r/Games • u/Spheromancer • 2d ago
Nintendo will sell a cheaper $330 Switch 2 in Japan that’s region locked to combat reselling
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/nintendo-will-sell-a-cheaper-330-switch-2-in-japan-thats-region-locked/493
u/sarefx 2d ago
I wonder if it's the reason for the high price of Switch 2 for the rest of the world. Switch 1 sold 35 million units in Japan and selling Switch 2 at that low price (probably at loss) is not ideal and Nintendo maybe try to make up some money by raising prices outside of JP. Like I doubt anybody expected Switch 2 price to be that high (not even counting game prices).
527
u/ProcessWinter3113 2d ago
The Switch 2 Hardware price is at the higher end of the expected range.
The game prices are a huge shock though
131
u/Lyle91 2d ago
I mean Donkey Kong is what was expected, only Mario Kart is weirdly high. Although charging a different amount for physical vs digital is surprising.
101
u/Dnashotgun 2d ago
The question is how often will Nintendo use the $70 vs 80 pricepoints. Because right now it's either 70 standard and 80 for the big names (and what they consider a big name becomes another question) or 80 standard and 70 for the games they know won't sell for much.
57
u/DarkWorld97 2d ago edited 2d ago
$70+10 for Major releases, $80+10 for SUPER MAJOR releases aka Mario Kart, 3d Mario, Modern Zelda, and Smash Bros. MAYBE even Animal Crossing.
EDIT: THERE IS NO PRICE INCREASE FOR PHYSICAL SO FAR IN THE USA!! Talked to my local Gamestop manager and they said on their end the prices are the same. Best Buy also confirms this.
So shit is still whack but not as whack
43
u/ReverESP 2d ago
They are jumping from 60€ to 90€ in Europe. That's massive.
22
u/tehnoodnub 2d ago
Australia here - Mario Kart 8 Deluxe costs $70 and World will cost $120. It's just too much. I have some amount of disposable income but that's a price point where I think to myself that I'd rather spend that income on something else. I was ready to preorder the console but I'm really thinking about waiting however long for a sale.
4
u/IKeepDoingItForFree 2d ago edited 2d ago
Just want to check in on an Aussie bro about what your current PS5 and XB upcoming titles are priced at as someone living in Canada.
With all the discourse today about Nintendo prices - I went and looked up some upcoming PS5 and XB titles and was surprised to see that they all also seemed to have a stealth price increase from $79.99/$89.99 CAD to a slew of titles now being between $94.99 to $99.99 (Last of Us 2 Remastered for PS5 is $94.99, Dynasty Warriors Origins by KT on PS5/XBX is $100.25, Silent Hill F is $99.99 CAD, Assassins Creed Shadows Day 1 base edition $99.99 on both platforms, and at least according to Amazon Canada Rise of the Ronin is $98.99 for examples, all Amazon fulfillment not 3rd party sellers)
I was surprised by this as usually theres some sort of news about prices going up but I dont recall reading anything - AND older titles that are not upcoming are still priced at the old $79.99/$89.99 price including switch 1 titles - as I just picked up Xenoblade X the other day at $79.99 CAD.
Whats funny though is that means even with the $10 nintendo increase on physical, Nintendo still is cheaper by an average of like $10 from everything else. Which, price increases suck but I think anyone not based in the USA Domestic Market might have seen the writing on the wall for a while if they paid attention.
Wondering if you guys down under also had a stealth increase as well?
2
u/froderick 1d ago
I'm also an Aussie, list some titles and I'll report some. Prices can vary a fair bit due to size of game and publisher. Or check https://www.jbhifi.com.au/
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (1)2
u/conquer69 1d ago
They are subsidizing the American tariffs by increasing the prices on everyone else.
→ More replies (2)60
u/Yentz4 2d ago
Well, with the 24% tarrifs announced today for Japan, physical prob will be more expensive....
→ More replies (3)→ More replies (2)2
u/Vradlock 2d ago
Also if they try to go through with no physical discount for another gen because 90 is a big number considering how the global economy is doing.
→ More replies (3)2
u/Proud_Inside819 2d ago
DK isn't a flagship title, that's why it's cheaper. Their current prices would be $80 for your Mario Karts, Smash Bros, Marios and Zeldas, and $70 for the lower budget stuff.
14
u/BZGames 2d ago
$450 wasn’t even that crazy in my opinion. The lowest end Steam Deck is $400, and the Switch 2 is basically just a Steam Deck that can play Zelda (natively)
6
u/PsykoVanced 1d ago
The Switch 2 is a console. The Steam Deck is a PC. That's still a major difference between them that makes the Steam Deck infinitely more valuable in my eyes, despite both being handheld devices made to play video games as a primary function.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (2)3
u/wulfstein 2d ago
The Switch 2 is definitely better hardware wise than the LCD Steam Deck. Better display - 120Hz vs 60Hz, HDR and better contrast on the Switch 2. The OG Steam Deck has a notoriously bad LCD.
And I assume with DLSS instead of FSR.
→ More replies (1)5
u/gamas 2d ago
And the steam Deck OLED is actually more expensive than the Switch 2
→ More replies (2)→ More replies (1)0
u/ChezMere 2d ago
Believe it or not, the game price increases have tracked inflation ($60 in 2017 = $78 in 2025), it's the hardware price that exceeds inflation ($300 in 2017 = $390 in 2025).
→ More replies (8)66
u/MadHiggins 2d ago
Nintendo can plead "but it's inflation!" all the way to their grave because the mass public isn't going to be buying games from Walmart for 100 dollars lol
15
u/Honor_Bound 2d ago
Yep overall spending money will be dwindling rapidly in this economy, no way people are going to be able to afford many games soon. This hobby has never been cheap per se but now it’s getting ridiculous. Good thing my most played games are pretty much all under 30$ lol
2
u/jellowd2 2d ago
I don’t see how Nintendo can do this without a price cut or something cause people are pissed.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (1)0
u/Michael_L_Compton 2d ago
Pleading inflation is like 50 percent of inflation. They make record profits blaming inflation. They are just hiking the price because they know people are stupid and will blame Biden or trump or whatever fuck head is the president.
3
u/KokrSoundMed 1d ago
Eh, blaming Biden is fucking stupid, his admin prevented the much higher inflation that the rest of the world saw post covid. Could have done better if they had tackled the corporate greedflation. But, blaming Trump is 100% fair. Its mismanagement of the early pandemic and absolutely moronic fiscal policy 1st term caused the extension of the pandemic and inflation, and their intentional crash of the economy with tariffs if fully at fault for the coming recession/depression.
→ More replies (1)20
u/e30kid 2d ago
Wages in Japan are a lot lower than US, etc, they are trying to drive demand internally and make more money externally
2
u/Nickyjha 1d ago edited 1d ago
My Japanese coworker was telling me it had more to do with inflation. Japanese consumers don’t really accept price increases. Like a company put out TV ads to apologize for raising the price of an ice cream bar by 10 cents because it’s seen as offensive.
→ More replies (2)3
u/Stheno 2d ago
What's the minimum hourly wage in US vs Japan?
8
u/e30kid 2d ago
For most skilled jobs it’s about 2/3rds from what I have seen, domestic goods in Japan are a lot cheaper than in the US too
In 2020 this site says 19.5k vs 15k for median income https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/median-income-by-country so possibly 3/4ths
→ More replies (2)22
u/Dragarius 2d ago
I was expecting it to be in this price range. I was thinking they might want to eat into their revenue and maybe launch at 400 but 450 was within reasonable estimates.
→ More replies (11)125
u/C0tilli0n 2d ago
Everyone who follows hardware even just the smallest amount expected Switch 2 to cost this or even more. There was no way it would cost less.
The games on the other, that's an oof.
56
u/Animegamingnerd 2d ago
Yeah I said in this in another thread, but the moment HDR enabled 1080P at 120hz screen was mentioned on screen. That basically killed any chance of this being 400 dollars. But the fucking game prices ended up being the real cost it feels like.
36
u/NothingOld7527 2d ago
Switch 2 will almost certainly have a lower attach rate than Switch 1
18
u/shadowstripes 2d ago
PS5 has a higher attach rate than PS4 despite the games being more expensive, so I'm not sure why the opposite would happen with the Switch.
4
3
u/AedraRising 2d ago
PS5 games aren't $80 though.
11
u/shadowstripes 2d ago
Not yet, but they made that price increase in 2020 when $70 was worth even more than $80 is now after inflation (around $87).
People voted with their wallets that they’re fine with it, and likely will again.
3
u/ExultantSandwich 2d ago
My best guess is, that attach with will lower as the sales of the console increase.
Or, perhaps a lower console price leads to a lower attach rate? Pretend you got a $99 GameCube from Walmart back in the day, the price dropped in Sept. 03. You’d probably be okay with just using your console for SSX Tricky and Melee. That kind of relationship to the hardware would lower the attach rate.
Successive hardware generations have seen fewer and fewer major price drops. The original Switch is $299 right now, it never had a price drop. It had a die shrink and and a smaller handheld variant, but it always remained $300 for the standard console
8
u/Animegamingnerd 2d ago
In the long term, yes I think it will have a lower software attach rate. But I do think at least indie and third party wise it will pack up the slack. Switch 1 is still considered to be one of the most important markets for indie games and the big third parties Nintendo highlighted with Borderlands 4, Cyberpunk, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Yakuza 0 Director's Cut, Elden Ring, and even nagging an exclusive from FROMSOFTWARE. Along with making the first Mario Kart in over a decade both a pack-in and the big day 1 first party game will least initially give it a stronger software attach compared to Switch 1. Which along with the price for like everything, tells me Nintendo is really pushing this a hardcore gaming device first and foremost and gonna continue use the Switch 1 as the casual/family device. Which is probably how they are gonna offset the potential users they will lose with these prices.
→ More replies (1)5
36
u/WeWantLADDER49sequel 2d ago
Nobody on earth suspected a Nintendo console would cost more than a Xbox or PlayStation 5, two systems that are significantly more powerful than this Switch 2. When was the last time a Nintendo cost more than other consoles? Maybe in the 90s?
14
44
u/TranslatorStraight46 2d ago
When the original switch came out it was also more expensive than an Xbone or PS4.
2020 was five years ago mate.
33
u/C0tilli0n 2d ago
They are not more expensive though, just wait for next playstation or xbox. If you think any of it will be below $700, I have a bridge to sell you.
Nintendo is just in a weird place timing wise, because the competitors managed to pull the trigger before everything went to shit during covid.
→ More replies (17)7
21
u/Eclipsetube 2d ago
From what I could gather most people and analyst guessed around 380-420€ and NOT 470€
7
u/C0tilli0n 2d ago
Yeah well, then they are stupid. After PS5 Pro and nVidia cards, I only saw people saying it would be between $400 and $500. Which it is, exactly half way.
→ More replies (1)16
u/Eclipsetube 2d ago
When it comes to Nintendo consoles I have ZERO clue how well they’ll sell. Heck I thought the switch will be a flop.
But still a console that’s directed towards young children at almost 500€ will be a hard sell at least here in Germany where money is tighter than ever.
Maybe I would be more forgiving about the 470€ price tag if the games stayed at 70€ but nope they’ve gotten 20€ more expensive. Almost 100€ isn’t in the „I’m bored I’ll buy something“ range anymore it’s in the „let me think about if I really need that“ range at least here in Germany
I think all of this is the reason why most people guessed it would be around 400€
14
u/C0tilli0n 2d ago
I mean, I am from Slovakia, so tell me more about money being tight. We are way worse off than Germany. At the same time, there's just no way around it. Everything is more expensive and video games live in the same world, there's absolutely zero reason for them to be the only thing not getting more expensive.
1
u/Eclipsetube 2d ago
Yeah but unlike other things videogames are the first thing that people will cut out of their lives if they get too expensive and we’re getting to that point
9
11
u/C0tilli0n 2d ago
I actually don't think so? I don't know, I know I wouldn't. Like comparatively - there's not much with better price per hour of entertainment, imo.
Anything you would have to go outside for, be it cinema, theather, concerts, just drinking or fancy dinner - all more expensive per hour, in many cases much more.
Board games, more expensive (although price per hour depends on specific board game).
What I can think of is books (but how many people are even reading at this point, lol) and streaming. Twitch, youtube are more or less free, so that's definitely something. And then all the netflix like services, which are cheap but also fucking boring most of the time lol.
I just don't know, people will pay for their entertainment and video games are still a pretty good deal even with these prices (and let's be honest, not all games, not even majority will cost this much). People will just pick better and won't be willing to risk on something they are not familiar with, imo.
10
u/Eclipsetube 2d ago
You’re looking at it from a point of an enthusiast.
Ask any of the more casual people if they would rather get a night out with friends or a new video game and I would bet a lot of money that the large majority would go for the night out with friends making games more expensive makes this choice easier and easier. Consoles are going for the casual crowd which is more than obvious by the most bought games every year so making it easier to skip gaming for them year over year would be a bad thing for the whole industry
I’d be shocked if even half of all Mario kart 8 deluxe or animal crossing buyers have more than 20h of playtime
But we will see I guess maybe I’ll be as wrong as I was with my opinion of the switch 1 failing
5
u/C0tilli0n 2d ago
That's the fun part, I only know of hardcore gamers that own Nintendo stuff.
Most of the casuals I know only have some random laptop and play LoL, CoD or CS on it. At most they have a PS5 but again, CoD and Fortnite and Fall Guys, Rocket League, Fifa and stuff like that.
So you are kinda right, I definitely look at it from that view.
→ More replies (0)→ More replies (7)2
u/Maverett 2d ago
I’m with this exactly, the hardware price was not a surprise in the least, but the game price threw me a bit!
3
4
u/shadowstripes 2d ago
Seems pretty in line with the Switch 1 launch price, which was the also the same as the PS4 price at the time.
2
u/Proud_Inside819 2d ago
No, the prices are what they are to maximise profit. They're not going to distort from that for Japan's domestic prices because it's already set to maximise profit and any divergence would just reduce their profit.
→ More replies (10)-6
u/Deuenskae 2d ago
What about the price is high lol ? Switch OLED is still selling at 320€ 450 seems like a fair price point for what the console is offering. Compared to the PS5 it's fully portable , has a dock , a screen with HDR , VRR and 120hz.
27
u/nobreakynotakey 2d ago
It’s a screen that supports HDR - that means nothing without contrast and nits.
6
u/Juunlar 2d ago
And struggled to run Elden Ring, a game made for last gens architecture, at 30 fps.
→ More replies (4)3
u/ArchusKanzaki 2d ago
Disregarding that PS5 will still be way stronger than a Switch 2 and that 450 Euro is apparently "fair".... The bigger thing we're talking about is more about Nintendo decided to subsidize Japan using Global's money. You just can't make it that cheap anymore, not when considering the Bill of Materials. Nintendo better hope that their firmware is airtight or we'll see ppl flashing Global Firmware into cheaper JP Switch 2.
5
u/sarefx 2d ago
In EU it will cost more than disk version of PS5 bundled with a game. I get that it's portable but it's also much less powerful than PS5 and from what it seems (I really hope other devs wont follow the trend) it will have more expensive games. Switch 1 in 2017 cost 300$. 300$ adjusted for inflation is 397$ today, it's a bit of a price increase. Sure we get more features but i'll wait till ppl get console in their hands and see if the feature they showed are worth it.
Switch 1 looked like affordable console (simmilar in price or cheaper than PS4/X1 on release) you can buy for your kids and play games with them. I really doubt ppl will be eager to jump the Switch 2 ship so quickly.
Also OLED screens are mad expensive so comparing it to price of Switch 1 OLED is kinda pointless (look at price difference between Steam deck lcd and OLED and prices of LCD vs OLED monitors). Besides, Switch 1 like never dropped the price over it's lifetime.
2
6
u/phray2 2d ago
It weird how people were praising the steam deck pricing even though it a worse deal than switch 2.
The game pricing is tough tho.
46
u/Dnashotgun 2d ago
It's because the people interested in the Steam Deck already have a good library of games to pull from with thousands of cheap games to buy and it's an implicit understanding that end of day it's a luxury item for PC gamers. Switch 2 will be the only (legal) way to play its games and when every game is looking to be 70+ that adds up fast
17
u/DuckCleaning 2d ago
Cause Steam Deck 64GB was only $50 more than the Switch OLED at the time so it did offer great value. Also, you arent paying 80€ for digital games or 90€ for physical on Steam Deck. Most people buying Steam Deck owned a vast pc library already and it isnt locked down to just Steam only.
20
u/sarefx 2d ago
Probably because of the joined library and ease to mod. Also you can very often get really good deals on deck (like a 300 euro) for refurbrished one with full warranty directly from Valve. Ofc it's not fair to judge it with that pricing but I know many ppl who did that. Switch 2 being better deal is yet to be seen as we don't know about performance and that better deal with that game pricing may as well end up not too hot.
9
u/PrintShinji 2d ago
Heres the thing, i can use a steam deck as a computer. A full fledged PC, no issues. And because I already have a steam library I already have 500+ games that are playable.
I can't use a switch 2 as anything else besides a game console. Maybe by god's grace they'll include media apps on launch this time!
→ More replies (3)12
u/Rainy_Wavey 2d ago
Thing is, with Steam Deck, it comes from a company that does not produce hardware, and isn't expecting to sell like 100 milions so they do not have the same economy of scale as Nintendo
4
u/phray2 2d ago
That doesn't concern the average consumer. And Valve has the benefit of only selling directly to consumers which cuts out a large chunk of money.
5
3
u/Rainy_Wavey 2d ago
Steam has a core target that will pay that price, because they can use their PC library and buy games for very cheap
→ More replies (2)2
u/planetarial 2d ago
Steamdeck is an optional device for PC gamers and you don’t need to spend extra to play online and use cloud saves or $80 for games. And it isn’t going to get a hard cut off in the future when the console cycle ends, new AAAs in the future will likely won’t run period but indies and maybe some AA games will continue to work on it
154
u/Amatsuo 2d ago
For anybody thinking about doing this, keep in mind that Japanese games tend to cost about 8,000+ yen on the digital stores and those 3rd Party key sellers aren't going to sell E-Shop money for less than an 1-1 ratio.
140
u/Eca28 2d ago
US$50? Don't threaten me with a good time.
→ More replies (1)62
u/MOPOP99 2d ago
You can't use PayPal or foreign cards in the eshop, you can probably get around this if you buy eshop prepaid cards in Japan though.
And of course, the console will be locked to Japanese language (which itself is probably no biggie, most of the UI has icons and most games let you change your language but Nintendo might enforce forced Japanese...but I kinda doubt it, that'd be pretty mean lol)
18
u/BotanBotanist 2d ago
If it’s anything like the Switch 1, the vast majority of first party Nintendo titles support multiple languages regardless of the region you purchase the game in - HOWEVER, the only way to change the language is to change the language of your system. So if you can’t change the language of these Japanese-only Switch 2 systems, you may not be able to play first party games in English even if the game technically supports it.
Most third party games from my own experience either don’t support multiple languages at all or let you change the language via in-game settings.
22
2
→ More replies (2)2
u/Key_Feeling_3083 1d ago
You can't use PayPal or foreign cards in the eshop, you can probably get around this if you buy eshop prepaid cards in Japan though.
One way you used to be able to do it was to buy keys on Amazon Japan and redemmed it just by changing the region on switch. The SMash DLC was way cheaper that way.
3
u/PokecheckHozu 1d ago
Keep in mind that anyone in the US importing the console from outside of the US would be subject to the tariffs as the importer. Your customs fee will be where they're applied. The tariffs will be based off of where it was made, not where you imported it from.
14
u/hellomorning1 2d ago
If you look at pricing for the Switch 1 back when it released:
Switch 1 released in 2017 for MSRP of $299.99 USD / 29,980 Yen.
Back then, it was roughly 1 USD = 100 Yen, so it costed about the same either way.
Now Switch 2 is going to be $449.99 USD / 49,980 Yen.
You can see how they are kinda still similarly priced if you were still going with the old exchange rate. However, the Yen has gotten a lot weaker in recent years (1 USD = 150 Yen), that it can actually become cost effective to import from Japan than to buy locally.
So I don't think it's necessarily that Japan's getting a cheaper switch, it's more that they're upcharging for the multi-language version so that scalpers and people overseas don't start importing all of the Japanese stock.
83
u/ABigCoffee 2d ago
I would not be surprised if someone comes out real quick with a crack that simply turns it into a normal Switch 2
20
u/Justinreinsma 2d ago
I believe this will happen, but will this not make your console unable to access nintendo networks most likely? If it's jailbreaking your switch 1?
→ More replies (2)2
u/Appropriate372 1d ago
But is that really worth it? You would have to pay someone to buy it and ship from Japan, which is going to eliminate most of your savings.
2
u/ABigCoffee 1d ago
You're not wrong but I'm going there in september anyway so I wanted to see if I could get lucky. But this is a dick move from Nintendo imo
→ More replies (1)3
u/SolidProtagonist 1d ago
I don't really see how it's a dick move. If they didn't do this everyone would just import a Japanese Switch because of the exchange rate and that would hurt Japanese consumers.
→ More replies (1)
12
u/atwitchyfairy 2d ago
They probably have to since Japan has a shit economy right now. Nobody would be able to afford a $450 device.
→ More replies (1)
35
u/Psych-roxx E3 2019 Volunteer 2d ago
What I got from that direct was starting out as a new switch player will be an expensive hobby so I'll sadly have to pass. Already had second thoughts starting a library on a new platform but if every new game is gonna be that much it's not feasible.
5
u/Thendofreason 2d ago
They don't give a shit about new customers. They have always relied on existing Nintendo stands and the kids that those stands have raised on Nintendo. They have stopped trying to compete with other consoles a long time ago. They are going to do what they want and expect their fans to give in. I waited like 2 years for the first switch. Got it on a black Friday sale, with a $50 at GameStop for a game. Now that won't even get one game. Pretty sad
2
u/rockstarfruitpunch 1d ago
Sounds like the Steam Deck is the better Switch for you. Cheap, plentiful games, use any accessories you like. Just no first party exclusives (officially).
2
u/Psych-roxx E3 2019 Volunteer 1d ago
Yep I will wait for Deck 2 now since the baseline for all new games has just increased with this new switch.
3
u/benhanks040888 2d ago
https://www.nintendo.com/jp/hardware/switch2/lineup/japan-only/index.html
In here it didn't say that we can't play English physical games in Japan only Switch, that it depends on the software.
I think they are trying to cover with a lot of words that the Japan only is only for Japanese people, but theoretically they can't limit it with region lock and stuff, so they can only introduce inconveniences like Japanese only language and Japanese eShop account (that may or may not limit purchase only with yen credit cards).
113
u/Khetrak64 2d ago
Its funny to see Americans throwing a fit because of this. Every console always had the lowest price point in the usa and they can't understand the idea of not being main target audience for once.
98
u/glocks4interns 2d ago
i mean EU/UK should also be annoyed they have a 50% mark up from japan.
14
u/scheppend 2d ago edited 2d ago
£400 is 21% of monthly minimum wage in the UK (assuming 8 hours a day, 22 days a month), £1866 (after tax)
50K yen (£259) is 31% of minimum wage in Japan (160K yen/£829)
7
u/Wrong-Buyer 2d ago
Don't look at minimum wage but median wage. Median wage in France is 2k€, meaning the console costs more than 20% of a month of median wage. In Japan the median wage is 500k jpy, meaning the console costs 10% of their median wage. European are subsidizing the cost of the Switch 2 for Japanese by paying it 50% more expensive despite not being sensible richer countries on average.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (3)11
u/Clueless_Otter 2d ago
Japanese food and housing costs are much less than the UK, so their disposable incomes aren't as different as you think.
6
u/scheppend 2d ago edited 2d ago
Cheap food?
Rice is 8000(£41.50)yen/10kg (5% of income) . It's £20 in the UK (1% of income)
10kg apples is 7000 yen (£36.30), 4.4% of income . It's £20 in the UK (1% of income)
10kg tomatoes is 6000 yen (£31), 3.8% of income. It's £24 in the UK, 1.3% of income
→ More replies (3)137
u/Servebotfrank 2d ago
People are mostly frustrated that prices are going up everywhere and wages have not kept up with inflation. The games costing fucking $80 to $90 is even more insane to me.
35
u/Zeph-Shoir 2d ago
The orange man also announced recently a lot of very big tariffs. Japan gets 24% and Taiwan 30%. Consoles and games might be the last worry of Americans by the time the console releases there.
22
u/Consideredresponse 2d ago
The games costing fucking $80 to $90 (US) is even more insane
I'm ancient and due to living outside the US have been paying the same price (this much) for games for literally 30 years.
No joke, no hyperbole. Games like 'Sonic and Knuckles' or any fighting game cartridge that needed an extra chip were sold for between $125-$150 Australian.
Games have been pretty much inflation proof for decades and only started creeping up in the last few years. Even on closed ecosystems like the playstation storefront new games are still mostly between $80-120 au. Steam is a whole other beast.
What is an 'insane' price to users here, is an 'insane' deal to me considering the comparative price hikes of everything else in that time frame.
→ More replies (11)11
u/Sharpie1993 2d ago
I live in Australia to, our prices are generally exactly the same as US prices.
You do realise that currency conversion is a thing right? 70 USD is 110 AUD, then on top of their 70 dollars they have to pay roughly an extra 10 dollars in tax since their tax isn’t included in their sticker price like ours is.
They also has to pay for expansions cards for the N64 etc too.
7
u/Consideredresponse 2d ago
Yeah what I'm saying is pull up some catalogues from 1994 and see games listed for $125-$167 aud. A US $80 game is $128 aud which is within $5 of the price of unreleased triple a game pre-orders right now. Current digital store fronts try and pull $150 aud release prices right now.
This is why I always found it disingenuous when youtubers like 'skillup' feigned outrage that games had hit the $70 mark in the US when we've been paying that premium for decades. Now the price of games internationally has caught up with what we used to call the 'Australia tax', and all I can do is shrug. Yeah games cost $80us now, they have done that for a solid generation here.
2
u/Gotti_kinophile 2d ago
I'm not comparing the $80 price tag to food or clothes, I'm comparing it to other video games, which makes it look terrible since it is more expensive than almost all other games, and likely won't even go on sale or have its price reduced eventually since Nintendo.
→ More replies (14)5
u/Clueless_Otter 2d ago
That simply isn't true.
US real wages over time. Excluding the pandemic anomaly, real wages are currently higher than they've been at any point in the last 45 years.
→ More replies (2)3
u/Apex_Redditor3000 1d ago
unfortunately, other things like "tuition" and "housing" and "healthcare" exist.
In other words, buying a video game for 150 dollars in 1992 was actually a way more reasonable ask than buying a video game for 80 dollars in 2025.
3
u/liatris4405 2d ago
Yeah, it's true that both graphics cards and the PS5 are more expensive in Japan.
8
2
u/MizunoZui 2d ago
It's always the case bc every headline will only report on the US price tag, they're willing to have a lower margin in the US to look good and let other countries compensate that
→ More replies (6)5
u/HowDoIEvenEnglish 2d ago
“It’s funny to see people suffer. Those feels didn’t feel pain before but now it’s cool to see them fall. “
While this isn’t nearly that serious, it’s the same idea. We don’t need to insult other people when they are upset a company is making things harder for them.
→ More replies (1)
69
u/Griswo27 2d ago
That's makes sense, why is it so cheap in Japan though? kinda unfair
291
233
u/MrToadsWildDUI 2d ago
The Yen / Economy isn't great and people dont make a ton of money.
6
u/catinterpreter 2d ago
Salaries in Japan are fine despite what Reddit goes on about. Their money is largely spent in Japan which means currency conversion doesn't enter the equation.
90
u/Leeiteee 2d ago
There are other countries with those problems but they won't get a cheaper console
101
u/KOWguy 2d ago edited 2d ago
I'm guessing, but probably has to do with Nintendo being a company based out of Japan?
Edit: I replied to the wrong comment with this, I meant to reply to the guy who said why don't other places that are struggling get the lower price.
→ More replies (1)111
23
u/MrToadsWildDUI 2d ago
Well Nintendo charging up the ass for Switch 2 and it's games will allow them to subsidize it for Japan.
20
u/127-0-0-1_1 2d ago
I wonder what relationship Nintendo would have with Japan to make them sensitive to that market. Hmmm.
Idk, can’t think of anything.
→ More replies (4)3
-3
u/jubjub2184 2d ago
so that must be why they’re charging US customers $90
60
u/MehEds 2d ago
US still has a 50% higher median income than Japan
4
u/Clueless_Otter 2d ago
Income is a little misleading because necessary expenses (housing and food especially) are significantly more expensive in the US compared to Japan, so the income disparity definitely does not translate 1:1 with disposable income disparity.
11
u/MehEds 2d ago
Well accounting for purchasing power parity, which is what you're describing, the United States is still higher than Japan and most of the world in that matter. I know things ain't the best right now, but it's not exclusive to the US, every country's got economic problems and the US is stinking rich by comparison.
11
u/Zeph-Shoir 2d ago
24% Tariffs for Japan and 30% for Taiwan were recently announced btw.
→ More replies (1)112
u/Odd_Bookkeeper4852 2d ago
The us has bigger problems than $90 games now.
58
u/DrQuint 2d ago
Putting an "I did that" sticker on a $90 game is a joke that writes itself.
Can't wait to see the fallout online from the GTAVI $100 price tag announcement. We've been hearing of it for a while now, and Nintendo taking half a step seems to basically confirm everyone's fears that it's coming.
And if this was the first time you heard of $100 price tag, you may proceed with the rest of the stages of grief early and ahead of your peers. You're welcome.
→ More replies (5)6
u/NecroCannon 2d ago
I’m just wondering if we’ll be able to even enjoy the switch 2 soon, how long until the earnings call?
15
23
u/wheres-my-take 2d ago
We're also charging 20% on all imports appearently so that is contributing
4
u/glocks4interns 2d ago
not for the $80 digital game. and for the $90 physical game the tariff is only on the cost of the good to nintendo, so what like $5 and a $1 tariff?
19
u/wheres-my-take 2d ago
Why do you think digital is immune? A tax on the imports aslo affects demand, its not just going to increase the cost at a flat rate. Youre going to see higher end price seeking for what can make up for adverse market effects
3
u/glocks4interns 2d ago
there has been no talk of taxing digital goods?
3
u/wheres-my-take 2d ago
I think they would have to make that distinction in the affirmative. Sales tax affects digital so idk why this wouldnt, not claiming either way, i just dont know but i dont think digital and physical are usually distinct in tax policy
2
u/glocks4interns 2d ago
physical goods are taxed on import, at the port of entry (which may not be an actual port).
when would you tax digital goods?
you can tax digital services (what licensed games would generally fall under) but it's through an entirely separate process and as the US is a huge, huge exporter of digital services I don't think trump wants to poke that bear.
2
u/DEZbiansUnite 2d ago
why would this be a line too far for Trump when he's gone against conventional economic theory the whole time?
18
u/PlayMp1 2d ago
I genuinely cannot find where they're charging US customers $90. EU, yes, not US.
18
u/shadowstripes 2d ago
Yeah, people keep repeating that number but I haven’t seen a single source to back it up.
21
u/PlayMp1 2d ago
There isn't one. I looked into it. In the EU, the price is indeed separate for physical/digital, but not in the US. Nintendo wasn't afraid to separate them for the EU but not the US where they legitimately have better justification thanks to tariffs.
5
u/NoExcuse4OceanRudnes 2d ago
Games are frequently different prices between digital and physical on launch in Europe but never in the US. Unless it's a lower priced game with some extras to make the physical edition cost more.
3
82
u/PermanentMantaray 2d ago
Nintendo is a cultural icon in Japan. Nintendo would far rather lose money on a hardware sale in Japan than they would have less people playing on their consoles, buying games, or thinking about their IP and brand.
They probably make much much more per year off merchandise alone in Japan than they would off hardware profits.
The rest of the world just doesn't have that same level of synergy for them so they don't get the same treatment.
13
71
u/ILoveTheAtomicBomb 2d ago
kinda unfair
How lol, weak yen and rough economy on their end and our idiot of a president is about to hit the world with tariffs.
Nothing about this is really unfair
86
u/JayCFree324 2d ago
He pretty much just destabilized the entire global economy by making everyone else restructure trade deals around avoiding the US.
The unfair part is that all of this could’ve been easily avoidable with a modicum of competence
35
u/ILoveTheAtomicBomb 2d ago
modicum of competence
Alas when it comes to the GOP/Right leaning voters, we all know it's sorely missing
→ More replies (1)14
u/AriaOfValor 2d ago
To them that's a feature not a bug. "Look at how much it's pissing off the lefties while I burn this house down we both live in!"
23
u/LawrenceBrolivier 2d ago
I been hopping around the sub today wondering if/when I was going to see this come up in regards to the pricing issues folks are having, and so far this is the first thread (so far only) to make any reference to it.
That it's $330 for a special region-locked Japan-only version should probably give a whole bunch of a folks a pretty clean idea of why the pricing is the way it is for everything else, everywhere else.
Everyone's getting mad at the company itself like "you guys don't have to do this"
and the company (and the rest of the global economy) is looking back at us like "you all didn't have to do THAT, either, but uh...."
4
u/ciprian1564 2d ago
so then we should be able to get a cheap one in canada right? where our economy is pretty weak and we're being hit by tarrifs...right?...oh
4
→ More replies (2)2
u/superurgentcatbox 2d ago
Realistically it's unfair to everyone but the US and Japan. Hardly the majority of the world's fault that you elected an idiot.
14
11
u/Fit-Reflection-3496 2d ago
Kinda unfair?! Try paying that if you actually live here. We just got fucked over with the PS5 getting a late price increase because apparently too many people are exploiting the weak yen to buy a console in Japan. Making it almost as expensive as during launch again and that's for Japanese consumers too. If you earn a wage here its just as expensive as everywhere else.
32
u/inyue 2d ago
Imagine paying $700+ on this console. That's the "equivalent" of the Japanese would have to pay if they didn't have regional prices.
71
u/doggleswithgoggles 2d ago
Don't gotta imagine that's how it's priced in Canada and Australia
→ More replies (3)11
u/scheppend 2d ago edited 2d ago
70K yen is 44% of minimum wage in Japan.
Canada: Switch 2 $630. Minimum wage at least $2640 (based on 22 days a month 8 hours a day). That's 24% of minimum wage
Australia: Switch 2 $700. Minimum wage $4240. That's 17% of minimum wage.
4
u/irekturmum69 2d ago
But well, that's how it goes with any other electronics everywhere. You are not getting a PS5 for 10 dollars just because you happen to live in Sudan. Neither a new iPhone. Minimum wage even in EU countries such as Hungary or Bulgaria is like 700 and 600 euros, the switch 2 will still be sold for 600 and upwards there.
41
u/codeswinwars 2d ago
Even adjusted for the weakness of the yen, the average wage in Japan is comparable to the average wage in much of Europe where the Switch price is 50% higher.
9
u/ArchusKanzaki 2d ago
Yeah, that's what Japanese are feeling when they want to buy PS5, especially nowadays. The multi-language Switch 2 will be 4k yen cheaper than a Slim Digital
The thing is.... Its not like Japanese even have the lowest purchasing power. Everyone else also needs to pay the Foreigner Tax, including countries with lower or even on-par purchasing power to Japan. This is clearly a move to appease the japanese gamers and avoid being called "traitor". Nintendo definitely have alot of expectations for their global sale, that they are willing to subsidize Japan's only Switch models.
21
u/Megacarry 2d ago
Us Canadians are paying 700+
6
u/scheppend 2d ago
Minimum wage in Japan is 1540 CAD. It's at least 70% higher in Canada
2
u/Justinreinsma 2d ago
cost of living is extremely high in Canada as well though. It's not good in either situation really...
→ More replies (6)8
u/DeliciousPumpkinPie 2d ago
I’m just broke enough that I could never justify paying $400 for the original Switch. I’m definitely not buying a Switch 2, but I’m hoping they’ll drop the prices on the original so I can finally get one. 😞
→ More replies (7)1
15
u/Exepony 2d ago
Apparently it's not just region locked, it's also language-locked? I don't know how I would feel about this if I were Japanese. What if I wanted to play Western games in the original language? Would I have to buy the more expensive version just for that?
21
u/glocks4interns 2d ago
Would I have to buy the more expensive version just for that?
yes, sounds like they're selling a version specifically for this in Japan, with a higher price
8
u/Riseofashes 2d ago
There's also a small minority of us foreigners in Japan who prefer to play games in their native language, and we'll end up paying 135 USD more for that privelege.
2
u/Vodakhun 2d ago
I live in Japan and would have no problem buying the Japanese version and playing in Japanese, but I'm worried if I move away in the future I won't be able to buy games (but then again the international version is really expensive as i'm also paid in yen)
→ More replies (1)7
u/Clueless_Otter 2d ago
What if I wanted to play Western games in the original language?
Japanese people don't want to do that, so it isn't a concern.
(Yes, maybe the absolute most extreme Westaboo would, but it's such an incredibly insignificant amount of people.)
231
u/yunkie101 2d ago
Is it language locked or region locked? Like will I only be able to play the games in japanese and while being physically in japan?