"Nintendo Launches Budget-Friendly Japanese-Only Switch 2, Duolingo Reacts"

Now that we have the release date and tech specs for the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2, along with insights on how much first-party Nintendo games cost on the new console, the focus shifts to the cost of the system itself.

Although no prices were confirmed during the Nintendo Direct presentation, regional pricing has surfaced on Nintendo's country-specific websites, revealing that the most cost-effective way to own the new hardware is in Japan.

A playful tweet from 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 (about $477) and a Japanese language-only edition for 49,980 yen (around $341).

Gamers, learn Japanese to save $133! https://t.co/misNmSstIf

— Duolingo (@duolingo) April 3, 2025

Japan is the only country offering a mono-language console option at a lower price, allowing gamers willing to play in Japanese to save over $100 compared to the international version, which is priced at $449.99 in the U.S.

According to experts' opinions, the higher international price could be influenced by 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 charged for the PlayStation 5 Pro last year," said Dr. Serkan Toto, CEO of Kantan Games.

Additionally, Japan is a crucial 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.

"If Switch 2 pricing in Japanese Yen was aligned with the U.S. Dollar price, it would significantly 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 issues with grey imports to other territories."

Even if you're fluent in Japanese, there are still hurdles to obtaining the cheaper system. "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."

These restrictions, combined with the fact that the Japanese-only variant is exclusively available from the Japanese My Nintendo Store, indicate that Nintendo is region-locking the console to maintain lower costs 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.

For more on the Nintendo Switch 2, catch up on everything shown at this week's Nintendo Direct right here.