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

With the official release date and detailed tech specs now revealed for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 — along with insights into the pricing of first-party Nintendo games — attention naturally shifts to the console's own price tag.

Although no official pricing was announced during the recent Nintendo Direct presentation, early listings on Nintendo’s regional websites have shed light on potential costs. These details suggest that Japan offers the most budget-friendly access to the new system, making it more affordable than anywhere else in the world.

As humorously pointed out by Duolingo — the language-learning app known for its playful tone — Japan is offering two versions of the Switch 2: a multi-language model priced at 69,980 yen (roughly $477), and a Japanese-only edition available for 49,980 yen (approximately $341).

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

— Duolingo (@duolingo) April 3, 2025

Japan remains the only region where a single-language version is offered at a reduced cost. That means players willing to use the console exclusively in Japanese can enjoy a savings of over $100 compared to the standard global price of $449.99 in the U.S.

Some industry analysts believe the higher international price may reflect broader economic pressures, including recently introduced tariffs under former U.S. President Donald Trump, global inflation trends, and even Sony’s decision to price the PlayStation 5 Pro at $700 last year.

"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," said Dr. Serkan Toto, CEO of Kantan Games.

Another key reason for the regional pricing difference lies in Japan's importance as a core market for Nintendo. In 2024, Japan accounted for 24% of the Nintendo Switch installed base — significantly higher than the 9% for PlayStation 5 and 2% for Xbox Series X/S.

"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," explained James McWhirter, analyst at Omdia. "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 hurdles to accessing the lower-priced variant. According to Nintendo’s official site:

"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 means the Japanese-only model is effectively region-locked, sold exclusively through the Japanese My Nintendo Store. This strategy helps Nintendo maintain competitive local pricing while preventing widespread cross-border sales.

For deeper insight into why the Nintendo Switch 2 and its titles come with steep price tags, [ttpp].

To catch up on everything unveiled during this week’s Nintendo Direct, including exclusive reveals and launch details, [ttpp].