Nintendo Confirms Japan-Exclusive Budget Switch 2

With the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 finally getting a release date, confirmed tech specs, and insight into first-party game pricing for the new console, attention has turned to the cost of the system itself.

While the Nintendo Direct presentation did not confirm official prices, regional pricing details later appeared on Nintendo's country-specific websites, revealing that the most affordable way to own the new hardware is to be in Japan.

As playfully noted in a tweet from Duolingo — the language-learning app that includes Japanese — Japan is offering two different Switch console options: a multi-language version priced at ¥69,980 (approximately $477), and a Japanese-language-only edition for ¥49,980 (around $341).

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

— Duolingo (@duolingo) April 3, 2025

Since Japan is the only country offering a monolingual console at a lower price, players comfortable using Japanese can save over $100 compared to the international model, which retails for $449.99 in the U.S.

According to some industry experts, the higher international price may be influenced by recently announced tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump.

"Nintendo likely considered potential tariffs, the current global inflationary environment, and the $700 price tag Sony set for the PlayStation 5 Pro last year," commented Dr. Serkan Toto, CEO of Kantan Games.

Another factor is Japan's status as "a key market for Nintendo," accounting for a quarter (24%) of the Nintendo Switch installed base in 2024, compared to just 2% for Xbox Series X/S and 9% for PlayStation 5.

"If the Switch 2’s Japanese Yen price mirrored the U.S. Dollar equivalent, it would severely weaken Nintendo's position in Japan, effectively doubling the price compared to the classic LCD Nintendo Switch model," explained James McWhirter, an analyst at Omdia. "Yet if Nintendo kept regional pricing significantly cheaper in USD terms, it could encourage gray-market imports to other regions."

However, even for those fluent in Japanese, obtaining the cheaper system comes with hurdles.

"The Japanese-Language System (Japan only) is intended for use exclusively in Japan," states Nintendo’s official website. "Only Japanese is available as the system language, and only Nintendo accounts with Japan set as the country/region can be linked to this system."

With these restrictions, and the fact that the Japanese-only model is sold exclusively through the Japanese My Nintendo Store, Nintendo is effectively region-locking the console to maintain lower costs for its domestic audience.

To learn more about why the Nintendo Switch 2 and its games are priced so high, read our in-depth analysis featuring insights from industry experts.

For additional Nintendo Switch 2 coverage, you can review everything shown during this week's Nintendo Direct right here.