Nintendo Launches Affordable Japanese-Only Switch 2, Duolingo Reacts

Now that we have the much-awaited release date and tech specs for the Nintendo Switch 2, along with insights into 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 disclosed during the Nintendo Direct presentation, regional pricing details have emerged 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—in a tweet, Japan offers two versions of the Switch 2: a multi-language version priced at 69,980 yen (approximately $477) and a Japanese-only edition for 49,980 yen (about $341).

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

— Duolingo (@duolingo) April 3, 2025

Japan stands alone in offering a mono-language console at a lower price, allowing players willing to use Japanese to save over $100 compared to the global version, which costs $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 introduced international tariffs.

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

Additionally, Japan being "a key market for Nintendo," where the country represented 24% of the Nintendo Switch installed base in 2024, compared to 2% for Xbox Series X/S and 9% for PlayStation 5, plays a significant role.

"If the Switch 2's pricing in Japanese Yen were to match the U.S. Dollar price, it would significantly undermine Nintendo's position in Japan, essentially doubling the price compared to the original LCD Nintendo Switch model," explained James McWhirter, an analyst at Omdia. "However, if Nintendo maintains region-specific pricing that's much cheaper in USD terms, they risk facing issues with grey imports to other territories."

"The Japanese-Language System (Japan only) is designed for use in Japan only," according to Nintendo's website. "It supports only Japanese as the system language, and it can only be linked to Nintendo accounts set to the Japan region."

With these restrictions, along with the fact that the Japanese-only version is exclusively available through the Japanese My Nintendo Store, Nintendo is effectively region-locking the console to keep prices lower for Japanese consumers.

For a deeper understanding of why the Nintendo Switch 2 and its games are priced as they are, check out our comprehensive analysis featuring insights from industry experts.

For more details on the Nintendo Switch 2, you can review everything showcased at this week's Nintendo Direct right here.