Nintendo Unveils Cheaper Japan-Only Switch 2, Duolingo Reacts

Now that we have the eagerly awaited release date and tech specs for the Nintendo Switch 2, along with insights on how much first-party Nintendo games will cost on the new console, the focus shifts to the pricing of the system itself. Although no prices were announced during the Nintendo Direct presentation, regional pricing has emerged on Nintendo's country-specific websites, revealing that the most cost-effective way to own the new hardware is in Japan.

As humorously pointed out by Duolingo on Twitter — the language-learning app — Japan offers two versions of the Switch 2: a multi-language version priced at 69,980 yen (about $477) and a Japanese-only edition for 49,980 yen (approximately $341).

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

— Duolingo (@duolingo) April 3, 2025

Japan stands alone in offering this cheaper, mono-language console option, allowing players who are comfortable with Japanese to save over $100 compared to the international version, which retails at $449.99 in the U.S.

According to experts' opinions, the higher international pricing 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," noted Dr. Serkan Toto, CEO of Kantan Games.

Additionally, Japan's importance as a key market for Nintendo cannot be understated, with the country representing 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 dramatically weaken Nintendo's position in Japan, representing a doubling in the list price over the classic LCD Nintendo Switch model," explained James McWhirter, an analyst at Omdia. "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, there are hurdles to acquiring the more affordable system. "The Japanese-Language System (Japan only) is designed for use in Japan only," Nintendo's website clarifies. "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 variant is exclusively available through the Japanese My Nintendo Store, Nintendo effectively region-locks the console to maintain lower prices for Japanese consumers.

For a deeper understanding of why the Nintendo Switch 2 and its games are priced as they are, check out our in-depth analysis 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.