With the much-anticipated release of the Nintendo Switch 2, details such as the release date, tech specs, and costs of first-party Nintendo games have been unveiled, sparking discussions about the console's pricing. Although the Nintendo Direct presentation did not confirm prices, subsequent listings on Nintendo's regional websites have revealed that the most cost-effective way to purchase the new hardware is in Japan.
A humorous tweet from Duolingo, the language learning app, pointed out that Japan offers 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 gamers willing to play in Japanese can save over $100, as the rest of the world must purchase the system for $449.99 in the U.S.
Gamers, learn Japanese to save $133! https://t.co/misNmSstIf
— Duolingo (@duolingo) April 3, 2025
According to experts' opinions, the higher international pricing could be influenced by U.S. President Donald Trump's recently announced international tariffs. Dr. Serkan Toto, CEO of Kantan Games, noted, "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."
Japan's significance as a key market for Nintendo, accounting for 24% of the Nintendo Switch installed base in 2024, compared to just 2% for Xbox Series X/S and 9% for PlayStation 5, may also play a role. James McWhirter, an analyst at Omdia, explained, "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. 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 cheaper system presents challenges. Nintendo's website states, "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, along with the fact that the Japanese-only variant is exclusively available from the Japanese My Nintendo Store, effectively region-locks the console to maintain lower costs for Japanese consumers.
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 stay updated on all things Nintendo Switch 2, catch up on everything shown at this week's Nintendo Direct right here.
