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

With the eagerly awaited release date and technical specifications of the Nintendo Switch 2 now public, alongside insights into the pricing of first-party Nintendo games, attention naturally shifts to the cost of the console itself. Although no official prices were disclosed during the Nintendo Direct presentation, regional pricing details have emerged on Nintendo's country-specific websites, revealing that the most economical way to purchase the new hardware is in Japan.

In a humorous tweet, the language learning app Duolingo pointed out that Japan offers two versions of the Switch 2: a multi-language version priced at 69,980 yen (approximately $477), and a Japanese-only model at 49,980 yen (around $341). This means that gamers willing to play in Japanese can save over $100 compared to the international version, which is priced at $449.99 in the U.S.

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

— Duolingo (@duolingo) April 3, 2025

Japan's unique position in offering a mono-language console at a lower price is due to it being the only country with this option. Some experts suggest that the higher international pricing could be influenced by U.S. President Donald Trump's recent international tariffs.

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

Additionally, Japan's importance to Nintendo cannot be overstated, with the country 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.

"Aligning the Japanese Yen price with the U.S. Dollar price would severely undermine Nintendo's market position in Japan, effectively doubling the list price from the classic LCD Nintendo Switch model," explained James McWhirter, an analyst at Omdia. "Conversely, maintaining region-specific pricing that is significantly cheaper in USD terms could lead to issues with grey imports to other territories."

Even for those fluent in Japanese, there are additional hurdles to acquiring the more affordable system. According to Nintendo's website, "The Japanese-Language System (Japan only) is designed for use in Japan only. 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." This effectively region-locks the console, ensuring lower costs for Japanese consumers while preventing widespread international purchases.

For a deeper understanding of why the Nintendo Switch 2 and its games are priced so high, explore our in-depth analysis featuring insights from industry experts. Additionally, to stay updated on everything revealed at this week's Nintendo Direct about the Nintendo Switch 2, check out our comprehensive coverage.