Nintendo Launches Budget Japanese-Only Switch 2, Duolingo Joins the Fun

With the release date and tech specs now announced for the eagerly awaited Nintendo Switch 2, alongside details on how much first-party Nintendo games cost on the new console, attention naturally shifts to the price of the system itself. Although no pricing was disclosed during the Nintendo Direct presentation, regional price listings have emerged on Nintendo's various country-specific websites, revealing that the most cost-effective way to acquire the new hardware is in Japan.

A witty tweet from Duolingo, the language learning app, highlighted that Japan offers two versions of the Switch 2: a multi-language version priced at 69,980 yen (approximately $477) and a Japanese-only edition at 49,980 yen (about $341).

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

— Duolingo (@duolingo) April 3, 2025

As Japan is the only country offering a single-language console at a lower price, players comfortable with gaming in Japanese can save over $100 compared to the international version, which is priced at $449.99 in the U.S.

In the view of experts, the higher international pricing might be influenced by recent international tariffs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump.

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

Additionally, Japan's importance to Nintendo cannot be overstated, with the country making up 24% of the Nintendo Switch installed base in 2024, compared to only 2% for Xbox Series X/S and 9% for PlayStation 5.

"Aligning the Switch 2's Japanese Yen price with the U.S. Dollar price would significantly undermine Nintendo's position in Japan, effectively doubling the price compared to the classic LCD Nintendo Switch," explained James McWhirter, analyst at Omdia. "However, maintaining region-specific pricing that's much cheaper in USD terms could lead to issues with grey market imports to other regions."

Even for those fluent in Japanese, obtaining the more affordable system comes with its own set of challenges. "The Japanese-Language System (Japan only) is intended for use in Japan only," according to Nintendo's website. "Only Japanese is available as the system language, and only Nintendo accounts set to Japan as the country/region can be linked to this system."

With these restrictions, along with 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 costs for Japanese consumers.

For a deeper understanding of why the Nintendo Switch 2 and its games are priced so high, check out our in-depth analysis with industry experts.

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