My Nintendo Store, effectively region-locks the console, keeping costs down for Japanese players.
For a deeper understanding of why the Nintendo Switch 2 and its games are priced so high, check out our deep dive as we talk to industry experts. To catch up on everything shown at this week's Nintendo Direct, click here.
