Now that the Nintendo Switch 2 has a confirmed release date and technical specifications, attention turns to the console's pricing. With estimates of first-party title sales on the new system, the focus shifts to how much the Nintendo Switch 2 will cost.
Although no prices were set during the Nintendo Direct presentation, regional costings have since appeared on Nintendo's country-based websites, revealing that the best value for playing Nintendo's new hardware comes from being Japanese.
As pointed out in a cheeky tweet by Duolingo, the learning app that teaches an array of languages, including Japanese, Japan is offering two variations of Switch consoles: a multi-language model for 69,980 yen (approximately $477) and a Japanese language version only for 49,980 yen (about $341).
Since Japan is the only nation in the world that has a mono-language console available for a lower price, this equates to players happy to play in Japanese saving more than $100 compared to the system the rest of the world must purchase, which is currently priced at $449.99 in the U.S.
In the views of some experts, the overinflated global price could very well be due to U.S. President Donald Trump's newly announced global tariffs.
"Nintendo likely accounted for potential tariffs, the prevailing inflationary environment in the world, and the $700 Sony had the guts to charge for the PlayStation 5 Pro last year," said Dr. Serkan Toto, CEO of Kantan Games.
Nintendo's Nintendo Direct announced the launch line-up and release date of the Nintendo Switch 2, and the system's price, along with that of supporting games and accessories. Analysts had estimated a $400 price tag, so they were taken aback by the additional $50.
The reason behind the higher-than-anticipated price was mostly due to tariffs, manufacturing expenses, and competition. NYU Stern professor Joost van Dreunen described the $449.99 price as a "strategic balancing act" due to rising manufacturing costs and uncertainty surrounding possible US tariffs on electronics.
Piers Harding-Rolls of Ampere Analysis also agreed with the $450 price point, citing that it was fair given that the Switch OLED is priced at $350. Harding-Rolls speculated that Nintendo had a set of prices for the US market up until the last minute due to doubt over import tariffs.
Japan has the most favorable Switch 2 price with a less expensive, single-language model. Global pricing at approximately $450 surpasses expectations as a result of tariffs, manufacturing expenses, and competition, which caught analysts off guard.