Now that we have a confirmed release date and tech specs for the much-anticipated Nintendo Switch 2, along with an understanding of how much first-party Nintendo games cost on the new console, the conversation naturally shifts to the price of the system itself.
Although no prices were announced during the Nintendo Direct presentation, regional pricing has appeared on Nintendo's country-specific websites, revealing that the most cost-effective way to purchase the new hardware is in Japan.
As humorously pointed out by Duolingo—the language-learning app—on Twitter, Japan offers two versions of the Switch 2: a multi-language model priced at 69,980 yen (approximately $477) and a Japanese-only version for 49,980 yen (about $341).
Gamers, learn Japanese to save $133! https://t.co/misNmSstIf
— Duolingo (@duolingo) April 3, 2025
Since Japan is the only country offering a single-language console at a reduced price, players willing to use a Japanese system can save over $100 compared to the multi-language version, which is priced at $449.99 in the U.S.
Some experts believe that the higher international price could be influenced by the recently announced international tariffs by U.S. President Donald Trump.
"Nintendo likely considered potential tariffs, the current global inflationary environment, and the $700 price Sony set for the PlayStation 5 Pro last year," said Dr. Serkan Toto, CEO of Kantan Games.
Additionally, Japan being a key market for Nintendo, accounting for 24% of the Nintendo Switch installed base in 2024 compared to only 2% for Xbox Series X/S and 9% for PlayStation 5, could be a factor.
"If the Switch 2 pricing in Japanese Yen was aligned with the U.S. Dollar price, it would significantly undermine Nintendo's position in Japan, doubling the list price from the classic LCD Nintendo Switch model," explained James McWhirter, an analyst at Omdia. "However, maintaining region-specific pricing that is much cheaper in USD terms poses the risk of grey imports to other territories."
Even for those fluent in Japanese, obtaining the cheaper model presents 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."
These restrictions, combined with the fact that the Japanese-only variant is exclusively available from the Japanese My Nintendo Store, effectively region-locks the console, keeping costs lower for Japanese consumers.
For a deeper understanding of why the Nintendo Switch 2 and its games are priced so high, check out our detailed analysis with insights from industry experts.
For more information on the Nintendo Switch 2, you can review everything showcased at this week's Nintendo Direct right here.
