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

With the eagerly awaited release date and tech specs of the Nintendo Switch 2 now revealed, along with the cost of first-party Nintendo games on the new console, attention is shifting to the price of the system itself. Although the Nintendo Direct presentation did not disclose any pricing details, subsequent listings on Nintendo's regional websites have shed light on the matter, revealing that the most cost-effective way to purchase the new hardware is in Japan.

Duolingo, the popular language learning app, playfully pointed out on Twitter that Japan offers two versions of the Switch 2: a multi-language model priced at 69,980 yen (approximately $477) and a Japanese-only version for 49,980 yen (about $341). This unique offering 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

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

Japan's significance as a major market for Nintendo, where it holds a 24% share of the Nintendo Switch installed base in 2024 (compared to 2% for Xbox Series X/S and 9% for PlayStation 5), further justifies the pricing strategy. 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."

However, even fluent Japanese speakers may encounter barriers in obtaining the cheaper Japanese-only model. 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." Additionally, this version is exclusively available through the Japanese My Nintendo Store, effectively region-locking the console to maintain lower prices for Japanese consumers.

For a deeper understanding of the pricing dynamics behind the Nintendo Switch 2 and its games, check out our in-depth analysis as we discuss with industry experts.

To stay updated on all things Nintendo Switch 2, including the latest from this week's Nintendo Direct, catch up on everything shown right here.