Why is Nintendo region locking again

[Ondrashek06]

I thought that one of the selling points of the original Switch was the fact that there was no BS region-lock system like on the older consoles?

Why is Nintendo re-implementing it? I thought they were done with the practice.

 

[Hayato213]

Has to do with inflation and the exchange rate of Japanese yen.

 

[Kioku]

They made an exclusive cheaper Japanese variant specifically for the Japanese market. The option to buy an international model is still available. It’s not like all Switch 2 systems are region locked.

 

[l7777]

They made an exclusive cheaper Japanese variant specifically for the Japanese market. The option to buy an international model is still available. It’s not like all Switch 2 systems are region locked.

For that matter the only one that is region locked is the less expensive one for Japan.

 

[Ettino]

I thought that one of the selling points of the original Switch was the fact that there was no BS region-lock system like on the older consoles?

Why is Nintendo re-implementing it? I thought they were done with the practice.

What do you think will happen if they didn't put a lock on the cheaper Japanese only model?

 

[Ondrashek06]

What do you think will happen if they didn't put a lock on the cheaper Japanese only model?

Idk, people could actually be able to afford the console? $450 with $90 per physical game is a joke.

 

[RyanTheArchivist]

Idk, people could actually be able to afford the console? $450 with $90 per physical game is a joke.

Where the hell are you getting $90? The new Donkey Kong is currently listed at $70 on their website. In fact I cannot seem to find a single USD listing at $90.

 

[Afeohtan]

Because of Nintendo. They are worse than EA.

 

[sarkwalvein]

I thought that one of the selling points of the original Switch was the fact that there was no BS region-lock system like on the older consoles?

Why is Nintendo re-implementing it? I thought they were done with the practice.

Nintendo is being nice with the Japanese people, subsidizing that model surely on a big loss.
It is region locked so it doesn't get bought by the rest of the world, leaving Nintendo already depleted of by their subsidizing efforts and the poor Japanese people without cheap consoles to buy, take into consideration that the people of Japan have been having rough times economically and their money has lost a lot of value, so Nintendo wants to help.

In the other hand if you are South American and your economy has stunk for decades Nintendo tells you to go get fucked and die penniless already, get a job! /s

PS: I guess of course they would care for their home market/audience first.

 

[Plazorn]

Could these prices (adding to region locking) be due to the new tariffs imposed by the US? Why would Ninty suddenly go more anti-consumer? I do not like the precedent they are setting

 

[sarkwalvein]

Could these prices be due to the new tariffs imposed by the US? Why would Ninty suddenly go more anti-consumer? I do not like the precedent they are setting

Erm, the prices are even worse in Europe, 469€ for the console, 90€ for a physical Forza Mario! Forza!

 

[Ondrashek06]

Where the hell are you getting $90? The new Donkey Kong is currently listed at $70 on their website. In fact I cannot seem to find a single USD listing at $90.

In Europe, Mario Kart World is $80 digital, $90 physical.

 

[Hayato213]

Where the hell are you getting $90? The new Donkey Kong is currently listed at $70 on their website. In fact I cannot seem to find a single USD listing at $90.

Depends on your region, it would cost @Ondrashek06 90 for phyiscal before tax

 

[Ondrashek06]

Could these prices (adding to region locking) be due to the new tariffs imposed by the US? Why would Ninty suddenly go more anti-consumer? I do not like the precedent they are setting

You guys in the US have equal pricing for physical and digital games.

Europeans, like me, instead of getting it cheaper due to not having to deal w/ tariffs, get a $10 surcharge for physical games.

Tariffs are bad, yeah, but specifically in this case you guys actually get it cheaper than the EUR region.

 

[Hayato213]

You guys in the US have equal pricing for physical and digital games.

Europeans, like me, instead of getting it cheaper due to not having to deal w/ tariffs, get a $10 surcharge for physical games.

Tariffs are bad, yeah, but specifically in this case you guys actually get it cheaper than the EUR region.

You need a better place to live at lol bud.

 

[RyanTheArchivist]

You guys in the US have equal pricing for physical and digital games.

Europeans, like me, instead of getting it cheaper due to not having to deal w/ tariffs, get a $10 surcharge for physical games.

Tariffs are bad, yeah, but specifically in this case you guys actually get it cheaper than the EUR region.

Yeah US has laws requiring physical and digital prices of media to be the same.

Post automatically merged: Apr 3, 2025

Depends on your region, it would cost @Ondrashek06 90 for phyiscal before tax

Yeah I get region may vary but they specifically mentioned dollars.

 

[Hayato213]

You guys in the US have equal pricing for physical and digital games.

Europeans, like me, instead of getting it cheaper due to not having to deal w/ tariffs, get a $10 surcharge for physical games.

Tariffs are bad, yeah, but specifically in this case you guys actually get it cheaper than the EUR region.

I just check it is 80 here in the US. So it suck for you if you have to pay 10 extra euros.

 

[Tails54321]

From Nintendo Life

"The Japanese-Language System" is priced at 49,980 yen (approximately $333.87 USD at the time of writing), versus 69,980 yen ($467.48 USD) for the Multi-Language equivalent, which will only be available from the Japanese My Nintendo Store. The base system will retail for $449.99 in the US.

Why the different tiers and prices? This option has presumably been made available as a reaction to the weak yen, which makes Switch 2's launch price even harder to swallow on Nintendo's home turf than elsewhere.

The ability to play games from any region on any Switch 2 around the world makes importing a Japanese console very financially attractive for people living outside the country, so language-locking this cheaper version aimed specifically at the Japanese market will dissuade people who don't speak or understand Japanese from importing the cheaper model.

 

[Hayato213]

From Nintendo Life

"The Japanese-Language System" is priced at 49,980 yen (approximately $333.87 USD at the time of writing), versus 69,980 yen ($467.48 USD) for the Multi-Language equivalent, which will only be available from the Japanese My Nintendo Store. The base system will retail for $449.99 in the US.

Why the different tiers and prices? This option has presumably been made available as a reaction to the weak yen, which makes Switch 2's launch price even harder to swallow on Nintendo's home turf than elsewhere.

The ability to play games from any region on any Switch 2 around the world makes importing a Japanese console very financially attractive for people living outside the country, so language-locking this cheaper version aimed specifically at the Japanese market will dissuade people who don't speak or understand Japanese from importing the cheaper model.

Lol time to learn Japanese

 

[uniagb]

Erm, the prices are even worse in Europe, 469€ for the console, 90€ for a physical Forza Mario! Forza!

Hey, I don't think it'll be as bad as Forza