Nintendo has confirmed the launch of two versions of the Nintendo Switch 2 in Japan, highlighting a Japanese-only model that will retail for 49,980 yen—approximately US$1,880 at the current exchange rate, excluding taxes. The other, multilingual version, will cost 69,980 yen—approximately US$2,697. The price difference caught the attention of gamers outside Japan, but language and account locks prevent non-Japanese speakers from fully utilizing the console.
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Nintendo's strategy responds to the yen's devaluation against the dollar, which puts pressure on electronics prices in the domestic market. With the Switch 2, the company aims to offer a more affordable price to Japanese consumers without hurting its profit margins in other countries.
To achieve this, it locked the system's language and limited its use to Nintendo accounts linked to Japan. In practice, it's a way to return to regional locking, something the company had abandoned on previous consoles. Despite the language lock, the Japanese model of the Switch 2 remains compatible with games from any country.
This makes the product attractive to foreign buyers looking to save money. However, the system restrictions can frustrate those who don't understand the language, as menus and settings will only be available in Japanese, with no option to change them.
Lottery system in Japan and invitation-only pre-sale in the West mark global launch
To manage high demand, Nintendo will use a lottery system in Japan. Interested parties will need to register for a chance to purchase the console at launch. This practice is already common in the country, adopted for competitive launches, such as video cards and limited edition consoles. The rules for participating in the lottery will be announced on April 4th.
In the United States and Europe, the company will adopt a pre-sale invitation system through its official website. The initiative aims to prevent mass resale at inflated prices and ensure direct access to the end consumer. So far, there is no information on how the process will work at major retailers or whether Brazil will adopt a similar strategy.
In the North American market, the Switch 2 will launch for $449.99, while in the UK it will cost £395. These prices place the console among the most expensive in its category. In Brazil, there's no official price yet, but experts estimate it will cost between R$4,000 and R$4,500, considering the brand's history and electronics taxes.
Japanese version of Nintendo Switch 2 could put pressure on prices
The existence of a cheaper version of the Nintendo Switch 2 raises questions about the impact on prices in other markets, especially Brazil. Nintendo's strategy, however, appears designed to avoid this pressure. By limiting the language and region of use, the company hinders the interest of importers, which reduces the chance that the Japanese model will directly affect sales in other countries.
Nintendo sells the Switch OLED in Brazil for R$3,899, a price that already includes taxes and resale margins. The new console is expected to exceed this price, which could make the Japanese model a temptation for tech-savvy consumers. Even so, the language barrier remains a decisive factor when making a purchase.
With this new approach, Nintendo signals a shift in its stance on regional lockouts. At the same time, it seeks to protect itself from market distortions caused by exchange rate fluctuations and logistical pressures. The Switch 2 arrives with promises of high performance, but also with a more controlled and restrictive launch—at least initially.
