Nintendo Launches Affordable Japanese-Only Switch 2, Duolingo Reacts

With the eagerly awaited release date and technical specifications for the Nintendo Switch 2 now revealed, along with insights into the pricing of first-party Nintendo games on the new console, attention shifts to the cost of the system itself. Although the Nintendo Direct presentation did not confirm any prices, regional pricing has emerged on Nintendo's country-specific websites, revealing that the most affordable way to acquire Nintendo's latest hardware is in Japan.

This was humorously pointed out by Duolingo, the language learning app, via a tweet highlighting that Japan offers two versions of the Switch 2: a multi-language version priced at 69,980 yen (approximately $477) and a Japanese language-only edition 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 mono-language console at a lower price, gamers willing to play in Japanese can save over $100 compared to the international version, which costs $449.99 in the U.S.

According to some experts' opinions, the higher international pricing could be influenced by U.S. President Donald Trump's recently announced international tariffs. Dr. Serkan Toto, CEO of Kantan Games, commented, "Nintendo probably factored in possible tariffs, the current inflationary climate in the world, and the $700 Sony dared to charge for the PlayStation 5 Pro last year."

Japan's significance as a key market for Nintendo may also play a role, 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. James McWhirter, an analyst at Omdia, explained, "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. 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 if you're fluent in Japanese, there are still obstacles to acquiring the more affordable system. Nintendo's website clearly states, "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." Additionally, the Japanese-only variant is exclusively available from the Japanese My Nintendo Store, effectively region-locking the console to maintain lower costs for Japanese players.

For a more in-depth look at why the Nintendo Switch 2 and its games are priced so high, check out our deep dive as we talk to industry experts.

To stay updated on everything revealed at this week's Nintendo Direct regarding the Nintendo Switch 2, catch up on everything shown right here.