Nintendo has quietly dropped some slightly disappointing news—particularly for foreigners living in Japan. If you want the upcoming Switch 2 console to support your native language, you’ll need to pay a premium of ¥20,000, or roughly $133 USD.
As pointed out by Gabe Perez on Twitter, Nintendo’s official Japanese website lists two versions of the Switch 2 that will be available when the console launches on June 5. The base model, which only supports the Japanese language, is priced at ¥49,980 (about $337 USD, thanks to a strong dollar and weak yen). The other version, which includes multilingual support for 16 languages including Japanese, comes in at ¥69,980, or around $473 USD.
It’s worth noting that the original Nintendo Switch is region-free and offers full language support no matter where it’s purchased. While the Switch 2 is expected to remain region-free globally, this pricing split seems to apply only in Japan, creating a rare distinction based on language support.
Nintendo hasn’t offered a clear explanation for the price difference, but it may be a response to the weak yen. By pricing the multilingual model higher, the company could be trying to discourage scalpers from buying consoles cheaply in Japan and reselling them abroad for profit.
On the flip side, the lower price of the Japanese-only model does offer a more affordable option for native Japanese speakers who don’t need additional language options. Still, for non-Japanese residents living in Japan—especially those still learning the language—this move imposes an extra financial hurdle.
Launch titles for the Switch 2 are also expected in June, though details remain limited.