With the eagerly awaited release date and tech specs for the Nintendo Switch 2 now revealed, along with an understanding of how much first-party Nintendo games cost on the new console, attention naturally shifts to the cost of the system itself. Although no official pricing was disclosed during the Nintendo Direct presentation, subsequent listings on Nintendo's regional websites have shed light on the matter, revealing that the most cost-effective way to own the new hardware is by being in Japan.
In a playful tweet, Duolingo—the language learning app—pointed out that Japan offers two versions of the Switch 2: a multi-language version priced at 69,980 yen (approximately $477) and a Japanese language-only version for 49,980 yen (around $341).
Gamers, learn Japanese to save $133! https://t.co/misNmSstIf— Duolingo (@duolingo) April 3, 2025
Japan stands alone as the only country providing a mono-language console at a lower price point, allowing players willing to use the Japanese interface to save over $100 compared to the international model, which is listed at $449.99 in the U.S.
According to experts' opinions, the higher international pricing could be influenced by U.S. President Donald Trump's recent 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," remarked Dr. Serkan Toto, CEO of Kantan Games.
Additionally, Japan's significance as a "key market for Nintendo" may play a role, with the country representing 24% of the Nintendo Switch installed base in 2024, in contrast to just 2% for Xbox Series X/S and 9% for PlayStation 5.
"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."
With these restrictions, along with the Japanese-only variant being exclusively available from the Japanese My Nintendo Store, Nintendo is effectively region-locking the console to maintain lower prices for Japanese consumers.
For a deeper understanding of why the Nintendo Switch 2 and its games come with such high price tags, check out our deep dive as we talk to industry experts.
To stay updated on all things Nintendo Switch 2, you can review everything shown at this week's Nintendo Direct right here.
