With the much-anticipated release of the Nintendo Switch 2, gamers around the world are buzzing about the new console's release date, tech specs, and the cost of first-party Nintendo games. But now, attention is shifting to the price of the console itself.

While the Nintendo Direct presentation didn't reveal any pricing details, regional prices have appeared on Nintendo's country-specific websites, revealing that the most cost-effective way to own the new hardware is in Japan.

As cleverly pointed out by Duolingo, the language-learning app, Japan offers two versions of the Switch 2: a multi-language version priced at 69,980 yen (approximately $477) and a Japanese-only edition for 49,980 yen (about $341).

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

— Duolingo (@duolingo) April 3, 2025

Japan stands alone in offering a mono-language console at a lower price, allowing players comfortable with Japanese to save over $100 compared to the international version, which costs $449.99 in the U.S.

Some experts believe that the higher international price might be influenced by U.S. President Donald Trump's recent international tariffs.

"Nintendo likely considered potential tariffs, global inflation, and Sony's $700 price tag for the PlayStation 5 Pro last year," noted Dr. Serkan Toto, CEO of Kantan Games.

Japan's importance to Nintendo cannot be overstated, with the country representing a significant 24% of the Nintendo Switch's 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 position in Japan, effectively doubling the price over the classic LCD Nintendo Switch model," explained James McWhirter, an analyst at Omdia. "Yet, maintaining significantly cheaper pricing in USD terms could lead to grey market imports to other regions."

Even for those fluent in Japanese, there are still hurdles to obtaining the more affordable system.

"The Japanese-Language System (Japan only) is intended for use in Japan exclusively," according to Nintendo's website. "It supports only Japanese as the system language, and can only be linked to Nintendo accounts set to Japan."

These restrictions, along with the fact that the Japanese-only variant is exclusively available from the Japanese My Nintendo Store, essentially region-locks the console, ensuring 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 comprehensive analysis featuring insights from industry experts.

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