With the much-anticipated release date and tech specs of the Nintendo Switch 2 now revealed, along with insights into the pricing of first-party Nintendo games, attention has shifted to the cost of the console itself. Although no official pricing was disclosed during the Nintendo Direct presentation, subsequent listings on Nintendo's regional websites have shed light on the varying costs across different countries, revealing that Japan offers the most economical option for purchasing the new hardware.
A witty tweet from Duolingo, the language education app, pointed out that Japan is selling two versions of the Switch 2: a multi-language model priced at 69,980 yen (approximately $477) and a Japanese-only version at 49,980 yen (about $341). This means that players willing to use a Japanese-language console 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's unique offering of a mono-language console at a lower price is not replicated elsewhere in the world. Some experts' opinions suggest that the higher international prices could be influenced by U.S. President Donald Trump's recently announced international tariffs.
"Nintendo probably factored in possible tariffs, the current inflationary climate worldwide, and the $700 Sony charged for the PlayStation 5 Pro last year," noted Dr. Serkan Toto, CEO of Kantan Games.
Additionally, Japan's significance as a key market for Nintendo cannot be overlooked. In 2024, Japan accounted for 24% of the Nintendo Switch installed base, 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, effectively doubling the list price over the classic LCD Nintendo Switch model," explained James McWhirter, an analyst at Omdia. "Yet, if Nintendo maintained significantly cheaper pricing in USD terms through region-specific pricing, they would risk an influx of grey imports to other territories."
Even for those fluent in Japanese, obtaining the more affordable Japanese-only system poses challenges. According to Nintendo's official website, "The Japanese-Language System (Japan only) is designed for use in Japan only. 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, combined with the fact that the Japanese-only variant is exclusively available through the Japanese My Nintendo Store, effectively region-locks the console to maintain lower costs for Japanese consumers.
For a more in-depth analysis of why the Nintendo Switch 2 and its games are priced so high, check out our detailed exploration as we discuss with industry experts.
To stay updated on all things Nintendo Switch 2, you can review everything showcased at this week's Nintendo Direct right here.
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