Now that we finally have a release date and tech specs on the highly anticipated Switch successor, the Nintendo Switch 2 — along with insights on how much first-party Nintendo games cost on the new console — attention shifts to the system's pricing.
Although no prices were confirmed during the Nintendo Direct presentation, regional pricing has since appeared on Nintendo's country-specific websites, revealing that the most cost-effective way to own the new hardware is in Japan.
As amusingly pointed out by Duolingo — the language-learning app — Japan offers two Switch 2 models: a multi-language version priced at 69,980 yen (approximately $477), and a Japanese language-only edition at 49,980 yen (about $341).
Gamers, learn Japanese to save $133! https://t.co/misNmSstIf
— Duolingo (@duolingo) April 3, 2025
Japan is unique in offering this cheaper mono-language console, allowing players willing to use Japanese to save over $100 compared to the international model, which is priced at $449.99 in the U.S.
According to experts' opinions, the higher international pricing may be influenced by U.S. President Donald Trump's recently announced international tariffs.
"Nintendo likely considered potential tariffs, global inflation, and the precedent set by Sony's $700 PlayStation 5 Pro last year," remarked Dr. Serkan Toto, CEO of Kantan Games.
Additionally, Japan is a critical market for Nintendo, representing a quarter (24%) of the Nintendo Switch's installed base in 2024, compared to just 2% for Xbox Series X/S and 9% for PlayStation 5.
"If the Switch 2's pricing in Japanese Yen matched the U.S. Dollar price, it would significantly undermine Nintendo's position in Japan, effectively doubling the price from the classic LCD Nintendo Switch model," explained James McWhirter, analyst at Omdia. "However, maintaining significantly lower prices in USD terms could lead to grey imports to other regions."
Even for those fluent in Japanese, obtaining the more affordable system poses 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, and the fact that the Japanese-only model is exclusively available through the Japanese My Nintendo Store, Nintendo effectively region-locks the console to keep costs lower for Japanese consumers.
For more on why the Nintendo Switch 2 and its games are so pricey, check out our in-depth analysis as we consult with industry experts.
To stay updated on the Nintendo Switch 2, revisit everything showcased at this week's Nintendo Direct right here.
